By Beth Newman
A final quarter flurry undid the Queensland U18s, as they went down to the undefeated Oakleigh Chargers , 15.17 (107) – 7.6 (48).
Only one point separated the sides at three-quarter time, and the Queenslanders edged in front early in the last term, before the Chargers went on a 10-goal run to finish the game.
Acting Queensland coach, Scott Borlace, said the game, their first TAC Cup match of 2014, proved to be a massive learning opportunity for the side.
“There are so many positives that we can take out of the game but we need to improve the things that led to us conceding those goals in the last quarter,” he said.
“We have to tweak some things in that regard but the boys get a really good understanding of the level and we just need to make it a four quarter effort.”
Borlace said the side would need to look at improving its defensive efforts in future, which slipped away in that final quarter.
“It was basically a lot of the things we had done well with team defence and ball movement, whether it was fatigue or not, it dropped away significantly,” he said.
Despite the final scoreline, Borlace said the first three terms proved that Queensland, missing its three AIS-AFL Academy players as well as a number through injury, had the talent to mix it with one of the best TAC Cup sides.
“If we play the way we want to play, can match it with quality opposition,” he said.
“ They’re too good a side to have lapses against. They make you pay when you drop away your defensive stuff and make silly mistakes.”
Sixteen year-old Oakleigh Chargers forward, Daniel Houston, had four goals in the last term, in a dominant performance.
Matt Uebergang was the only multiple goal scorer for the Queensland team, finishing with two.
Half-back Henry Leong was one of the side’s best, rarely conceding any ground to his forward opponent, Borlace said.
“Henry was very good one on one and I can’t remember him getting beaten by his forward today,” he said.
Queensland will be a much stronger outfit in their next match, with Lachie Weller, Liam Dawson and Matt Hammelmann returning from AIS duties, while players like Southport’s Darcy Trask (hamstring) will also be in the selection frame.
Oakleigh Chargers 15.17.107
Queensland 7.6.48
QLD GOAL KICKERS -Matthew Uebergang 2 , Ben Keays 1, Isaac Hay 1, Corey Wagner 1, Cameron Stevenson 1, James Rayner
BEST – Henry Leong , Darcy Cameron Reeves, James Rayner , Matthew Uebergang, Daniel Henderson , Ben Keays
