Mackay.AFLQ.com.au preview the opening week of the 2015 AFL Mackay Finals series in the Allied Pickford's Cup.
Many are predicting the Rogers Oval show-down as the Grand Final preview as the undefeated Eastern Swans face arch rivals the Mackay City Hawks.
Then on Sunday in Glenella the Mackay Magpies host the North Mackay Saints in an Elimination final at Magpies Cricket Ground.
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SWANS vs. HAWKS
Sixteen straight victories saw the Eastern Swans take home the minor premiership and claim the title as 2015 Allied Pickford's Cup flag favourites, though standing in their way are the finals experienced Hawks.
Both sides have been the two standout sides of the premiership season, with the key to their success their depth.
In season 2015 Mackay City have only lost 2 matches and both of those losses have been to the Eastern Swans. Once at Rogers Oval and once at Harrup Park, so for this the Swans have the mental edge already of Mackay City Hawks.
Mackay City have used 45 players in total so far this season, one more than their opponents who have used 44. However, of the two teams only one player has played every game and that is prolific ball user Terry Bailey of the Eastern Swans.
Of the Hawks 45, 32 are available for selection and for the Swans 31, so both have similar depth for the Finals series. That one extra player might just be what the Hawks need to win their fourth premiership in five years.
Goals are crucial in big games, for obvious reasons and both sides have the firepower to kick big bags. The Swans have 10 players that have kicked 10 goals or more with the Hawks boasting 8 with 10 goals or more.
More in depth look at each of the teams leading goal scorers, Nicholas Kempe has booted an impressive 59 majors and averages 5.3 goals per game. With Hawk Brodie Saltmarsh booting a personal best 65 goals averaging 5.41 goals per match.
When the Swans and Hawks go head to head Kempe averages 1 goal per game against the Hawks in 2015 and Saltmarsh 2.5 goals against rivals Swans. Both well below their normal season average.
In any qualifying final both sides have quality players and consistent contributors; for the Hawks the likes of Scott Brown, Mark Berts, Tim Bone, Desmond Hayes, Mitchell Bessell will all play key roles.
As will the Swans brigade of Terry Bailey, Andrew Leithhead, Mark Svaikauskas, Mitchell Cook, Dean Backwell, Matthew Oakford and Chris Burdon.
However, this game won't be won with whichever sides top 6 players have the biggest influence will be won by whichever sides has the best bottom 6 players, depth will win the Qualifying Final.
An interesting match and one worth making sure you have prime seats at Rogers Oval for the 2:45pm bounce.
Match Details
Eastern Swans V Mackay City Hawks
2:45pm first bounce
Rogers Oval, South Mackay
MAGPIES VS SAINTS
If we were to go by form lines for this match, the Magpies would take home the victory easily. In the last 5 weeks the Magpies have won 2, loss 2 and had a bye, whereas the Saints have had 3 losses, a bye and a victory which was back in July.
The Magpies were impressive in Round 19, defeating the Sea Eagles by 61 points in a match that saw the Magpies switch between two styles of play, something that many haven't seen this year.
However, the Saints have one massive advantage over the Mackay Magpies and that is finals experience.
This is the first ever Finals appearance for the Mackay Magpies, something a lot of their list would not have experienced before. Form counts for very little, as the first bounce draws closer the nerves start to rise and all the visions of what could happen start to play over and over in your head.
This is something that can not be trained for but something that is learnt through experience only.
Though, playing at the Magpies Cricket Ground will give the black and white confidence going into the Elimination Final, the only place the Magpies have defeated the Saints.
The last time these two sides met it was a 1-point thriller that saw the Magpies prevail and many predict another similar score-line, though not the low-scoring affair that was witnessed in Round 14.
Both sides really lack fire power up forward and will rely heavily on their midfielders to push forward and impact the scoreboard.
North Mackay will look to consistent contributors Chayse Tilley, Thomas Morley, Matthew Landt, Brendan Cowcher and Ryan Hollows. As will the Magpies with Heath Thiele, Tyson Craig, Jackson Webb, Jaebyn Drefke and Edward Trewin.
However, Mackay.AFLQ.com.au believe it will be a battle of the young-guns if they are named both sides will look to Darcy Mealy and Ryan Dunn (Magpies) and Brenton Lauder and Angus Johnston (Saints). These young stars of the future will no doubt be requested to take the game on as they have all season and bring their energy and enthusiam to one of their young careers biggest games.
Big match at Magpies Cricket Ground, with the winner to advance to the Preliminary Final next week and the loser to hang the boots up on their 2015 campaign.
MATCH DETAILS
Mackay Magpies V North Mackay Saints
2:45pm first bounce
Magpies Cricket Ground, Glenella
Photo by Chris Chapman: Eastern Swans player Mark Svaikauskas chases the sherrin down against the Hawks earlier this season.
Last Modified on 01/09/2015 19:28