Round 4 sees Griffith Moorooka vs. Coorparoo, Zilmere vs. UQ and Coolangatta vs. Yeronga
MATCH OF THE ROUND
GRIFFITH MOOROOKA vs. COORPAROO
Saturday May 9, 4:45pm Alexander Park
This weekend is the perfect opportunity for Griffith Moorooka and Coorparoo to finally find their feet for 2015.
Both teams are winless heading into round 4 and will be hoping to break their duck this Saturday.
Griffith Moorooka coach, Glenn Hogetts isn’t underestimating the strength of the 2015 premiers.
“They’ve still got most of their main core side they had last year when they won the competition, so we are just going to focus on our game and continue to play our brand of footy,” Hogetts said.
“Training has been really good this week, we had the Brissy Lions down this week and we’ve been working on our ball movement and plenty of contested stuff.”
While Hogetts admitted that a win would be nice to see on the ledger, it isn’t the defining factor for his developing group.
“We are just looking for continuous improvement every week more than a scoreboard result,” Hogetts said.
“We want to make sure we are putting pressure on every contest and this week I want to see our work lifted in the stoppages, if we can achieve that I will be happy.”
Despite Coorparoo and Griffith Moorooka finishing at different ends of the ladder in 2014, Navy Roos coach, Bernie Cantrell, believes the two clubs are a little closer than most would think.
“I haven’t seen a lot of them (Griffith Moorooka) but in some ways they are in the same boat as us, lots of girls who are looking to develop,” Cantrell said.
“I’m not expecting it to be easy, I’ve got four new girls again this week and we have lost some punch from our backline, so we will have to play well.
“We are definitely preparing and hoping to have a win this week, I’m just hoping the girls can gel a little better and that we can continue to apply one on one pressure to win the footy.”
ZILLMERE vs. UQ
Saturday May 9, 10:30am O’Callaghan Park
This Saturday’s clash between Zillmere and UQ is important to both clubs for very different reasons.
By their own coaches admission, Zillmere were dreadful two weeks ago. They were outworked, outplayed and completely outclassed by a hungrier Yeronga outfit.
It was a very un-Eagles like performance and the club is determined to get back on track this week against the ever improving, UQ, according to Zillmere coach, Jacob Simmons-Bliss.
“We are looking to put in a four quarter performance this week and rectify the mistakes that we made against Yeronga two weeks ago,” Simmons-Bliss said.
“It isn’t the nuts and bolts of our game plan that need work, it is all the effort indicators and effort KPI’s that I will be looking for.
“I think UQ are going to be very formidable competition, they are playing some good footy and they are in some good form – we have a few things up our sleeves to stop them but I think the team that is most efficient across the three lines of defence takes the four points.”
UQ have played some very good football so far in 2015 and Red Lionesses coach, Michael Swann, believes Saturday will be a good opportunity to see where the club stands.
“I think we go in as pretty big underdogs,” Swann said.
“They (Zillmere) played in the grand final last year, so it’s going to be a pretty tough contest, they have had the wood over us in the past and we haven’t got close so it will be good to see how we shape up.
“We like to think we have a chance every week and we have taken some big steps forward this year and I think we are getting into that ballpark of getting close to the top teams each week.
“Each week we aren’t looking to win, we just want to improve as a club and we really want to see the girls play a brand where everyone contributes, we just want to play good footy.”
COOLANGATTA vs. YERONGA
Saturday May 9, 4:45pm Peak Oval
Coolangatta will return home this week to host Yeronga in what promises to be a wild top of the table shoot-out.
Both clubs haven’t had a problem finding the sticks this season, and don’t be surprised if goals rain from the sky at Peak Oval on Saturday when the top two teams in the comp lock horns.
Coolangatta may have the home turf advantage, but the Devils are soaring with confidence after thrashing Zillmere two weeks ago. Expect this one to be a slugfest.
One man who is completely aware of the challenge facing the Bluebirds on Saturday is Coolangatta coach, Aaron Russell, who has been keeping close tabs on Yeronga.
“I went and watched that game (Yeronga vs. Zillmere) and they (Yeronga) have some really good quality players and I think they are heading in the right direction and we definitely respect that,” Russell said.
“I think it’s going to be a really challenging game and I think that’s what we want, that is what we play footy for, the challenge.
“But our girls really believe in themselves and they are really really pumped to come up against quality opposition, so I know that we won’t be shying away when we take the field.”
Although Coolangatta have made a fantastic start to the season and look the goods in the early going, Yeronga coach, Scott Stephens, is adamant the approach won’t change for his group.
“I don’t like giving judgements until we play a team and matchup against them,” Stephens said.
“They are obviously going to be a strong team, but the best policy at this stage in the season is to approach every opposition like they are the benchmark, so our focus isn’t changing.”
Yeronga have played just one game in 2015 due a bye and bad weather, but Stephens is confident his group are ready to go.
“I’m not really concerned with the travel, teams always have to travel and this one is only an hour down the highway, as long as the attitude is there it shouldn’t matter,” Stephens said.
“The fact we’ve only played one game doesn’t worry me, our prep has been as good as it could and we are going in with the strongest team possible and we want to win.”
BYE – WILSTON GRANGE
By Grant Hitzman – @granthitzman
