By Beth Newman
SURFERS PARADISE v LABRADOR
Labrador coach, Steve Daniel, is confident his side can produce another gritty performance, after another week of forced changes.
The Tigers will miss Adam Baird (knee), Matt Daniel (adductor) and Kieran LeJeune, with Jesse Walton and Kurt Niklaus back, but Daniel said he had faith in his side to step up.
“We’re looking forward to seeing how good our depth is, “he said.
“Last week’s effort was super and missing a few boys, as a group we stood up.
“We need to make sure we do it again this weekend.”
Surfers Paradise’s strength is increasing week by week, and will be bolstered again by Southport-listed Ben Merrett for the second week in a row, 2012 Grogan Medallist, Fraser Pope and Regan Salter, while co-captain Regan Finlay comes in for his first 2014 match.
After a close loss to Broadbeach in round 5, Demons coach Beau Zorko said the side was poised to pinch an unlikely result, and said it would be the perfect time to follow through, against one of the club’s greatest historical rivals.
“It would be a great week to get a result because of the past history,” he said.
“I’m reluctant to get too far ahead of ourselves though, there’s still a lot of improvement to be made.”
While many of the Demons’ 24 changes over the past month have been forced by NEAFL selection choices, the Tigers welcome their first NEAFL-listed player into the side this week, in Adam Clarke.
BROADBEACH v SANDGATE
Sandgate will be out to prove last week’s disappointment was just a blip on the radar when they take on Broadbeach tomorrow.
After a disappointing effort against Labrador, Dickfos said his side would bounce back against the Cats.
“I’m confident that last week was just one of those weeks,” he said.
“it might have just been the week we needed to kick everyone into line.”
Dickfos, has not been afraid to make some tough decisions, with Tom Overington in the reserves this weekend after a quiet patch.
Dickfos said the team would be boosted by the return of Lions Academy player, Blake Hartley, and state U18 player, Nick Jackson, in the team.
“They’re guys whose body language tells us they want to be here and it’s good to have that young enthusiasm and confidence,” he said.
The Hawks have taken a cautious approach to the return of injures pair, Ben Conway and Sam Summers, who will both play reserves for the third straight week.
Broadbeach has plenty of confidence in exactly the area the Hawks need, after a come-from-behind win over Surfers Paradise last weekend.
The Cats will have a handy forward target back in Kieran Brennan but lose Southport-listed Adam McKenzie and Darin Stewart, both unavailable.
Cats coach, Wayne Petterd, said his younger players would relish the chance to step up without the Southport pair.
“The others will need to stand up more,” he said.
“We’ve got experience in defence in Matty Fife and Liam Frawley and they’re going to carry a bit more of the work rate.
“They (the players) are looking forward to it.”
After a slow start against the Demons last week, Petterd said his side would be looking to capitalise on its opportunities at H&A Oval tomorrow.
WESTERN MAGPIES v UQ
They’re both coming off big losses, but only one of the Western Magpies or UQ will achieve redemption tomorrow at Chelmer.
Magpies coach, Glenn Humphrey, said he was confident his side would bounce back
“It (last week’s match) sets the players a challenge to rebound from that performance and get back to playing better football.
“They need to lift and this is an opportunity for that.”
They will be without Cory Hopkins, Hayden Thick (work) and Aaron Yusia-Marcic (QLD Diversity U17) for the match, with experienced Matt Hockley to return, along with Matthew Davis and Brady Allen.
Humphrey acknowledged the significance of the match, with a win keeping them in the middle of the pack.
“This game separates us from the bottom of the table,” he said.
“If we don’t win, it puts us down around the same area as the bottom sides and that’s not where we want to be.
UQ gains two youngsters in Scott Miller and Nate Dennis back into its side, as well as classy mid, Dustin Harris.
Red Lions coach, Matt Stewart, said his players would be ready for a tough contest against the Magpies.
“It will be a hard game, they run hard through their midfield,” he said.
“We’re excited to have a crack at another good side and continuing to improve.”
Aspley-listed Cain Tickner could also line up for UQ, with a final decision to be made tomorrow.
MORNINGSIDE v MT GRAVATT
In David Lake’s last senior coaching stint, he led Mt Gravatt to a NEAFL preliminary final, but as Morningside prepares to face its old foe, he says it’s just like every other week.
“They’re just another team in the other rooms,” he said.
“Now, I’m wearing another colour in another place, but I don’t really feel anything (different).”
Lake was adamant the Vultures would need to bring their best, though.
“They’ll need to be good, because we’re getting better and better, in my view.”
“We just need to do what we do.”
The Panthers are resting in-form back man, Josh Brown for the match, while half-forward Cameron Burnside will play his first match for the Panthers and veteran defender, Nick Tomlinson, comes back in.
Vultures coach, Brad Pollock, said his side would not be intimidated by the premiership favourites tomorrow.
“We won’t be overawed. To be honest, we’re just treating the game as another one against Morningside,” he said.
“The rivalry thing’s always been there and we’re always up for that game, no matter the position on the ladder.”
Mt Gravatt have been hard hit by injuries, with Mojok Aneet (groin), Daniel Williamson (hamstring), Mitch Hart (knee) and Alex Jokovich (ankle) all out.
They will welcome back state U18 representative, Wylie Buzza, as well as Redland’s Adam Boon, for the game.
Pollock said he would continue to focus on improvement from his side.
“They’re starting to realise the type of footy that needs to be played in this competition,” he said.
“We need to get better with our decision-making and play more consistent footy.”
PALM BEACH v WILSTON GRANGE
Things aren’t getting easier for Wilston Grange, with a match against Palm Beach tomorrow, but coach, Matt Trewhella, said his side would be up for the challenge.
Trewhella said his team had confidence as one of only two teams to defeat the Lions in the 2013 regular season.
“We take confidence that we know how to beat them,” he said.
Trewhella said his side had performed to expectations so far this season, and he would be looking for them to continue the effort they had produced, regardless of the result.
“We’ve won all the games we were supposed to and lost the ones we were expected to,”he said.
“They’re on top of us, they’ve had some big wins, but our effort is there and we just need to do the little things.”
“We‘ve had a tough month and we need to make sure we’ve got guys who are mentally tough enough.”
Anthony Penny will shoulder his fair share of the load once again, matching up against on-fire forward, Bryce Perry-Bolt, after keeping Kent Abey relatively quiet last weekend.
The Gorillas welcome Harris Andrews into the side, as well as veteran Dave Kettle.
David Manning returns to the Palm Beach, while Southport-listed Stephen Thynne is in the side for the second time this year.
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