The NT Thunder and Aspley clash in Darwin on Saturday night in a QAFL Round 11 match that suddenly has enormous ramifications.
Wednesday 23 June 2010
The NT Thunder and Aspley clash in Darwin on Saturday night in a QAFL Round 11 match that suddenly has enormous ramifications.
Two weeks ago it was looming as just another game, but suddenly a victory will give the Thunder plenty of impetus to push for a home final, while the Hornets will dramatically re-enter the finals race if they can conjure up a victory.
Thunder coach Murray Davis refuses to look any further than Saturday night.
“We’re just trying to make sure we carry our form from last week through to our home game,” Davis said.
Davis was delighted with his side’s effort in upsetting Mt Gravatt last weekend for their first win outside the NT since last season.
“I couldn’t fault anyone – they all contributed,” Davis said.
He also praised 16-year-old debutant Joe Rollinson, who didn’t look out of place at senior level.
The NT trip has had still-new Aspley coach Russell Evans bury his head in videos of watching the Thunder this week.
Evans has a 1-1 win-loss record since Russell Harding’s resignation three weeks ago but he too is concerning himself only with playing accountable football this week.
“We just have to stick to our main game pattern with a high work rate and applying a lot of pressure,” Evans said.
“We know they have skilful, creative players and in theory the big ground will test us, but we are playing a style of game that should be suited to that and hopefully we will be competitive.”
