NOOSA’S renowned midfield – an engine room much-admired by opposition sides – set the Tigers up for what ended up a comfortable win against Coolangatta on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
By Terry Wilson
The sheer class of highly decorated Lucas Matthews and Luke Brauer and the rising Tom McKittrick featured prominently as the Tigers scored by 19.19 (133) to 12.10 (82) at Len Peak Oval.
The minor premiership, carrying with it a week’s rest when the elimination and qualifying finals are played, now await Noosa, who play winless Mayne away in next weekend’s final round.
Noosa and Coolangatta turned on a free-flowing affair early, with the Blues kicking 7.1 to 3.7 in the first quarter.
Kicking into the wind, Noosa’s effort was good and they carried on by kicking 7.3 to 0.7 in the second term with the breeze at their backs.
But a second half of nine goals to five proved too much for the Blues who, coach Neil Mackay thought, lost the game in the second period.
“We had seven shots into the wind in the second quarter and went from 7.1 to 7.8,” he said.
“We just didn’t kick a goal – and that included two out-of-bounds on the full.
“I thought in the first half, to be able to create 16 scoring shots against the premiers, we were very happy.
“But in the second half their midfield was too good. They ran too hard and we found out as a group where we’re at.
“We need some quality midfielders and we need the midfielders to run 20 per cent harder. Noosa just outran us.”
Adding to the woes of the Blues, Noosa’s crack full-forward Danny Brewster kicked 8.4, taking his season tally to 68 and again emphasising just how good a recruit he has been for the Sunshine Coasters in his first year with the club.
The Tigers were also happy with the performance from first-gamer David Welch, a running half-back who has been given a late-season chance to cement a place in the side for the finals.
For Coolangatta, the club gave their best to Brendan White, who has the task of nullifying Noosa’s dangerous small forward Travis Mills.
Dalton Sanderson did well at centre half-forward, Matt Greeney had a good battle at times with Brewster and on-baller Jamie Beer-Carey did some good things.
