MATCH OF THE ROUND
WESTERN MAGPIES vs. LABRADOR
Saturday April 18, 2:00pm – Chelmer
Live blog from 1:30pm
The Western Magpies made a statement to the competition last weekend, and they’ll look to go one better tomorrow.
After a heartbreaking two-point loss to Morningside in round 1, the task this week doesn’t get any easier when they take on the Tigers.
Coach Glenn Humphrey knows they still have work to do to be a contender in 2015.
“To earn the respect of the rest of the competition it’s important for us to back up what we produced last week against another quality side, and we are looking forward to the challenge,” Humphrey said.
They will take the same approach to this weekend’s game, with their work in close being key.
“Our contested footy is going to be a key for us this year, and so will be our use of the football once we have won it,” he said.
“They like to use the middle of the ground, so we will try and circumvent their ability to do that.”
16-year-old Sam Copland will play his first senior game, joined by Joel Workman who comes into the side.
Aaron Maricic has been called up to the Under 18 State Academy, and Jack Goodall to the Redland NEAFL team.
Labrador coach Steve Daniel knows they will have to bring their a-game to get the win tomorrow.
“It’s round 2 and all these games at the moment, you just don’t know what you’re going to get,” Daniel said.
“Last week the Magpies were really good, their contested footy was excellent, they showed a lot of effort and they worked really hard.
“They have high expectations, from us, we aren’t going down there and taking it lightly, nor do we any game.”
They have a few things to tighten up after their victory over Sandgate in the first week, with goal kicking being priority.
“We kicked pretty ordinary on the weekend so we want to make sure we make the most out of our scoring opportunities.
“We want to string three to four quarters of good football together, we felt last week that we played good in patches, which I suppose everyone does in their first match, so we are trying over the next couple of weeks to put four consistent quarters in.
In terms of inclusions, you wont see much better than captain Ryan Davey, Todd Featherston, Tom Daniel and Adam Baird, who all come back into the lineup this week.
Could we be getting a little sneak peak into what’s to come later this year?
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – ROUND 2 – WESTERN MAGPIES VS LABRADOR
MORNINGSIDE vs. WILSTON GRANGE
Saturday April 18, 2:00pm – Jack Esplen Oval
There has been a bit of talk during the week that Morningside is getable this year, on Saturday that get the opportunity to prove they are still the team to beat.
They come up against a Wilston Grange side fresh from a confidence building victory; who will be out to show that last week was no fluke.
Gorillas coach Matt Trewhella learnt a lot from the win last week, and knows what needs to improve to take it up to the competitions best.
“I thought last week was a good win, it was really good that we came back, but we let them back into the game second quarter which was disappointing, and that came off the back of skill errors,” Trewhella said.
“This week we have worked hard on our kick ins and transition, because we know the pressure will be hot.”
Under no illusions of the task at hand, Wilston Grange will look to dictate the flow of play.
“When you play an elite group elite group like Morningside, it’s the perceived pressure that you have to overcome, they dictate where you can play the ball on the field and what space they give you,” he said.
“Now its down to getting the game on our terms, they have that sustained effort for four quarters so we need to be in a position in the last quarter that we can win the game.”
The Gorillas welcome back three big inclusions for this week, with last years best and fairest David Kettle, Aspley player Jason Satchell and Trewhella himself all in for their first game of the year.
Morningside know they are in for a fight this weekend, but coach David Lake has backed in their structures to get the job done.
“If we get what we do right it doesn’t matter, we are acutely aware of their key players but we are very comfortable with going about it our way,” Lake said.
“They play a quick brand, they like to move the footy, and they have a lot of new faces, so they wont die wondering.
“They were the best side we played in the pre-season, so I expect nothing less than last week but in a different format.”
They also welcome back a couple of handy players for the first time this year.
“We’ve got Sam Brown, 100 gamer and two-time premiership player, as well as Jamie Hackett back this week, which are a couple of reasonable inclusions,” he said.
“We lost Michael Wyld in the first ten minutes last week, which gives Daniel Frame an opportunity down at full back.
“We need to slow them down, they like to play quick so we need to slow them down and control what they do.”
If their pre-season hit-out was anything to go buy, this will go down to the final siren.
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – ROUND 2 – MORNINGSIDE VS WILSTON GRANGE
BROADBEACH vs. MT GRAVATT
Saturday April 18, 2:00pm – H&A Oval
Saturday will see be a battle of the young guns.
These two teams come into this week off the back of vastly different results in round 1.
Mt Gravatt put in a dominant second half display against UQ last week to run out 79-point winner.
Broadbeach struggled to contain Palm Beach’s run, going down by 38-points.
Despite a difficult day at the office last week, Broadbeach coach Wayne Petterd is confident the Cats can bounce back this week.
“We are fairly confident going in, we are a bit more balanced this week with some height coming in,” Petterd said.
“Last week we were a little undermanned and still learning each others game styles.
“Mt Gravatt proved last week they are on the up, and will be difficult opposition.”
Getting the skills right will be essential to a turn around in form.
“We didn’t use the ball well at all last week, so it’s a matter of fine tuning our skill level, picking up our work ethic and trying to sustain it over the four quarters,” he said,
Keiran Brennan and Ben Hancock return to the Cats from Southport, Dan Scrimace will add some experience around the ball, but Taylor Hayley is out with that nasty ankle injury suffered last week, as is David King and Blake Ericson.
The Vultures broke the game open in the second half last week when they were able to get their running game flowing, but at a cost.
“It was a pretty good win last week I thought, the boys really weathered the storm and powered away late which was fantastic, but unfortunately it had a bit of a toll on our group,” coach Brad Pollock said.
“We have lost our captain Joe Murphy for the year with an ACL, which is a huge loss to the boys.”
They will also go in without the likes of Chris Murphy, Matt Johnson, Wylie Buzza and Harrison Hunkin.,
Adam Boon will come back from Redland for his first game of the year.
Pollock knows it’ll be a great test of depth.
“”They will be on the rebound no doubt and will be tough to beat,” he said.
It’s a matter of us just trying to implement the style of play that we want, we have had a couple of good battles with Broadbeach last year and I don’t think tomorrow will be any different.”
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – ROUND 2 – BROADBEACH VS MT GRAVATT
SURFERS PARADISE vs. UQ
Saturday April 18, 2:00pm – Sir Bruce Small Park
Run and carry, that’s what will be on display when the Demons and the Red Lions square off this weekend.
This one will be played on the outside, as both teams look to get it out wide to their runners to go forward.
Surfers Paradise coach Peter Young, believes their game plan, although falling just short against Wilston Grange last week, is the way forward.
“We want to play the style of footy we did last week because we thought it was good enough to get the four points, having 28 shots on goal,” Young said.
“If you’ve got the footy, you have to control it, and they will be chasing arse.
“Our pressure in the second quarter last week was really good, so we want to bring that for four quarters this week.”
He is expecting a red hot UQ team this weekend, keen to make amends of last weekends loss.
“They have improved, they have played some good footy, they are going to be a lot stronger than last year so we are going to have to play some really good footy to get over the line,” he said.
Isaac and Caleb Hay, James Farley-Smith and Michael Crewes all get their opportunity at senior level this week, following the loss of Fraser Pope and Damien Hector, who are all on NEAFL duties.
The Red Lions were right in the contest until half time against Mt Gravatt last week, showing they are up for the fight in 2015.
“I was really happy with our intensity across the four quarters last week, we just want to take that into this week and tighten up a few of the easy turnovers,” coach Darren Pfeiffer said.
“I expect them to take the game on a fair bit, so we are going to have to be really good in the defensive transition so when they do get the football we need to be able to lock down on an opponent.
“They have got quite a good midfield, if we can beat them there and get the ball in our possession early that will help us.”
The Red Lions will be missing a few this week, with Jack Rusbridge Luke Brennan, Peter Betteridge all out.
It means that the younger brigade of George Hannaford and Harry Marshall for their first senior game of football, as well as club stalwart Ben Langley.
You’ll see a big score on the board this weekend.
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – ROUND 2 – SURFERS PARADISE VS UNI OF QLD
SANDGATE vs. PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN
Sunday April 19, 2:00pm – Lemke Rd
Both of these teams exceeded expectations last week, this week they have the opportunity to back it up.
There was a few who anticipated a slide from Palm Beach this year, but they momentarily silenced them with a convincing 39-point win over Broadbeach in round 1.
Sandgate proved they are no easy beats this year, taking it right up to Labrador for four quarters last week.
These two teams like the get the ball moving quickly, and the open expanses of Lemke Rd means we are in for a shootout.
Palm Beach coach Chad Owens was over the moon with last weeks win, but knows this week is a different kettle of fish.
“We don’t take much from last week, we have made a few changes so we cant rely on what happened last week,” Owens said.
“The way Sandgate go about it, they are very physical, so it’s a game where if you don’t bring everything with you, you’ll get beaten.”
He believes the key come Sunday will be locking the ball in the middle.
“We were happy with our physical approach on the ball last week so we have got to be ready to do that again,” he said.
“It’s a big wide open ground, which they play really well, so we have got to make sure we don’t give them that outside run that they are going to want to use.”
The mood around Sandgate has lifted after last week’s performance, and they are ready to go again.
“We think we can compete that’s for sure, and we are looking forward to another big challenge,” coach Graham Adams said.
“We play the same type of style; on our big ground we think we can use our run as well.
“Being our first home game for the year, the boys are ready and up for it.”
It’s been a consistent message from Adams in 2015, effort.
“Yet again I just want them to be competitive and be in the game for as long as possible,” he said.
Sandgate will lineup without Sam Gribble, who has pulled a hammy and Lochie Liang who hurt his knee.
They welcome back Aden Rutledge Daniel Daye.
Palm beach have also lost a few, with Max Spencer and full forward Nathan Carr out.
Jacob Ogden is set to make his senior debut at just 17 years old for the Lions, joining him on the inclusion list in Dillon Kane.
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – ROUND 2 – SANDGATE VS PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN
By Andrew Wiles
