One plays three in the Allied Pickford’s Cup match of the round, as the Eastern Swans face cross-town rivals the North Mackay Saints.
The Eastern Swans sit comfortably on top of the ladder, with many labelling the Swans as the premiership favourites for season 2015. The closet the men in red and white have come to a loss this season is in Round 6, when the Swans defeated the Hawks by 36-points at Rogers Oval.
Start of May was the last time the Saints rumbled with the Swans at Zeolla Park.
In an emphatic display of structured and disciplined football, the Swans kicked 10 second half goals to the Saints 3 behinds. Grant Evans booted a game high 6-majors with small forward Nicholas Kempe chipping in with 4 of his own.
Brendan Cowcher was the stand-a-lone warrior that day, shouldering a majority of the Saints attacking raids and defensive rebounds. The defensive midfielder will be a player to watch for the men in black, red and white.
However, this isn’t just another North Mackay versus Eastern Swans show-down. The football game itself will play as a side-kick, as one of the true gentlemen of Australian Football in Mackay runs out for his 300th match.
Swans Captain Ivan Walker, will play game 300 and it would have come sooner if it wasn’t for an injury set back.
Averaging 4-goals a game this season, veteran Walker is a one of, if not the best mark in the competition. His ability to read the play ahead and anticipate where to lead before his opponent has even blinked sets this natural leader a-part from the rest.
Since the 2009 season Walker has booted 179 majors and has been an important ingredient in the Swans success.
Finding a match up for the milestone man is a key to the Saints recording a upset at Rogers Oval. However, the headaches don’t stop there for North Mackay, with the Swans midfield a tight unit that is led by the silky skilled Terry Bailey, outside run of Matt Oakford, hard-running of Andrew Leithhead and the poise of Mitchell Cook.
Add to that quartet the likes of Rocklyn Miller, Nicholas Kempe and co, North Mackay will need to be on-song if they are to defeat the Swans at their nest in Rogers Oval.
However, do not cross out North Mackay.
The previously mentioned Brendan Cowcher is key if the Saints are to win but as everyone knows, games are won on standout team performances. Saints such as the consistent Mathew Landt, Brenton Lauder, Ryan Hollows.
But the key for the Saints, is they need extra firepower up forward.
Veteran David Edwards has shouldered the work-load all season and if the Saints are to become genuine Premiership threats, they need more options inside the forward fifty or at least impacting the score-board.
Edwards has been fantastic, along with midfielder Sam Dunbar and Brendan Riddle who are in the double digits when it comes to goal-kicking tallies.
North Mackay has a solid and hard-working midfield and very good defensive unit. If they can find the right balance up forward and impact the scoreboard more when inside fifty, the Saints will threaten the top two teams in the Allied Pickford’s Cup.
After their big round 10 victory over the Sea Eagles, the Saints have gone two games clear in third position and boosted their percentage, which will strengthen their claim to host finals come the end of August.
Another massive game in the Allied Pickford’s Cup, the Eastern Swans remain undefeated but for how much longer. Can the Saints spoil the Swans celebrations at Rogers Oval??
Congratulations to Ivan Walker on game 300.
Game Details
Eastern Swans Vs. North Mackay Saints
2:45pm
Rogers Oval
Saturday 27th June, 2015
Photo by Chris Chapman: Eastern Swans mile-stone man and Captain Ivan Walker takes a mark against the North Mackay Saints in their last encounter.
Last Modified on 29/06/2015 10:55