By Abby Collins
The grounds of Southside Toyota Oval will be packed out with Mt Gravatt fans as they go for their first win of the season against a very young Broadbeach line up.
The last time these two teams went head-to-head, Mt Gravatt walked away victorious by a slim 2-point margin. Beating the Cats 14.10 (94) 13.14 (92), the Vultures took home the W on their home oval in round 15 of last season.
With what could be a close game again this season, Mt Gravatt will be looking to capitalise on the heavy list of injuries and VFL losses Broadbeach have suffered so far this year.
“They will be looking for their first win and we plan on putting up as much resistance as possible with our young side,” Broadbeach coach Danny Nolan has said.
“Given our current position with injuries, we imagine Mt Gravatt will give it a red-hot crack.”
The Gold Coast SUNS Academy players will be a very welcome sight for coach Danny Nolan, as they are available to play again this weekend.
“We have been hit pretty strongly with injuries this season, so we’ll be playing a very young team and will have to rely on our development side a bit,” he said.
“We are getting our Academy players back this weekend, so that’s pretty exciting for us.”
A big shuffling of the magnets will be seen from the Cats. Some of the major changes include the loss of their number one ruckman Riley Bowman.
Others sitting out of this game are Kasey Nicholas, Brayden Taylor and Joshua Zanker-Close.
Running on the field in their place will be Brandon Chadwick, Charlie Harmelin, Bailey Wood, and Max Hudson.
Mt Gravatt will be losing one of their best and most consistent players this weekend, Jackson Griffiths, along with Jarryd Karo and Patrick Neate.
Gryff Dwyer, Ryan Ibbs and Fletcher Clare will run on to the field to take their places.
Dwyer and Ibbs will be excited by their promotion from the Vultures reserves side for the weekend battle with the Cats.
Jai Murray, one of the Cats’ SUNS Academy players, is definitely a young gun to watch for this weekend. Murray and Jake Wood, the Cats’ strong defensive duo, will be looking to do some damage in the backline.
Murray’s marking capabilities in addition to his ball carries make him a likely target for the Vultures.
Alongside Murray, the ever-consistent Blake Ericson and Corey Hitchcock are players coach Nolan is hoping to utilise in the midfield this weekend.
“I think Blake Ericson and Corey Hitchcock have been really good for us this season and will continue to be,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to Saturday’s game. Our training standards have been really high; it will now be about making sure it transferers to game days.
“We tend to struggle holding onto our efforts throughout the whole game. Hopefully Saturday is the day that turns around.”
The Vultures midfield trio of Thomas Hurst, Arnold Conway and Jayden Milne will be the pack to watch as they try to take control away from the Cats dominant on ballers.
Jack Paterson will be dangerous when he gets the ball, having one the most consistent and effective handball statistics on the team.
Kaeden Corboy and his marking ability make him a formidable opponent in the Vultures backline. Corboy and Michael Gordon, two of the team’s stronger backline players will be looking to stop any Broadbeach momentum.
This weekend’s match up proves to be one to watch. With the match clouded in uncertainty, Mt Gravatt fans will be hoping this weekend is the weekend they land the four points.
