By Beth Newman
Queensland U18 coach, Adrian Fletcher, will be focused on consistency against Gippsland on Sunday.
After quarter-long lapses in their opening TAC Cup matches, Fletcher said maintaining intensity over four quarters would be crucial against the Power.
“Games ebb and flow but you’ve got to still have the energy to compete at the level that’s there,” he said.
“We’ve done it for 80 per cent of the game, now we’ve got to do it for 100 per cent.”
Queensland U18 coach Adrian Fletcher, said his side more fully understood the standard they had to play after two TAC Cup matches.
“I think it’s been an eye opener for our players and I think they understand the level now,” he said.
“As a coaching group, we need to make sure we keep putting the players in the right positions, that’s the key.”
Fletcher said his focus now was on instilling behaviours in the team, rather than worrying primarily about the results.
“If the behaviours are right, everything will follow,” he said.
“If they’re not, there’s no good talking about wins.”
Unravelled by lapses in quarters in recent matches, Fletcher said consistency would be vital for the side.
Hard nut, Cassidy Haberfield, will come back into the side for the match, while Wiley Buzza and Nate Dennis will play their first Queensland games of the year and Ryan Agita returns from a shoulder injury.
Captain, Darcy Cameron-Reeves is set to play after suffering a knee injury against Sandringham last weekend, but Jacob Watson will miss the match.
Fletcher said Haberfield was a player they missed last weekend, with his talent in congestion.
“He’ll bring a bit more grunt into the side,” he said.
Gippsland has won one match so far this season, beating the Murray Bushrangers in round two.
The Power play a highly contested style of play and Fletcher said his side would need to get stuck in.
“We need to roll our sleeves up and make sure we get enough of the ball,” he said.
“Last week we had 30 more possessions than our opposition so they had to tackle us and they did.
“We’ll be looking to get the ball out of our area quicker so we don’t get pinned down.”
Father-son prospect Josh Dunkley, son of former Sydney Swan Andrew will be on show for the Power.
The match kicks off at Morwell Football Ground at 12pm.
Check out our video chat with Adrian Fletcher ahead of this weekend’s game.
TEAMS:
QLD
B Holland Jackson Henderson
HB Leong Hammelmann Dawson
C Wagner Bertoli-Simmonds Stevenson
HF Mutu Andrews Keays
F Uebergang Buzza Agita
R Dennis* Cameron-Reeves Weller
Int Moseley Haberfield Walton
Rayner Trask Blood
Gippsland Power
B Ferreira Grech Hammond
HB Proctor Walker Stanlake
C Olsson Carr Marsh
HF Argento Skinner Ambler
F Holmes Keilty Di Ciero
R Raine Dunkley Cunico
Int Park Beck J. Jacobsen
Smith Papley M. Jacobsen
Dessent* Robinson
