By Beth newman
LABRADOR v BROADBEACH
There’s a double chance on offer at Cooke-Murphy Oval tomorrow, but Labrador coach, Steve Daniel, says there will be something just as important as that in their reach.
A win against the Cats tomorrow would give the Tigers their fifth straight win and crucial momentum heading into week one of the finals.
“The boys are playing with a lot of confidence and they’ve got a lot of belief,” Daniel said.
“You can’t just go out and buy confidence from a shop, you build it over weeks and weeks of good things happening.”
The Tigers will welcome Kieran Daley and Kaplun Morris into their side for the game with the Cats with Mick Abbey and Nick Anderson out.
Labrador will field a vastly different side from the one which narrowly lost to the Cats in Round nine, as their list recovers.
Nick Stockdale, Tom Daniel and Kurt Niklaus have all been named to play after overcoming injuries during the week.
Broadbeach will debut another young Cat this weekend, with Robert Blood coming into the side, along with James Royes and Michael Lindeback, while Ben Wells (Southport), Matt Spencer, Luke Dempsey-Ceh and Jake Crawford are out.
The Cats are full of excitement heading into the final regular season game, with many of them approaching their first senior finals campaign, a prospect that has pleasantly surprised Petterd.
“No one picked us to play finals at the start of the year,” he said.
“It’s a reward for this young group and down the track we want to keep them together.”
MT GRAVATT v PALM BEACH
Mt Gravatt will be hoping that history repeats when they face Palm Beach tomorrow.
The Vultures sprung an upset over the Lions in their Round nine clash and coach, Brad Pollock, said they were keen to make it a perfect record and give their finals momentum a boost.
“We’ve come a long way and we’re not prepared to let this chance slip,” he said.
“Once you beat a team, part of that is psychological and there’s no reason you can’t do it again.
“We’ve still got a fair bit at stake and good results ensure that small mathematical chance (of missing finals) doesn’t pop up and kick us out of the final five.”
Frazer Neate will miss the game with general soreness, paving the way for Alex Jockovich to return from a broken ankle, while Redland-listed Craig Malone will play his second match in a row for Mt Gravatt, after a dominant performance against Sandgate.
In what is likely to be a wet weather game, Palm Beach assistant, Chad Owens, said the Lions’ focus would be on one thing.
“Pressure wins finals and at the end of the day that’s why we want our guys to defend first and attack second,” he said.
“We’re hoping that’s what tomorrow is all about – pressure and not allowing them to chip around, because that’s the style they like.”
Palm Beach has opted to rest some of its key players a week out from finals, with Jesse Derrick, Clint Kelly and Todd Bryant all to miss, while Bryce Perry-Bolt has been named in the side but a final decision on his selection will be left until tomorrow.
Despite the absence of that trio, who have been key parts of the Lions’ success this season, Owens said he had faith the new inclusions would step up.
“If they play well, they could stake a claim for a finals spot,” he said.
SANDGATE v SURFERS PARADISE
Surfers Paradise will likely face a second straight slog, against Sandgate tomorrow.
The Demons stood up in wet conditions at Wilston Grange and with a similar side named for tomorrow, they can likely go in with confidence at Lemke Rd.
Surfers Paradise has made two changes to its side from last weekend, with Dane Grant recalled to the Southport senior side and Trent McIntyre unavailable, replaced by Dylan Mutu and Regan Salter coming in.
Zorko said the emphasis would be on defence for his side tomorrow.
“We can’t allow the opposition to score,” he said.
“we want to get everything out of the game in the sense of showcasing how far we’ve come as a unit and making sure that we play the game right out.”
Sandgate coach, Ian Carter, simply wants his side to show maximum effort from go to woah tomorrow.
“We want to go out with our heads held high and make sure we compete,” he said.
“We have shown spurts of that, but we don’t want spurts, we want to see it for the whole day.”
Ben Beaven will come into the Hawks’ team for the game, along with Sam Summers with Declan Bevan recalled to the Aspley NEAFL team.
UQ v WILSTON GRANGE
Pride will be the prize at Oval 7 tomorrow, when UQ hosts Wilston Grange.
Neither side are in contention for finals, but both will be looking to finish their season off on a high, in the last regular match of the season.
The Red Lions pushed the Gorillas for much of their last clash, before Wilston Grange kicked away, and UQ coach, Matt Stewart, said they were looking for a swansong victory tomorrow.
“They beat us pretty well last year and to get a lot closer last time gives us confidence,” he said.
“We’re looking for a win this week, the boys are excited and we feel that.”
UQ have made two changes to their side for the weekend, with Ben Kleverlaan and Tim Davison coming in for Harry Milford (sick) and Connor Wood out.
Jack James and Dan Farry will come into the Gorillas side tomorrow with Lee smith and Josh Stiller out.
WESTERN MAGPIES v MORNINGSIDE
They have top spot and a week off sewn up, but Morningside coach, David Lake, said they would be firing on all cylinders tomorrow against the Western magpies.
While the temptation to rest players can be irresistible at the end of a long season, Lake stressed they would not be giving anyone a free ride.
“We are as keen as ever to finish 18 and zip,” he said.
“There’ll certainly be no resting.”
Peter Mollison, Blane Delbridge and Paul Shelton return to the side this weekend, while Bill Pendlebury, Sam Brown and Dan Daye.
Lake said the competition for senior selection had been shown through the season, and that was motivation in itself for the players.
“There’s no margin for error, we’ve proven spots are tight,” he said.
‘If you don’t deliver, you won’t get your spot.”
The Magpies are the last team to have a crack at ending the Panthers’ unbeaten streak and coach, Glenn Humphrey, said the prospect of facing the ladder-leaders with no pressure, was enticing.
“We’ll instruct the guys, put some time into two or three of their guys and see if we can make it a free for all,” he said.
“We’ll see what we can come up with.”
Humphrey said the year had been an ultimately positive one for his side and tomorrow’s match would be another chance to learn.
“In all reality, the group has improved,” he said.
We’ve had a young playing group and as the season went on, it took its toll on those younger players.”
Hunter Heath and Luke Boulton will come in for their first senior games of the season, while Ben Landry returns from Redland, while Chris Judson (unavailable), Jake Heard and Brodie Easton will all miss.
Michael Conlan – AFLQ CEO (53)
Labrador
Palm Beach
Surfers Paradise
UQ
Morningside
Lisa McKoy – AFLQ Media Manager (59)
Labrador
Palm Beach
Surfers Paradise
Wilston Grange
Simon Devine – AFLQ Competition Manager (64)
Labrador
Palm Beach
Surfers Paradise
Wilston Grange
Morningside
Breeanna Brock – AFLQ Female Programs Manager (57)
Labrador
Palm Beach
Surfers Paradise
Wilston Grange
Morningside
Jack Barry – AFLQ State Coaching, Volunteer & Affiliates Manager (64)
Labrador
Palm Beach
Surfers Paradise
Wilston Grange
Morningside
Craig Millar – AFLQ Football Operations Manager (59)
Labrador
Palm Beach
Surfers Paradise
UQ
Morningside
Beth Newman – AFLQ Community Football Writer (69)
Labrador
Mt Gravatt
Surfers Paradise
UQ
Morningside
Download the Rd 18 record here.
