The final round of the Allied Pickford's Cup season is here and the make up of the four sides who will contest the finals series, is still up in the air.
The Eastern Swans and Mackay City Hawks are locks and many are tipping that as the 2015 decider.
However, finals is a different beast and anything can happen, even to sides who have dominated all season. Mackay.AFLQ.com.au throw a few scenarios out when it comes to ladders and the final top 4.
Here are our predictions;
Prediction 1: This is the most likely of scenarios that will greet everyone at the conclusion of Round 19, Hawks and Swans won't change, Saints receive four points automaticcaly for the bye and Magpies to win at home against the Sea Eagles.
1. Eastern Swans
2. Mackay City Hawks
3. Mackay Magpies
4. North Mackay Saints
Prediction 2: If the Magpies lose, the will slip down the ladder and lose the all important home elimination final.
1. Eastern Swans
2. Mackay City Hawks
3. North Mackay Saints
4. Mackay Magpies
Click here for the current Allied Pickford's Cup ladder
Prediction 3: For this ladder to happen, the Bulldogs would have to do complete mission impossible and defeat the Eastern Swans at ROGERS OVAL and the Mackay Magpies to lose to the Sea Eagles.
1. Eastern Swans
2. Mackay City Hawks
3. North Mackay Saints
4. Moranbah Bulldogs
Prediction 4: Both Bulldogs and Magpies win, Saints could be out of the finals race.
1. Eastern Swans
2. Mackay City Hawks
3. Mackay Magpies
4. Moranbah Bulldogs
Click here to do your own prediction ladder
MAGPIES v SEA EAGLES
The show-down between the Mackay Magpies and Whitsunday Sea Eagles and the final result will determine the makeup of finals placings along with where the Elimination Final will be next Sunday.
It has been a fairytale for the Magpies this year, from rags to riches.
The Glenella based club have gone from wooden spooners to likely finals contenders all in one season. Coach Paul Gurry has been fantastic, he has brought structure, culture and leadership to the Magpies, something that has been missing.
Captain Jaebyn Drefke has led the way all season, sitting second on the clubs goal kicking leaderboard and has been a swing-man playing key roles in defence and up forward.
The Magpies have already named their 22 for the big match, Nicholas Thiele and Jackson Webb are two big ins and will play key roles in the Round 19 show-down with Whitsundays. Another option up forward is what the Magpies need with key forward Brendan Edwards out for the season on holidays but Jacob Fraser has been filling that void superbly.
Skipper Drefke will be the man to assist Fraser.
The Magpies have also welcomed back the hard working Finlay Blacklock, who will play an important role through the midfield also.
For the Sea Eagles, they are coming off a confident boosting win over the North Mackay Saints and will be looking to finish their season on a high. If the Sea Eagles could bring the performance they brought in Round 18, they would be premiership contenders in 2015.
Up and coming star, junior Sea Eagle Rhys Fuhrmann was one of the Sea Eagles best and would be another welcome addition against the Magpies on Saturday. Robert Brodhurst and Ryan Dempsey were very good last week and created headaches up forward for the Saints.
Mitchell Brockley has had a very consistent season for the Sea Eagles and through his eleven games this season has been a key cog for the 'Bloods'.
An interesting match up at Magpies Cricket Ground and one that is worth getting along and watching.
Can the Magpies continue their fairytale or will the Sea Eagles continue to change the makeup of the finals.
Match Details
Saturday 22nd August
2:45pm
Magpies Cricket Ground, Glenella
FREE ENTRY
In the weekend's other matches the Bakers Creek Tigers will step out for one last time this season when they host the second placed Mackay City Hawks at Etwell Park at 2:45pm on Saturday. Mean-while the Eastern Swans will take on the Moranbah Bulldogs at Rogers Oval from 2:45pm and a game the Swans won't worry too much if they lose.
Click here for the Round 19 Fixture
Photo by Chris Chapman: Swans player Cameron Squires contests for the footy against Magpies Brandon Ross at Rogers Oval during the Round 18 Allied Pickford's match.
Last Modified on 26/08/2015 19:17