Match of the round
Sandgate vs. Mt Gravatt. Live blog: https://aflq.com.au/sandgate-vs-mt-gravatt/
Under the Microscope
Mt Gravatt key forward Sam Stubbs kicked seven last week, against a young Surfers Paradise defense, but comes up against a new challenge this week. The Vultures meet a Sandgate outfit that’s been underrated so far this season and will have a few harder bodies around the ball. Sandgate have had two tough games against Wilston Grange and the Western Magpies, so this is a huge opportunity for them to snatch a win on their home deck. It will say a lot about Stubbs if he’s able to back last week’s performance up, against the Hawks.
The sky lounge
After an interrupted pre-season and missing the first two games, Gorillas skipper Steve Brittain was a telling presence against the Western Magpies. So far this season it’s been hard to read if he’ll play or not, but if he does, Broadbeach should be wary.
Morningside defender Ryley Buntain played a great game against Labrador, reading the play and dancing out of trouble. Buntain should have an easier go of it this week against Surfers Paradise and be dangerous moving the footy out of the back half.
Palm Beach Currumbin’s Josh Woolley didn’t win the Syd Guildford nomination this week for nothing. The agile tall is starting to build a damaging season that may see him up there in the Grogan count again this year.
The danger zone
In the line of fire this week is the Broadbeach midfield. The likes of Robbie Blood, Liam Nelson and Mitch Brewer, when he’s in the ruck, need to be ready to win the hard ball against Wilston Grange this week. The Gorillas players through the middle of the ground have been fantastic in the start to the season, winning the ball and taking off from the stoppages. Brent Moloney, Mark Desousa and Lachlan Nixon-Smith will take control of the game if allowed first use of the footy.
Collision course
QAFL tipsters will be leaning toward the Tigers this week when they take on the Western Magpies at Cooke Murphy Oval, expecting this Labrador train to just keep going. So far this season, when the Tigers have got their game going, they have managed to dispatch quality teams (Palm Beach, Morningside) with relative ease. So it begs the question, who can stop this train from rolling on? The Magpies come off a close loss to Wilston Grange and their early form has been promising, but expectations will go to a whole new level if they can roll the Tigers.
Way back when
In round 14 last year Broadbeach got up over Wilston Grange by 23 points in the teams’ most recent encounter. Expect a fit and firing Grange outfit this weekend.
The last time the Magpies played against Labrador it was finals time at Cooke Murphy Oval and the Tigers won by a handy 22 point margin.
The Vultures had a big win last time they took on the Hawks, 145 to 72, in round 12 last year. This weekend’s game will be a great test for Sandgate, who will want to show their improvement since last season and get their first win on the board.
Surfers Paradise took the honors last time they played against Morningside, in round 14 last season, by a slender 14 points. The Panthers will fancy themselves against the winless Demons this time around.
Coach’s corner
Palm Beach Currumbin san the bye this week and senior coach Chad Owens took a moment to have a chat about the weekend’s games. The Lions have played Labrador and Broadbeach in their past two games, so Owens has had time to have a close look at the two sides, who he thinks are very different.
“Labrador are a pretty slick outfit, you know, like they set up well defensively which allows them to attack really heavily,” said Owens.
“They’ve got Jayden Young who’s probably the in-form backman of the comp at the moment you’d think.
“And then obviously Wayde Mills who’s just so smart at his positioning.”
Owens was confident that the Western Magpies would be able to challenge Labrador at stages, but that Labrador would run away with the game eventually.
At Ord Minnett Oval, Owens believes Wilston Grange’s midfield depth will get them over the line against Broadbeach, despite the fact that key forward Josh Baxter has been named to play for the Cats.
Another key forward comes in to the discussion, with Daniel Green being named for Surfers Paradise. Although the young Surfers will now have a target to aim for, according to Owens, Morningside will be too strong.
“Surfers, they’re sort of hard to work out because they’re really really young and they can stay with sides for a fair while. So, if they can keep their pressure up they’re a chance,” said Owens.
“On their day Surfers could upset quite a few teams I reckon, because they’re young and they’re quick and hit the ball hard.”
In the Sandgate and Mt Gravatt matchup, Owens believes it’s a matter of whether or not a physical Sandgate are able to take Mt Gravatt’s run away from them.
“Their midfields are both really good, like Tommy Overington and Beaven, then Mt Gravatt have obviously got Hamill and Murphy,” said Owens.
“I probably think Mt Gravatt should win, but if Sandgate can keep their pressure up for a whole game, it’ll be a ripping game I would have thought.”
Team Lists
Sandgate vs. Mt Gravatt
Click to download: Hawks vs Vultures Round 4 Team List
Broadbeach vs. Wilston Grange
Click to download: Cats vs Gorillas Round 4 Team List
Labrador vs. Western Magpies
Click to download: Tigers vs Magpies Round 4 Team List
Surfers Paradise vs. Morningside
Click to download: Demons vs Panthers Round 4 Team List
By Sean Melrose
Follow @seanmelrose
