After some predictable results from last week’s round, and perhaps one not so predictable, this week’s match of the round is the game between the first placed side on the premiership ladder, in the undefeated Eastern Swans, at home at Rogers Oval, up against the North Mackay Saints, and while the Saints are reasonably secure in fourth spot, they can ill afford too many more losses as we race towards the finals, and with the teams below them on the ladder, still capable of getting a win or two, the Saints need to make sure they rack up a few more wins this year, to stay in the four.
It is often around this time in the competition that a side that has remained undefeated, can get a bit complacent, and start to take things easy.
I put this question to the Swans coach Brad McLaren and he said, while his side is travelling OK for now, he is aware that the more they win, potentially the closer they are to a loss, however, he does not expect that to happen this week, as he and his team are anticipating a hard game from the Saints, and have trained accordingly, and, as the Swans only just beat them by a solitary point last encounter, Brad believes the Saints would think they are a good chance, and so no-one at the Swans is taking this game lightly, however there is always that home ground advantage and as they ( The Swans ) are on the wining list, there is a bit of a crowd expected.
While Brad concedes he will be missing a few players due to work commitments, it does give an opportunity for a couple of his Reserve players, who are also undefeated this season, to step up.
Confident is the best word to describe the mood around the club, and deservedly so as they remain undefeated, going into to today’s clash.
With the Saints coming off a bye last weekend, they should be fresh and raring to go and as they are keen to stay in touch with the top four, they are very focused on the task ahead. A spokesman for the Saints said that their side had trained well this week, and as there are a few inclusions into the side from the last game they played, the memory of the one point loss from their last encounter, is motivation enough for the whole team to want this win very much.
The club realises that any wins at this stage of the season are vital, and they need to keep in touch with the ladder leaders in as far as their win/loss ratio, and not to mention the benefits of the physiological aspect of maintaining that winning feeling. This should be e very good game.
Other games this weekend are the match out west at the kennel, with The Moranbah Bulldogs to take on the Whitsunday Sea Eagles, and Mackay City Hawks are playing the spirited Bakers Creek Tigers at the Den at Etwell Park.
All eyes will be on this weekend’s results, and we wish all teams well in their quest to make finals footy here in Mackay.
Last Modified on 11/07/2013 12:04