The Queensland Country Kookaburras saved their best effort until last in their final game of the U18 State Championships but ran out of legs and able bodies just falling short to the Western Taipans at Coorparoo on Saturday.
The Kookaburras started the game strongly with key forward Jye Bohm and midfielders Stanis Susuve and Nat Congoo setting the standard. The Kookaburras and the Taipans went goal for goal through the entire first half with the Taipans taking a 1 point advantage into the main break.
The third term saw the Kookaburras take control but could not put the Taipans away on the score board. Nick Clark provided plenty of run through the back half giving good support to the midfield and Jake Goldsmith provided a strong target up forward. A late goal by Nat Congoo a split second after the three quarter time siren was disallowed keeping the Taipans within striking distance and the Kookaburras would have to be content taking a 7 point lead into the final term.
While the quality of football was the best the Kookaburras had produced for the tournament the injury toll was mounting. Key defender Chris Hunt went off with concussion, Nick Clark rolled an ankle, Nat Congoo hurt his ribs, Michael Lovell a shoulder, Matt Storey a groin, adding to the already injured Mitch Nicholson and Billy Moorhead. The injuries stifled the midfield rotations and consequently the Taipans found another gear to finish the game strongly running over the depleted Kookaburra team by 17 points.
"The boys had a tough week but they have all learnt of lot from the experience" " The pleasing thing is that the team improved with each hit out" "Unfortunately miles and money make it difficult for the country team to have the same preparation as the city teams and it often takes them a game or two to adjust to the pace"
Final Score: Western Taipans 10.6.66 def Queensland County Kookaburras 7.7.49
Goals: Jye Bohm 2, Matt Pendlington 2, Jake Goldsmith 1, Matt Sondergold 1, Josh Marriot 1.
Best: Jye Bohm, Stanis Susuve, Nat Congoo, Matt Sondergold, Jake Goldsmith, Mahdi Chizari
From this tournament players will be selected for the Queensland Squad and the GC17 squad. The squad will be named on the AFL Queensland website on Tuesday afternoon.
Last Modified on 11/05/2009 10:27