By Abby Collins
Birds and Cats rarely get along.
There will be more than just four points at stake when the Mt Gravatt Vultures host the Labrador Tigers on Saturday at Toyota Southside Oval.
The victors will walk off the field with their belief in the plan for the season reinforced while another donut in the W column will ensure at least one more week of review and changes for the other.
“A win does a lot of things,” Labrador coach Clint Watts said.
“It would reinforce that we’re not too far away, and it would say our best is good enough.
“If we get the win, we come back to training the next week and start again.”
The Tigers were tipped by many to be top four contenders in 2024 while the whole competition is waiting to see when things click for the new look Vultures, which makes for an intriguing clash between the bottom dwellers of the QAFL ladder.
The bout may feature two winless teams but according to Watts, exhilarating games of footy are often produced when there is nothing to lose and everything to win for both sides.
“Both teams are looking for their first win and it adds an element of excitement to the game.”
Both coaches are playing their cards close to their chest regarding their tactics for the game, offering only the need to work on connectivity and reinforcing the fundamentals as their main focus.
Labrador are looking to play how they’ve trained – hard, fast and practiced.
“We’ve got a particular way we would like to play,” Watts said.
“It’s about putting the pieces together and getting the boys to connect on the field. The only thing that will affect our play are the grounds, it is a small field, so there are certain things you can and can’t do.”
Cleaning up mistakes and further gaining field experience are part of Mt Gravatt’s season long plan.
After their loss to Palm Beach over the weekend some necessary improvements are being targeted by coach Hamish Mitchell.
“We lacked care and pressure at the ball carrier last week against Palm Beach,” he said.
“We were turned around too easily from poor skill efficiency and didn’t work hard enough defensively across the field.
“The message is clear; pressure must be better and do it for longer moving forward. We are excited by the little things and small improvements from week one to week two, especially in the first quarter against PBC, where we scored three goals from pressure acts.”
With an average player age of 20, the Vultures are clearly in the midst of a rebuild and although the club will look to recruit some more experienced players for 2025, Mitchell is content to give his young charges as much exposure to senior football as possible this year.
“It is important that we get as many games into our emerging talent as possible,” he said.
“We are expecting to improve week by week as we get more games into our younger players and get a few players back from injury.
“We look forward to another opportunity this week.”
CHANGES
Mt Gravatt – Mt Gravatt will see Connor Lambert, Max Gambell, Baylea Treadaway, Alex Watkins, Samuel Carmody, Dylan Bromilow, Heath Seadon, Jack Kalan, and Ryan Ferris come into the side. Outs this week are Broden Pynt, Rafe Priestley, Jackson Griffiths, Robert Blood, Bryce Alder.
Labrador – Labrador’s key out this week is captain Matt Lee along with Jack Turner. Ins this week are Mason Field, William Derrington, Matthew Watmuff, Nathan Kady, Riley Coombes, and Nathan Pearce(12)
OTHER GAMES
In other games this weekend, Maroochydore is looking for their first win of the season when they take on Wilston Grange at home. Palm Beach Currumbin is looking to go three from three in the opening rounds when they take on Noosa. Broadbeach will face a tough Redland Victoria Point outfit away. Surfers Paradise is looking to continue their winning ways with a home ground advantage when they face reigning Premiers Aspley, and Sherwood is looking to upset Morningside and end their winning run.
