The Under 14 AFL Mackay Isuzu UTE Shield may quite possibly be the surprise grand final of the day.
The North Mackay Saints have come from seemingly nowhere to snatch a spot in the big dance. Placing 3rd after the home and season the mighty Saints rolled Mackay Magpies in the first elimination final by 33 points with Damon O’Dwyer and Ty Jenkins leading the way with 3 goals each.
The game which had all the punters talking on the hill was the preliminary final between ever imposing Sarina Demons against the North Mackay Saints.
Sarina were virtually unbeatable throughout the season until the month of September rolled around. Out in straight sets losing to both Whitsunday and the North Mackay Saints, the likely suspects from the Saints Jenkins, O’Dwyer, Larsen, Upton and Morris causing havoc all over the ground, from the first bounce to the final siren.
Throughout season 2016, the North Mackay Saints have had the fire power up forward, with the Under 14 AFL Mackay Isuzu UTE Shield leading goal-scorer Damon O’Dywer slotting a very impressive 59 goals.
Not only do the Saints have O’Dwyer up forward, they also have a number of other players who are more than capable of kicking a winning score – Munchow 20 goals, Jenkins 16 goals and Smith 15 goals. The Saints midfield is where the game can be won, with the likes of the tall timber and League Best and Fairest Runner up, Jackson Hamann and Brody Morris crumbing at his feet.
The Whitsunday Sea Eagles are without a doubt the overwhelming favourites in this clash. In both encounters with year the Sea Eagles have won by 41 points and 49 points and have an average winning margin of 70 points across the season against all the teams.
The likes of long haired boys Callum McMurdo, Jayden Clarke and under the radar Max Steel and Ethan Boyle will be the driving force behind the Sea Eagles this Saturday morning. The Sea Eagles will be relying heavily on these four boys, plus Joel Henzell to win majority of the ball all over the field.
Both McMurdo and Clarke have had an injury ravaged 2016 season, with McMurdo breaking his humorous bone in his arm and Clarke his ankle in a training mishap. However both have come into terrific form at the pointy end of the 2016 season.
We would love to give a prediction of who will win, but we all know a Grand Final is a totally different ball game with a critical bounce going your way or a unsuspecting player stepping up like Stuart Dew in the 2008 AFL Grand Final for Hawthorn.
Who will be the unsuspecting players in this game? Only time will tell.
Match Details
Whitsunday Sea Eagles V North Mackay Saints
8:55am
Harrup Park, Lamb Street - Mackay
Saturday 10th September
The thoughts and views in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views of the players mentioned, clubs and AFL Mackay.
Photo by Pauline Rusk: Whitsunday and North Mackay Saints players contest for possession, at Zeolla Park in July.
Last Modified on 14/09/2016 11:29