The spectre of the trip south to do battle with the Boyne Island/Tannum Sands Saints at their home ground would certainly not be the highlight for any of the Rockhampton Aussie Rules Football clubs this season.
The Glenmore Bulls have got that job to do this Saturday and if their round 2 result, when they lost to the Saints by 96 points is any guide fear of failing could well be justified.
There have been a few notable changes since round 2 however, BITS proved they are not invincible when they were convincingly beaten by Yeppoon in round 4 and then one week later Glenmore beat Yeppoon .
The Bulls Payne brothers, Tyson,Darcy & Nicholas have all been consistently good and along with playmakers like Brandon Chadwick Isaac Kielly and Aaron Russell has meant that on occasions the Club looked better than their third position would indicate.
But, still, reigning Premiers BITS once again deserve their “favourites”tag, ace goalkicker Luke O’Shea alone is worth the price of admission . O’Shea has averaged six goals a game for a total of 36 for the season and the Saints Dan Hunt, Jake Mostert and Aaron Fabian have all been great to watch.
The Saints are favourites to win this one and they deserve that tag but with unpredictable results being the norm this season, who knows?
The two bottom teams Panthers and Brothers may well provide the match of the round this week when they square off at Kele Park In West Rockhampton.
Brothers are winless for the season and Panthers have only won two, round 2 (versus Brothers) by 35 points and an unexpected victory against old rivals Glenmore by just 9 points.
Panthers have faded in the last term in 2 crucial encounters when they lost to Gladstone at the RCG by 1 point an then a week later wilted in the final quarter to lose to second placed Yeppoon Swans, this time by just 5 points after being in front with just minutes left in the game. Panthers best have been some of their youngsters like Jake Moore, Daniel Mill and Brenton Kneen and excellent ex Northern Territory brothers John and Calvin Hockley. Brothers have been relying heavily of some of their stalwarts namely Scott Smithwick and Bradley Matheson and good service from ex Panther Liam Kronk . Panthers are favourites to win comfortably.
The Yeppoon v Gladstone game has been re-scheduled to Swan Park at Yeppoon after the multi use Clinton Park in Gladstone had been allocated to soccer.
Gladstone nearly beat arch rivals BITS Saints at the Boyne Oval last Saturday going down by 2 goals after a stirring last quarter.
At their last outing in round 2 the Swans overwhelmed the Mudcrabs at Swan Park. Gladstone’s shift work situation and the long trip to Yeppoon may make it difficult for the fourth placed Mud Crabs despite the fact they looked impressive of late with a never say die attitude.
The Swans are second on the ladder, they have a win against BITS to their credit but were beaten by Glenmore and almost beaten by Panthers.
Yeppoon have had the benefit of some excellent performances from Matt Wallin, Nicholas Maxted and Thomas Cossens, Harrison Boyd and Sebastian–Kilpatrick Brazier all promoted from the Junior ranks.
Gladstone still have Nicky Windridge, and the Eilola boys and Reece Sadlier all competend first rate footballers who are cabable of making life hard for their opposition.
Last Modified on 30/05/2013 13:18