Finals are here and week 1 is full of blockbusters, as Rogers Oval host the top 2 teams of each competition. We preview the Men's - Allied Pickford's Cup and the Women's AFL Mackay competition.
Week 1 Explained: On Saturday, the Qualifying Finals will be held at Rogers Oval for competitions. This is where 1st versus 2nd, with the winner to advance straight to this years Grand-Final and the loser to play the winner of the Sunday Elimination Finals between 3rd and 4th of each competition.
Allied Pickford’s Cup – Qualifying Final Preview
Rookie coach and the Allied Pickford’s Cup leading goal-kicker Matthew West, looms as the Eastern Swans key player if the men in red and white are to win back to back titles.
West has kicked an impressive 79 majors in total this year, which makes up 25% of the Swans season goals and is the main go to man inside fifty. Luke Ball has been the other major contributor this season with 39 and if the Swans are to kick a winning score against the competitions number on defensive unit, their midfield brigade will need to impact the scoreboard.
For Mackay City, they have the likes of Tim Bone, Darren Clark and Nicholas Morton who have shared the work-load inside the offensive fifty.
Both sides boast numerous impressive juniors, hard running defenders and ‘x’ factors that are game-changers.
For the Hawks, no-one can go past Desmond Hayes. The two time MJ Miller Medallist has been restricted to just ten games this season due to injury but is a big game player. Shutting down Hayes is a task in itself and no doubt we will see Hayes light up Rogers Oval on Saturday.
And for the Swans, you can’t go past the agile, skilful and lightning young gun, Braden DeAngelis. He may only be young, but this teenager oozes class and can break games open with his ability to break the lines.
An offensive head to head battle between Hayes and DeAngelis would be worth admission alone, it would be like watching Dangerfield and Fyfe go head to head, plenty of highlights and a stack load of possessions.
So, will it be the ‘Western’ Swans or the ever consistent Hawks?
Match Details
Eastern Swans V Mackay City Hawks
3:00pm first bounce
Rogers Oval, Petrie Street - Eastern Swans AFC
Women’s – Qualifying Final Preview
One and two all season, the Mackay Magpies and North Mackay Saints will again face off in this year’s Qualifying Final and the once undefeatable Magpies are not that anymore. North Mackay will go into this game knowing they can beat the Magpies and the ladies from Zeolla Park did just that earlier in the season in a one-point thriller.
The Magpies are aiming for the rare three-peat and of all seasons, this would be the flag that would mean the most in the most competitive season to date.
It will be a battle of the competitions number one offensive team (Magpies) and the number one defensive team (Saints). Magpies, Tina Hancock will again be a key focus for the defensive unit of the Saints and will no doubt receive a lot of attention in the pre-game discussions. Hancock is the go-to Magpie in the forward fifty with midfielders Ashley Moloney and Jenna Camilleri next on the list.
For the Saints, they will be without Captain Allyce Marchetti and will need the likes of Lyneeka Malone, Natasha Gardiner, Codie Rasmussen and Josie Fielding to fill the void of their hard-running leader.
The previously mentioned Hancock, Moloney and Camilleri are keys to a Magpies win but the likes of Lisa Millard, Amanda Taylor and Melissa Bernas.
A match not too miss and one that will go down to the wire. So will the Magpies soar or will the Saints march into the 2016 decider?
Match Details
Mackay Magpies V North Mackay Saints
11:45am first bounce
Rogers Oval, Petrie Street - Eastern Swans AFC
Photo by Chris Chapman (Eastern Swans Football Club facebook group).
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The thoughts and views in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views of the players, clubs and AFL Mackay.
Last Modified on 14/09/2016 11:26