QFA Division 5 Preliminary Final
Collingwood Park (13-3) v Coorparoo (10-6)
Redbank Plains Rec Reserve, Collingwood Park @ 7:30pm
This matchup is a meeting of young and old with Cooparoo having a much older and experienced list than Collingwood Park.
These sides have met twice in round three and ten, winning one game apiece. Collingwood Park had a handsome 43-point win over Cooparoo in round three, then in round ten Cooparoo escaped with a 11-point victory.
Collingwood Park coach Rex Watts acknowledges he has a much younger side than Cooparoo, and as such there are areas they have to improve to win.
“The average age of our side is about 20. We have a lot of 17, 18-year old’s in there. They are a very experienced side and probably read the ball and game better than our guys. We just have to overcome that,” said Watts.
Cooparoo coach Michael McKinnon is very weary of the young legs of Collingwood Park.
“It’s a big field out there and our guys may not be as young but they are more than willing to run to get the job done,” said McKinnon.
McKinnon also identified the midfield as the key contest to win for Cooparoo to get up this Friday night.
“I think our midfield will really have to work hard to get on top. Collingwood Park have got some big strong bodies in the midfield, so if our midfield gets on top we can put ourselves in a good position,” said McKinnon.
Collingwood Park will be relying heavily on their young guns in the middle and up forward this Friday night.
“I hope our full forward Ryan gets it together and our ruckman Brenden Rucks. Our centre line if we can get that right this week than it’ll go a long way to get our structure right,” said Watts.
Being the more experienced side, McKinnon insisted, however, that his team has no complacency over their younger opponents.
“I’d never really consider us a favourite. I think any one of the three teams left in it could win any one of the games on their day. It’s got to be a full team performance,” said McKinnon.
The winner of this preliminary final will face Mayne next Friday night for the premiership at Cooparoo. This preliminary final is at 7:30pm this Friday night at Redbank Plains Recreational Reserve.
2017 Meetings
R3: Coorparoo 8.4 (52) def by Collingwood Park 14.11 (95)
R10: Collingwood Park 6.3 (39) def by Coorparoo 7.8 (50)
Leading Goal kickers
Coorparoo Collingwood Park
Daniel Brown – 12 Ryan Major – 47
Josh Heinrich – 10 Brandon Leadbetter – 29
Times In Best
Coorparoo Collingwood Park
Liam Cox – 7 Brendan Kucks – 10
Justin Thompson/Nathan Beech – 5 Eric Price/Kaden Leadbetter – 7
Finals Results – Week 1
Mayne 11.8 (74) def Collingwood Park 7.7 (49)
Coorparoo 10.12 (72) def Jindalee 6.6 (42)
By Aaron Goodwin.
