QFA Division 3
Victoria Point Sharks vs Ipswich Eagles
It’s been a strong season for the Victoria Point Sharks and they’ve rolled through perfectly, bar one game they lost in a slip-up, to Carrara. And while Sharks coach Rodney Brown has every reason to believe they can lay their hands on some silverware, he doesn’t want to get complacent.
“You like to be confident without being cocky,” said the coach.
“It’s all about preparation. If you prepare well you’re confident and if you’re confident you perform, don’t you?”
The Sharks’ success has been built off the back of a stable backline that has been almost unchanged all year. Liam Eadie is the lynchpin of the celebrated defense, where he matches up on the main forward, expertly picking the right time to man up or run off. Up the other end there is no shortage of scoring power either, with Sharks’ focal point Ash Templar raring to add to his season total of 83 goals.
Victoria Point is set to meet an Ipswich Eagles outfit that has peaked at the right time of the year, snagging an impressive victory over Carrara in the preliminary final and snatching a place in the last game of the year.
Electrifying Eagle, Duran Dick, was in full flight last week and looms as a vital piece of the puzzle for Ipswich on Saturday in the big dance. The ‘jack-in-the-box’ forward can be a real headache if he gets going, like he showed against the Saints with five important goals. Liam Eadie will no doubt get the job on the dangerous forward, who has bagged 53 goals for the season and sits fourth on the overall table.
Keith Brick is another one that knows how to find the goals, but also works hard up the ground and has been named in the Eagles best a staggering 13 times. Ipswich need to get the ball in Brick’s hands if they’re going to trouble the Sharks’ fabled defense.
QFA Division 3 Reserves
Carrara vs. Victoria Point
This one is set up with everything required for a cracking grand final. On two of the three previous occasions these teams have met this season, the margin has been under ten points. Such was the case in their last encounter, in week one of the finals, when Carrara took honors by nine points in a tight encounter against an inaccurate Victoria Point.
Carrara leading goal kicker Jason McConchie will be a focal point for the Saints as they head forward, as the spearhead aims to add another haul to the 46 he’s already kicked this season. In the Sharks’ forward line, it’ll be down to former Victoria Point president Jeff Heath, another one with a respectable tally of majors this year (42).
Given the recent finals encounter between these two sides featured 42 total scoring shots, expect McConchie and Heath at either end to play significant roles in shaping the result of this matchup.
Rhys ‘Rooster’ Cassidy is an important piece of the puzzle for the Saints at fullback, as is the running Zac Gayfer with his ability to influence the midfield battle. Both Cassidy and Gayfer have been named in the best players on an impressive nine occasions each this season.
“I think our forward line pressure is the key,” said Saints coach Clifford Baker.
“If we allow them to come out of the backline with no pressure, it’s going to open up their whole midfield.”
For the Sharks, Ashley Le Cerf looms as a key player both in his role as a leader and his ability to hold down any of the key position posts. Le Cerf’s teammate Damien Burger is another vital chess piece for Victoria Point, particularly defensively in the middle. Burger has been in the best eight times this year, as has Le Cerf.
“I think if we can get on top in the middle of the ground, then we should be able to get over the top of them,” said Victoria Point coach Tye Wishart.
“That’s probably where it’s going to be won or lost.”
QFA Division 3 Reserves
Sat Sep 2 2017
Carrara vs. Victoria Point: Dauth Park 11.15 am
QFA Division 3
Sat Sep 2 2017
Victoria Point vs. Ipswich: Dauth Park 2.00 pm
