Ball Saturday: Broadbeach v Morningside

Big ask this week. In round 5 after an even first half, Morningside gave us a touch up by some 16 goals, and have since fixed up their weekly opposition by similar margins. Our coaching staff had done their homework and matched Fifey and JD with Shelton and Lawlor; Tinker and Simmo were taking Kinch and Holman; while Quicky had the awesome task of captain Abbey, Cookey had Mugavin, and Liam Frawley was to follow Lucy. Quite apart from the fact that they ran their rotations through the middle, half forward line and bench which had us a little confused, they had a few more to throw in the mix – Gough, Amos and Brown for starters. In addition, our nominated match ups were a collective 24 years younger, an age difference reflected around the field. That makes for an opposition that was older, harder, with experienced mature bodies and a common understanding of a solid game plan playing to instructions. 

Maybe we could have tried the man-on-man approach employed by Redland against the panthers last week but that contest was about as one sided as ours. This is not to say our blokes were easy beats. We were competitive at the clearances, 16 – 14 to them, and just as committed with tackles 37 – 34 in their favour. It was a matter of the panthers using their rotations to maintain and control the pace of the game – we couldn’t slow it down - and were efficient in front of goal. They found their targets and finished well, something which eluded us when we did get clean possessions which was  generally after a hard slog and lots of hand action inside packs. They had the numbers at the ball, zig zagged across the ground at will to transport the air conveyance to the hot spot, and repeated their set plays off both half forward flanks when players were taking set shots. By our accounting nearly 50% of their score occurred in this manner. Best team performance we have witnessed this season and they will go deep into September.

We had 7 of our 8 goals at half time. It was a mini shoot-out between Korey and Declan Bevan (GC17). Eventually Fults rammed home four, and was effective around the ground in applying forward pressure, and Declan had his 4 by half time.

Swinger tested the gods in the second quarter when he put the referee down in a midfield collision. Ute Grant didn’t appear after the long break because of a nasty head clash, and things didn’t improve with first JD going down with a knee, and then Flapper, who replaced Nick Barling in the selected side (broken beak), also did his knee. To their credit they attended the Ball with Flapper on crutches.

Little point in dwelling on the defeat other than recognising a need for some cattle recruitment. But there are positives – real ones. 
Ø       We are witnessing history and our blokes should be aware that they have the opportunity to play alongside a great in Korey Fulton who is now only 4 goals away from equalling Ray Hughson’s 636 goals, the second highest career goals in the QAFL.  
 Ø       We are developing great footballers for the greatest game. It may be to our detriment and we stand to lose a few to the GCFC next season, but that is a price for a young list. We have played twenty teenagers in the ones. Eleven of them are 18 or under including Rhino Dienjes who is into his third season (and while he was the QAFL full back of the week last week, he proved to be an upfront player at the Ball).
Ø       Two of our co-captains are only 20 and the other has the energy to take on two (on and off the field). They will all be better for the experience.
Ø       A GC17 rep, a Smithy carrot top in Declan Bevan, lined up front and centre for us and had 4 coffee scrolls to half time, three off left foot checkside/banana kicks. Now Declan may stay at GC17 – certainly on yesterday’s performance he will – but if he doesn’t, he has a positive experience with us and may choose to join our club.
Ø       Three of the late season inclusions in the team, Cookey, Nathan Quick and Mitch Scale (two teenagers and a law student), look like they were born in the ones.

Final Scores:  Broadbeach 8  8  56 Morningside 26  16  172
Goals: Bevan 4 and Fulton 4
Best players: Zorko, Bevan, Fulton, Cooke, Scale and Clough

We’ve got Aspley, Redland (home), Labrador and Mt Gravatt to go and we are definite chances in all games. We have wins over Aspley and Labrador this season, should have got up against Mt Gravatt at Merrimac and will grow a leg for the final home game against Redland.

PS: Captain Dicko was absent updating his first aid knowledge in preparation to qualifying for the police academy Steph is having a go as well – Mr and Mrs Plod of Broadbeach. Best of luck to you both in your chosen careers.