Thursday 5 August 2010
Home-grown Morningside defender Jarrod Price remains upbeat despite the Panthers dropping out of minor premiership contention last weekend.
A 28-point loss at Mt Gravatt sees the Panthers entrenched in third position on the QAFL premiership table with three rounds remaining, meaning a likely trip to the Gold Coast for the first round of finals.
“We’ve got three more games to go and can have a good run into the finals,” Price said.
He was taking nothing for granted with Saturday’s home game at Esplen Oval against Broadbeach, however, despite the Cats having fallen in a big hole in the last month.
“They gave us a real run for our money down there early in the season and they will be fighting for respect,” Price said. “It’s a big danger game for us and we need to come with our ‘A’ game.”
Price has been a key player for the Panthers, holding the defence together with Aaron Rogers at centre-half-back and full-back.
The defenders did their job for most of the day at Mt Gravatt and Price is relishing playing in a defensive unit that is very much a team within a team.
“ I’ve played down back for the majority of my career, and it was great re-uniting with ‘Doc’ (Nic) Tomlinson last year and having ‘Rog-o’ come in this year.
“Hopefully I’m getting a touch and keeping up with the young fellas.”
Last week’s loss was a disappointing way for coach John Blair to reach the magnificent milestone of 300 games as a coach of the Panthers, which was celebrated appropriately at the Morningside Ball on Saturday night.
They will look to make it a more memorable milestone for Kent Abey on Saturday, when the co-captain registers his 150th game.
