NOW OR NEVER FOR THE HORNETS

It's time for hornets to give the doubters in the NW+EAFL world a good uppercut on saturday against the labrador tigers. They have started the season off rather slowly a strong finish to last season, thing aren't looking bright down at graham road. But this game can turn things around for the hornets. They have showed plenty of glimpses that can cut it in this league. They certainly should have beaten Broadbeach, especially when you are up by 3 goals with less than 5 minutes to go. You should win and their last game against the new boys, they had them on the ropes at half time and faded in the second half to lose by 5 goals. Labrador might need this win more just to sure up their season. They beat a strong redlands team at home and beat a good lions team at home as well. In that game they lost one of their big names to a severe knee injury and that will hamper there efforts this season. The 2 meetings last season were tight affairs. In the first meeting at Grahem road. Aspley jumped labrador and had a handy lead all day. But coaching and everything else led them to being run down and getting beaten by 3 goals. In the secon meeting, it was scrap all day and labrador got on top in the last to run away victors. The midfiel battles will be crucial again for both sides. Whoever wins those, they might just go on to win this game of footy. I think labrador might just get up in this one and put aspley in a even bigger hole than they are in now

TOO BIG TOO STRONG

Just too big and strong. That's the best way to describe what happened at broadbeach yesterday between the cat and the panthers. Broadbeaches midfield dominated all day and the likes of zorko, Derrick and Hooper ran and absolute much and fed eagle well al day and too be honest the panthers couldn't do anything to stop the rot and they got hammered for it. For the start of the game you could see broadbeach were getting well on top of morningside and should have been further in front at quarter time. The second quarter they started open the game up and started gap the panthers and it was nearly over at half time. The panthers had planty of opportunities to get close the cats. But missed goals that should have been kicked 10 times out 10, cost them. In the third, the cats flexed their muscles and their midfield controlled the footy and ran and ran all day long. Whenever the panther did move the ball forward. An unusual ally in defense repelled and drove the ball forward to set up more scoring opportunities for them. The game was gone at 3 quarter time and the panthers looked shot. The cats ran out 76 point winners and they looked too big and too strong. The shining for the panther was the return to form of the clubs great players in Lillico and Nick Clarke who were clearly their best players all day. Zorko and Hooper were the cats best players. Broadbeach go into their bye 3 and 1 and the panther go into a must win encounter against a rampaging thunder side 2 and 2

HISTORY WAS MADE TODAY

In the last 12 years of watching qafl football. I have never seen southport go through a quarter without scoring a point and that is what happened today in the second quarter of their clash against the brisbane lions reserves today at coorparoo. The first quarter was what you would call an arm wrestle with neither team looking all that strong. It was scrappy and and not very entertaining football. With a 1 goal lead and looking like they might run amuck the sharks would have though if we go a handy lead at half time we might run away with this. Gee the opposite happened to them in the second quarter. The lions mids lead by Amon Buchanan and Clay Beams ran rampant over a struggling midfield that couldn't penetrate them. The lions kicked the first 2 goals and there was a bit of a lul in the game and southport moved the ball forward and the hanger nearly taken and in that passage. There was a stoppage and the lions won the ball and kicked their third for the quarter. The lions piled on another 6 goals after that to leave southport and the coaches shell shocked. Matter of fact I think everyone was in shock from what just happened. Everyone was wondering when the last time they went through a quarter without scoring a point. I am sure norm dare gave the chargers a spray at half time and it did work a bit. They kicked the 2 of the first 3 and looked like they were going to make another charge. But Buchanan and Beams took over again and lions and sharks kicked 6 goals each in the third and the lions put the game away to be honest. The lions added another 5 in the last to the sharks 1 and it was an absolute flogging. Beams and Buchanan were the best on the ground by some way. There are question marks over the sharks right now and that is for sure

CRUCIAL GAME FOR BOTH PANTHERS AND CATS

A crucial game for broadbeach and morningside on sunday at broadbeach. The winner of this can put themselves up as contender for the northern conference crown. Both side have had solid starts to the season. Both are at 2 and 1 and have a heavy loss to their names. The new recruites for broadbeach haven't been the big inflence on the team as you might expect them to be. Morningside have just been going a long nicely and haven't hit top gear just yet and they might need to hit it this week to have a big chance of knocking over the cats at home. They are missing 2 quality defenders and that will leave a decent sized hole for them to fill. Seeing those 2 get the best forwards every week. The midfield clash will be a cracker. I reckon jake tomlinson will go to zorko and he is a handy goal sneak as well. Fester mugavin has hit form this season and if the midfield can supply him with plenty of opportunities. He might just kick another bag of goals. I think the class of morningside might just get them over the line in this one

CRUNCH TIME FOR THE SHARKS AND LIONS

The lions and sharks game on saturday could be an important game for both teams. If the sharks win they will be 2 and 1 and if they lose, they will be what one would call a hole at 1 and 3. the lions need a win to kick start their campaign. They are 0 and 2 and they could be 1 and 1 to be honest. They are starting to show plenty of character now and this is a game in the past they would lay down and let the opposition run all over them. The sharks last wee were less than convincing in beating an under manned labrador side and are yet to click on all cylinders. Maybe this is the week they show the NEAFL they are the real deal. Cleave hughes is a massive loss for them, he will be out for 2 months and they are struggling to find avenues to goal. Their midfield is all class and can tear a team apart on any given day. I wonder how many listed players the lions will field this week, after the seniors have already played. If the lions can contain southports midfield and get the footy to their forwards. They can pull off an upset. I think southports strong midfield will run rampant in this one and should run out winners in a tight contest

WILL THE LIONS BRING MORE ROAR TO THEIR GAME PLAN THIS WEEK AND ROLL THE TIGERS

Will lions that had a fair dinkum crack against the reigning premiers last week, bring that same effort to cooke murphy oval this week and I think they will have to for any chance of winning this game of footy. The lions last week showed a lot of heart in running all day with a strong outfit in the panthers. They could have won the game, but for a 10 slip up in the third quarter where the panther kicked 4 unanswered goals and nearly put the game away in that 10 minute burst. But they made a fighting comeback in the last to be beaten by 7 points. I would say they will get one ruck man back this week and that will help. Labrador last week built a healthy lead by half time and looked home and hosed. They let the bombers back into and got one scare of their lives. The usual suspects for labrador dominated their win over the bombers and I expect them to play a big part in the encounter. At cooke murphy oval. It could be a cracking game of footy

5 key players for the tigers

Fred Sleeth kicked six last week

Todd Featherstone. Just wins the footy at will

Tim Notting. Another avenue to goal

Matty Clarke. Classy wingman

Aaron Shattock. Leads the team well

5 key players for the lions

Retzlaff. Played well in the first half last week. Went missing after half time

Cornelius

Hawksley

Collier

Sheldon. Was close to the lions best and collected plenty of the footy all day copped a few heavy knocks a long the way

At cooke murphy the tigers are hard to knock over at the best of times. If the lions can win plenty of the ball and have plenty of marking targets up forward to kick the goals. They can win this game. But at home the tigers should just win

DO WE HAVE A CRISIS IN THE MAKING AT SHARK PARK

Oh boy do I smell a crisis at shark park in the brewing. It has been a long time since the southport sharks started the season off 0 and 2 and it is a real chance of happening and they could sit stone motherless last on the ladder if results go the other way. Maybe it's the older players that are starting to show there age and bringing the team down. Who knows. They have been great club for many years and they will have to dig deep to win a game like this on saturday. It really is a must win for either side to, but more for southport. Last week they got hammered. The vultures on the other hand are going smoothly. They out muscled a young and small bodied suns outfit. Once their midfield got on top of the suns. They took over control of the game and ran out comfortable winners. Chris smith was best on ground by some way and the return of Gavin grose and his raking left foot is a welcome return . This game is being played at ditmar park and the vultures are tought to beat at home

5 key players for the vultures

Chris Smith. Best on ground last week and if he has another blinder. The vultures might get up

Josh Vearing. Another solid contribution last week and he always performs in the big games

Rory Lake. Just another quality midfielder. Player well last week and will be up to the task again this week

Gavin Grose. He is back and so is his raking left foot. Was solid last week

Adam Tarrant. Didn't play last week and not sure why. But he will get hughes no doubt

5 key players for the sharks

Adam Devine. He might get either Smith or Gilliland. He can shut players out of the game and tear other apart

Matty Payne. There is some doubts over him with a hammy. But he is such a class player. Last time these 2 met. He had a field day

Cleave Hughes. It seems to be the only avenue to goal for the sharks. He needs to kick a bag for them to win

Danny Wise. Came off the bench last week and has been away. But he needs to lift his mates this week for the sharks to show some guts

Kurt Nicklus. Had a sold game last week for the sharks and he is the best full back in the league

even though I would think the sharks will be hungry to win their first game of the season. I think the vultures at home and looking rather strong might put the sharks in a 0 and 2 hole. The crisis meeting will start straight away after the game. Well we can all hope

NOTHING BEATS A GOOD ARM WRESTLE TO SETTLE YOUR DIFFERENCES

The game between the panther and the lions on sunday at morningside would best be described and a slog and an arm wrestle. It took a burst early in the third for morningside to get on top of a resilient lions outfit. The lions were winning plenty of the ball in the middle early and with retzlaff marking well up forward. An upset looked like it could happen. After qtr time morningside were starting to gain a bit of momentum. 2 goals in a minute from Sam faure got them back in the game. Paul Shelton was winning the ball at will and was clearly best on ground by a country mile. Mark rootsay was very good all day around the pack and it starting to develop into a good senior player. For the lions, Sam Sheldon showed some good signs. The lions did come flying home in the last 10 minutes to give the panthers a good fright. It will be interesting to see how the lions go after this match. Will they continue showing a bit of fight in this season or will they just pack it in early like last season

IT WAS LIKE MEN VERSUS BOYS OUT THERE

Thats what it seemed like today in the first NEAFL game at broadbeach. The kids in the suns team just were out muscled and skilled by a more experienced outfit in the vultures. The suns had a heap of the play in the first quarter and a bit. But when the vultures got their bearings together they just pounced and showed a lot of class. The suns missed plenty of shots and when it went up the other end for the vultures they couldn't miss shot on goal and they started to get a roll on and started winning the clearances and winning every contested possession around the ground. The suns have a lot of kids in the ressies outfit and they just couldn't match it with the more mature bodies of the vultures. Chris Smith was by for best on ground for the vultures, he had an absolute day out. I reckon he had up to 40 touches and kicked a couple of goals. Gavin Grose was very good as well for the vultures. The suns will improve as the season goes, but I don't think they will challenge the top sides this season

ALL ROADS LEAD TO BROADBEACH ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Big gold coast rival are at it again and it should be a beauty on sunday afternoon at broadbeach. The cats have gone out and recruited heavily. Picking up disbruntled former hawk and lion rahn Hooper and Jason eagle. The sharks have been what would you call quiet for them in the off season. They did pick up wade mills and that will bolster the ruck stocks for them this year. But they lost a quality wingman and midfielder and Darren Pfeifer who went back to adelaide and he will be a big loss for mine. They still have class players all over the park to cover his loss. When you have a player like Danny wise leading the troops. You can feel a bit better with any losses. If their midfield and backline have a day out. Ir could be a very long day for the cats. Jason Eagle can kick a bag but can his mates help him out. Zorko is their leader on the park and he can be a big match winner for them. Jesse Derrick is an under rated footballer and can cut you to pieces

5 key players for the cats

Dane Zorko. Classy midfield and small forward player. Has to be shut out of the game

Jason Eagle. Main target up forward. Will he have mates to help him out

Rahn hooper. Will play forward and in the miffield. Might need to kick a few goals

Jesse Derrick. Under rated footballer. Can be a big possession winner

Matt fife. Another forward type midfielder that will be handy

5 key players for the sharks

Danny Wise. All class. Captain, grogan medalist and list goes on,. Runs all day and collect possies at will

Kurt Nickalaus. Will get eagle and this bloke is probably the best full back in the league

Matty Payne. Just a class footballer. He can have day out and no one coan stop him

Cleve Hughes. Went missing at the end of last year and will need to have a big game for the sharks to win

David James. The man who brings his own football every week just about.

This should be a cracking game and these teams hate each other so much. If jason eagle can get plenty of supply. The cats are a massive chance. But if he can't get any decent supply and is shut out of the game. The sharks should win this in a canter

TIME TO UNFURL ANOTHER FLAG FOR THE PANTHERS

The mighty panthers will be unfurling the back to back flags on sunday at esplen oval and they will be facing a depleted lions outfit already, after all the injuries that the seniors have suffered already. This is going to be a bit of a problem the lions reserves again this year. It does happen most years for them, but it doesn't as well. But that's another rant for another day. The question is how many listed players will they play on this day with the seniors playing at the same time in Melbourne. 12 would be the best guess. Morningsides midfield is so strong and it should play a big part in this game again. Shelton, lillico and Upton will have big role on this day and during the season. Their back up are pretty good as well. Booney had his best season of footy last year and I expect him to have another bumper year. They have added some quality footballers to the squad as well and in key positions the question is can the lions listed players play a big role and win them the game. How many western magpies youngsters will play

5 key players for Morningside

Kent Abey. Game winner every day of the week. But does have the yips from time to time

Ryan Holman. Will be a key player this year if the siders want to make a 3peat

Nathan Kinch. Can play all over the park and is a quality fooballer

Paul Shelton. Collect possessions at will and will need to be shut down for the lions to have a chance of winning

Luke Ferguson. Will be the back up ruckman and it's a big step up for him this year

5 key players for the lions

Aaron Cornelius

Sam Sheldon

Matt Austin

J Hawksley

tom collier

these 5 players will want to have a big say in the lions chances for this game

this game really shouldn't close at all. The class of morningsides midfirld should be too much for whatever the lions throw up. Their forward line can be unbeatabl at time =s and when they get plenty of quality supply no one can stop them. Morningside should win by plenty

THUNDER, LIGHTNING AND A A CYCLONE COULD HAPPEN ON SATURDAY NIGHT

Well the thunder are looking for revenge maybe in this one. The hornets gave them an absolute flogging the last time they met at graham road. The hirnets midfield and backline that day really blitzd them from the first bounce. Ewing barely got a kick and the Illet boys were shut out of the game. This year it's going to be a tad bit different to that game. The hornets have still a majority of that squad left in the team for the game. But the thunder have recruited heavily and their number 1 recruit is Andrew McLeod and he will give the young aboriginal boys a massive lift and by the looks of what happened in the foxtel cup last week. He is going to tear a few teams apart if he plays a few games for them this year. The hornets will finally have a forward target to kick to this year which is good. But can their mids get plenty of the footy to give to him. A lot of people are already tipping this game will be a flogging, but I think it will be a cracker

5 key players for the thunder

Andrew Mcleod. Just quality all round foootballer and can win a game off his own back

Shaun tapp. Will probably get the hornets best forward and he is another match winner

Cameron Illett. Captain now and is a quality midfielder

Darren Ewing. He can kick a bag and can get shut down quite easily

Jarred ilett. As good as his brother

5 key players for the hornets

Jamie sheehan. He can win a lot of footy and kick a few goals. New additions to the team will give him a good chop out that he needed last season in a lot of games

Dan Roy. Just got better and better as the year went on. Wing and half back and played some good footy all season

Matt shir. He is a key in the engine room

Steve Brittan. Will have to kick the goals when Brain might get shut out of the game

Tyson Hartwig. Will get Ewing and he shut him out of the game twice last year and is very good full back

this should be a good game and with a cyclone being prdicted. It might be a real tight game all night. I can see the hornets getting the points. At home the thunder are tough to beat