Grand Final Previews
U/13’s
Hermit Park Gold V Thuringowa Red
The Tigers probably deserve to go into this game favorite after finishing the year on top of the ladder. The Tigers have a number strong bodies including Alex Keeling and Timmy Briggs and good runners in Lukey Matthews and Mitchell Logde. They play a good brand of without heavily relying on any particular player. The Bulldogs Red team played an epic last weekend which went into overtime after scores being tied up at the end of four quarters. The Buldogs strength is it bal winners, Players like Adam Bice, Jackson Semmons and Issac Ward get a lot of the ball and if they all have a good day it will go down to the wire!
U/15’s
Hermit Park V Thuringowa
The Hermit Park U/15’s are the only undefeated team in all grades in AFL Townsville. They have a number of quality players who possess clean hands and are generally quite skillful across the park. U/15 league Best and Fairest Ryan Agita and his older brother, Stannis are both very talented players who if left alone could control the match by themselves. The Bulldogs have been the big improvers this year and also have a number of match winners. If big Jimmy Markham decides to work hard for the whole game he is a very dangerous player up forward while Tranter Keyes, in his first year of footy mops up beautifully in defense or on the ball. It will be an interesting contest in the ruck also, with two relatively new players, Jarrod Cavolot Tigers and Michael Tink for the Bulldogs. Both the boys are very tall and are very competitive so it will be a great battle.
U/17’s
Curra Swans V Hermit Park
A number of both players have had significant senior experience this year for both sides which will hold both clubs in good stead for the future. The Swans have only lost the one game for the year, to the Tigers, but have dominated most teams throughout the year. They have good players through the middle including Dave Foulds and B& F winner Joel Sim, Forwards Jade McGrgor and Khyle Goodman and a strong defence lead by Max Tink and Broderick Hill. The Tigers will have to have 22 contributors to really challenge the Swans but do have a few stars that will need stopping. Leroy Palmer, Chris Hodges, Jason Dibetta and Declan Wode are all quality players with senior experience, if not respected will cause trouble for the Swans.
RESERVES
University Hawks V Thuringowa
Didn’t the Bulldogs bounce back last weekend after there first loss of the year in the second Semi final! 7 goals in the first ten minutes really blew the Tigers away, game over! The Bulldogs have a number of good players in there side including Player of the year Steve Cocks and league B&F Tyran Hammett plus the evergreen Phil Heers and leading Goalkicker Joel Sullivan. The Students played exceptionally well last time these teams met and will have to be on there A game for a repeat performance. Bradley Mitchell has been in superb form since returning late in the season as has Conrad Dwyer. Joel Fleming and David Lambourn, both, who have spent a lot of time in the seniors this year, will lead the Uni Hawks defence.
SENIORS
University Hawks V Thuringowa
If the second Semi Final is anything to go by this should be a ripper. In that game to Bulldogs held on to a lead at quarter time before the Hawks jumped out to lead by 42 at the half way point of the third quarter before the Bulldogs came storming home eventually going down by a solitary point.
The game will be won through the midfield with both teams processing a number of skillful on – ballers. 2009 recruit Steve Wainewright, Robert Wearmouth are both Stars of the league and will lead the Hawks brigade along with Trigg, Kelly, Langley, McNab, Hewitt, Burger, Yates, Anstee and Trigwell for support. The Bulldogs will also be well represented in this area of the field with David Scott, who is also a noted goalkicker, Tom Ward, Aaron McNeil, Ricky Lyness, Cameron Leaman, Josh Hollis and Frank Scardamaglia. The team that can manage there midfield rotations will have a significant advantage to what is likely to be a hot Townsville Spring day.
Up forward the Bulldogs have a number of options with Shepherd and the Balnaves brothers while big Suitor has played n the ruck a bit more of late. Adam Connell is a rock at fullback while the rest of the Hawks back 6 have been very effective this year at not only defending but also creating a lot of run from the back half.
The Hawks have a smaller forward line but just as effective with Captain Phil Burger always dangerous as well as partner in crime James Gaudin, Champion centre half forward Edi Tommasini who has once again had a great year and will be a key for the Hawks. It will be interesting to see the Bulldogs match up’s, but you can count Stephan Lee and Darren Lange to be back there somewhere, the two veterans have been in great form his year and when you throw in Bryce Kelly, Warwick Dawson and Wade Whitburn it forms a formidable backline.
Should be tough game the will go right to the end, can’t wait for 3:00 Saturday!
Website Editor