Division 1 Men's Allied Pickford's Cup action returns to the home of footy in the region, as the Mackay City Hawks host the North Mackay Saints, as second plays third.
The last time these two sides meet, it was a one-sided affair with the Hawks soaring to a 99-point victory over the Saints as Brodie Saltmarsh for Mackay City led from the front with a bag of 7 majors for the afternoon. With Mark Berts judged best on ground by his coaching staff with Jarrod Watling also a key contributor.
North Mackay struggled in this opening match and will be looking to their key players in Brendan Cowcher, Sam Dunbar and co to have a bigger influence on the contest this time round.
Mackay City are coming off the bye and will be eager to get out onto the premier surface in the region and keep within striking distance of ladder leaders the Eastern Swans. The Saints are coming off a scrappy and at times impressive, win over the Mackay Magpies.
The Saints have relied heavily on David Edwards to kick goals this season, with the demanding small forward coming off 5-goals against the Magpies. If another goal-kicker can chip in and take the focal point away from Edwards, the Hawks coaching staff will need to focus a little more on than defensive game that has only been tested once this season during their loss to the Swans.
An interesting and mouth-watering match up will be North Queensland representatives Brendan Cowcher (Saints) and Jarrod Watling (Hawks), as both fine tune for next weekends match against South Queensland in Brisbane.
Both Watling and Cowcher are similar players and come from strong football backgrounds.
Cowcher debuted for North Mackay in 2009 in their reserves and has been a cornerstone ever since. With 145 games since 2005 to his career including 51 with Yarroweyah Football Club in central Victoria's Picola and District Football Netball League, the defensive midfielder has becoming one of the key and most efficient players in the competition sending the footy inside the forward fifty.
Watling on the other hand, is slightly younger with 83 games under his belt which includes 63 games with the Smithton Football Club in the North West Football League of Tasmania and 16 games will Clarence in the TasmaniaState League (TSL). The offensive mid loves to kick and goal and that is evident with his average of 1.4 goals per game or 117 goals in his 83 game career.
If both coaches a show-men they will make Cowcher and Watling go head to head and this will match up would be priceless.
Instead of Hawks V Saints, it is Watling versus Cowcher, two no doubt favourites for the MJ Miller Medal (Best and Fairest).
4:30pm first bounce
Harrup Park Oval 1
2:45pm - Division 2 Men's
1:00pm - Premeir Women's
9:40am - Under 13 AFL Mackay Isuzu Ute Trophy
Last Modified on 02/06/2015 08:51