Match of the Round - Allied Pickford's Cup
Whitsunday Vs. Mackay Magpies
Sat 4th July, 1:00pm Whitsunday Sports Park
The match only reads as a regular Round 12 encounter between the 4th placed Mackay Magpies and 6th placed Whitsunday Sea Eagles but for one side this match is a season definer.
Whitsunday sit one game outside the Allied Pickford top 4 and victory in this match will see the Sea Eagles go on even points with the Magpies. With winnable games against Bakers Creek and Moranbah to come, the Sea Eagles are primed to sling-shot into the top 4.
However, a loss will leave Whitsunday 8 points outside the top 4 and victories against the Tigers and Bulldogs will be must wins plus a win against one of the competition front-runners the Swans or the Hawks.
Whitsunday are the better of the two when it comes to defensive rankings, with the Sea Eagles ranked 4th in the competition for points against and the Magpies 6th. However, offensive rankings are a different story with the Magpies equal third and Whitsunday ranked last in 7th.
This is where Whitsunday has lacked over the season, with young tall Eli Gunders the most prolific Sea Eagle in front of the goals.
Whitsunday will no doubt be looking for more support for the 2-metre 17 year old, with the Magpies vulnerable in defence. Sea Eagles key contributors Chris Bray, James Bourke, Luke McCaul along with Matthew Laskey will need to have massive influences with the home side are to collect the four premiership points.
For the Magpies, ruck Tyson Craig has been in standout form and will go head to head with key Sea Eagle Eli Gunders for a majority of the match.
Forward Brendan Edwards will again be a key, as the Magpies leading goal-kicker is starting to find form again after on-going soreness. Midfielders Heath Thiele and Edward Trewin will be keys if the Magpies are to take home the four premiership points.
The Magpies will also be keen to collect the four premiership points with midfielder Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown playing his last game for the black and white. Ygoa-McKeown debut for the Magpies in 2012 against the Mackay City Hawks and has played 43 games and kicked 16 goals, in his 44th the Mackay Magpies men will no doubt be out to send one of the clubs key cogs out on a high note.
Photo by Bakers Creek Tigers AFL Facebook page: Whitsunday player/coach Matthew Laskey tries to break a tackle during his clubs match against Bakers Creek.
Last Modified on 06/07/2015 10:15