Page 82 - AFL Queensland 2014 in Review

QAFL V VAFA
The QAFL walked away with plenty of lessons, after a 18.16 (124) - 5.11 (41) loss to the VAFA.
Five goals in the first seven minutes from the VAFA caught the QAFL out early, with a blistering beginning setting the tone.
QAFL coach, Steve Daniel, said the QAFL were caught behind the eight ball but would take a lot from the match.
“What we found out is we’re not quite in the same league as the Victorians and the VAFA, so we’ve got some work to do,’” he said.
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“I know the boys are prepared to do the work required, though, to get the results.
Daniel said the VAFA’s experience together showed in the game.
“That group has played three or four games together now, that’s why they’re so strong,” he said.
“For Queensland, we need to keep this group together and start to build something here.”
Matt Handley had three for the VAFA before the first break, finishing with eight for the game, with VAFA coach, Simon Lethlean, emphasising the importance of that strong start.
“When you come away and your preparation is a bit more of a carnival, it was important to start well,” he said.
“We were up against a pretty fit team, big ground, the heat might have got to us if we didn’t start well, so it was crucial.”
Joel Rice, Tom Roach and captain, Cam Howat, were standouts in the VAFA win.
The QAFL showed fight as the game went on, but ultimately couldn’t gain a serious advantage, with Daniel lamenting some missed opportunities.
“At times, we turned it over and missed some blatantly easy marks and we missed some targets that we should have hit,” he said.
“I don’t know whether we were overawed.”
The QAFL’s defence lifted in the second quarter, with just the one point scored for either side in the first 10 minutes, with Palm Beach’s Matt Derrick and Labrador’s Tom Daniel working hard in the back line.