By Beth Newman
With 11 weeks down and 11 to go, it seems like a perfect opportunity to take a step back and check out the bigger picture.
Here’s where I reckon the Northern Conference teams sit at the half-way point of the season.
Aspley
New coach, John Blair, has made an immediate impact at the Hornets, who are one of the most-improved clubs this season.
The Hornets should be able to capitalise on their recent momentum, and cement their finals spot, with two games against Mt Gravatt in the next four weeks, along with a bye and a tough test against the Brisbane Lions.
If co-captain, Cheynee Stiller can continue his strong form, along with Ryan Matthew and Austin Lucy, there’s no reason they can’t come home with a wet sail.
Their biggest tests at the back-end of the season include a Rd 14 clash against the Lions at Coorparoo, a Rd 18 match against Southport and their final match of the season, which sees them travel to the Top End to face the Thunder.
With a percentage second only to the Lions at this point, if the Hornets can spring an upset they could even potentially challenge for top two.
Run home:
Mt Gravatt (H)
BYE
Lions (A)
Mt Gravatt (A)
Broadbeach (A)
Gold Coast (H)
Southport (H)
Redland (A)
Labrador (H)
BYE
NT Thunder (A)
Broadbeach
The Cats are still just in touch with the finals, after a victory over Mt Gravatt last week, but haven’t quite had the season they hoped for.
After winning only one of their first five games, albeit a thriller in Darwin against the Thunder, the Cats rebounded somewhat, with wins.
While they do play six of their nine remaining games at their home ground, the Cats are 0-3 at the venue so far this year.
It will be a big ask for Broadbeach to claw their way into finals from here and their next two matches, against Redland and Morningside at Broadbeach, will be make or break for the Cats.
RUN HOME:
Redland (H)
Morningside (H)
BYE
Southport (A)
Aspley (H)
Labrador (H)
Mt Gravatt (H)
Morningside (Yeronga)
BYE
Redland (A)
Gold Coast (H)
Brisbane
Brisbane’s fate this season is largely dependent on the health of its list.
With six players elevated to the seniors last week to cover injuries and suspensions, the NEAFL side fell to its first loss in almost eight months, against the Gold Coast Suns.
As players recover in the back end of the season, the reserves will most likely benefit and will continue in their successful vein.
Two matches against the Sydney Swans reserves, as well as a trip to Darwin loom as the real danger games for the Lions as the season ticks on, as well as a potential blockbuster against the SUNS.
If they can stay healthy, there’s no reason the Lions won’t be challenging for back-to-back flags.
RUN HOME:
BYE
Labrador (A)
Aspley (H)
Sydney (A)
Gold Coast (H)
Redland (H)
NT (A)
BYE
Sydney (H)
Mt Gravatt (A)
UWS (H)
Gold Coast
The SUNS have been slowly building into the season and have really hit a purple patch in the last month, with four straight wins, including ending the Lions’ run of wins last weekend.
Similarly to the Lions, a lot of their fate is dependent on the overall injury toll at the club, but plenty of their youngsters are proving their talents so far.
They have no shortage of blockbusters in the back end of the year, with two matches against the Swans reserves and another clash with the Lions on July 6 – all of which will be keys in determining their final ladder spot.
RUN HOME:
Sydney (H)
UWS (A)
BYE
NT (A)
Brisbane (A)
Aspley (A)
Sydney (H)
UWS (H)
BYE
Labrador (H)
Broadbeach (A)
Labrador
It’s been a disappointing first half for Labrador, in a year the club had hoped to make the jump into the top echelon of the competition, despite losing a swag of players.
A horrendous run with injury makes the run home a lot more challenging for the Tigers, with Nick Stockdale the most recent addition to a lengthy casualty list.
So far, it’s been a bit of a “what if” season for the Tigers, and they’ll be looking to salvage some pride in the back end of the year.
RUN HOME:
BYE
Lions (H)
Southport (H)
Redland (A)
Mt Gravatt (H)
Broadbeach (A)
BYE
NT (Yeronga)
Aspley (A)
Gold Coast (A)
Morningside (H)
Morningside
Morningside’s youngsters have really answered the call this season and shown plenty of good signs for the future of the club.
The Panthers have been a little inconsistent, generally either dominating a game or getting well beaten.
After winning four of their first five, Morningside have only managed one win from their past four matches, and their year does not get any easier from this point on.
The Panthers’ back end includes two games against each of Southport, Broadbeach and Mt Gravatt, but they will not have to play defending champs, the Lions, again this year.
RUN HOME:
Southport (A)
Broadbeach (A)
Mt Gravatt (H)
BYE
Southport (H)
NT (H)
Redland (H)
Broadbeach (Yeronga)
Mt Gravatt (A)
BYE
Labrador (A)
Mt Gravatt
It’s been a long first half of the season for Mt Gravatt and it will probably be a long run home too.
Coach, Peter McClennan, signalled before the season that it would be a regeneration year for the club, and it has proved to be, but there are plenty of positive signs for the Vultures, who have shown a lot of fight in recent weeks, particularly against Southport.
It’s hard to think a side would go the whole year winless, so the Vultures’ opposition should beware as the season goes on.
They showed against the Sharks that they have plenty of potential, and if their young bodies are able to maintain that level for a full match, then a win is not out of the question.
RUN HOME:
Aspley (A)
NT Thunder (H)
Morningside (A)
Aspley (H)
Labrador (A)
BYE
Broadbeach (A)
Southport (Yeronga)
Morningside (H)
Lions (H)
BYE
NT
After being one of the teams to beat in the first two seasons of the NEAFL, NT has been brought back to the pack this season.
Captain, Cameron Ilett is still playing sensational footy, while forward pairing Chris Dunne and Darren Ewing have shaped up as the best two-pronged attack in the competition, with a combined 71 goals so far.
The trip to the Top End has become a little less intimidating this season, with the Thunder only winning two of their five home games so far.
Despite their position on the ladder, the Thunder remains a danger team in the NEAFL Northern Conference and has the big-game experience, which could come in handy when fighting for ladder spots later in the year.
RUN HOME:
UWS (H)
Mt Gravatt (A)
Sydney (H)
Gold Coast (H)
BYE
Morningside (A)
Brisbane (H)
Labrador (Yeronga)
Redland (H)
Southport (A)
Aspley (A)
Redland
After a slow start to the season, falling short of a lot of pre-season expectations, the Bombers have clawed their way back to a 4-4 record at the midpoint of the 2013 season.
Expect them to get better as their side starts to gel even more in the back end of the season, with guys like Steve Gaertner and Piva Wright looking to really hit their straps as they really settle in.
The Bombers have four very gettable games in the next month, against Broadbeach, Eastlake and Hills Eagles, before a round 16 bye, which could help set-up a late-season run at the final five.
RUN HOME:
Broadbeach (A)
Eastlake (A)
Hills Eagles (H)
Labrador (H)
BYE
Brisbane (A)
Morningside (A)
Aspley (Yeronga)
NT (Away)
Broadbeach (H)
Southport (H)
Southport
Southport is back in familiar territory after the first half of the season, as one of the flag favourites.
After two tough weeks, losing to the Lions and clinching a thriller against the Thunder last weekend, the Sharks face Morningside at home, before a week off.
Things get decidedly easier from there for Southport, though their opposition will have plenty of motivation to knock them off with finals spots up for grabs.
Spearhead Josh Baxter has had another great season so far averaging two goals a game, while Jason Burge, Danny Wise and Ben Merrett have also impressed for the Sharks so far.
RUN HOME:
Morningside (H)
BYE
Labrador (A)
Broadbeach (H)
Morningside (A)
BYE
Aspley (A)
Mt Gravatt (Yeronga)
Eastlake (H)
NT (H)
Redland (A)
My NEAFL Ladder prediction
1. Brisbane
2. Southport
3. Gold Coast
4. Aspley
5.Morningside
6.redland
7.NT
8. Broadbeach
9. Labrador
10. Mt Gravatt
Premiers: Southport
It’s hard to go past the Lions to pick up back-to-back flags, but fluctuations in their senior side might make it difficult for the NEAFL team as the year continues.
The Sharks have been super so far and look likely to continue that, and I reckon they could face off against the SUNS in the Northern grand final.
For more NEAFL news, check out the NEAFL website, http://neafl.com.au, or ‘like’ the Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NeaflNorthernConference
