North Mackay vs. Mackay City
9:30am
Harrup Park, Mackay
Saturday 12th September
Minor Premiers North Mackay will start favourites but only by the smallest of margins.
North Mackay and Mackay City were by far the stand out teams of the 2015 Mackay Isuzu UTE Shield competition all season and it is hard to split these two traditional rivals. If we look closer at their offensive and defensive records for the season respectively, North Mackay average 87.3 points per game and Mackay City average 80.2 points for per game.
Defensively, both are on near level playing ground with the Saints holding teams to 31.25 points per game and Hawks halting their opponents to 32.15 points on average per game.
Digging deeper, the Saints will have to omit 2 players ahead of the Grand-Final and Mackay City won't have to at all due to unfortunately injury ending the season of two key players. Though Mackay.AFLQ.com.au expects to see some of the Hawks up and coming Under 13's fill some of the Grand-final positions.
When both sides met in the Qualifying Final, the Saints blew the Hawks off the paddock with a very impressive 72-point victory, though don't expect this match to go the same way. A 6-goal to zero opening half, halted the Hawks and set up North Mackay early.
WHERE THIS GAME WILL BE WON
Other than a cliche' answer of all over the paddock or in the engine room, both sides respective forwards will need to have an early influence to give their side the advantage.
For Mackay City the likes of Wayne Rogers, Jayden Stanley and the Leigh Sharrock Medalist Adam Fedor will be Hawks that will need to fire early to set up their side. North Mackay, like the Hawks the Saints will be looking to competition leading goal scorer Rory Tarlinton, Rory Underwood and Blake Jones to hit the scoreboard, as they did in the Qualifying Final.
PREVIOUS RESULTS
QF - North Mackay 13.8 (86) def. Mackay 2.2 (14) @ Rogers Oval
Rd 17 - North Mackay 8.1 (49) def. Mackay City 7.6 (48) @ Harrup Park
Rd 14 - North Mackay 8.13 (61) def. Mackay City 7.4 (46) @ Magpies Cricket Ground
Rd 11 - North Mackay 8.5 (59) def. Mackay City 3.5 (23) @ Harrup Park
Rd 7 - Mackay City 5.5 (35) def. North Mackay 5.2 (32) @ Zeolla Park
The last time Mackay City defeated the Saints, was back in May where the Hawks got home in a 3-point thriller at North Mackay's home ground. Since then, it has been all Saints winning four on the trot including the last encounter at Rogers Oval in week 1 of the finals.
It may be a slight mental edge for the Saints but both teams know that Grand-Finals aren't won in Round 7 or the Qualifying Final. Expect a close encounter between two proud clubs.
THE KEY POINTS
1) Mouth-watering match up of the 2015 Under 14 Representative Player of the Year, Blake Jones (Saints) and Adam Fedor, the Under 15 Leigh Sharrock Medalist is what would make this a Grand-Final of epic proportions. Both are exceptional footballers and play very similar roles for their respective sides. A plea to the coaches, put them on each other!
2) Home ground advantage? The Hawks have the luxury of having Harrup Park as their adopted home ground for the home and away season, Grand-Final day will seem anything but home sweet home especially against the Saints. Mackay City haven't beaten the Saints at Harrup Park this year. The matches at the home of footy this season have been close, as the Hawk know best how to play the wide open spaces of one of the best surfaces in the country.
3) This should be a close contest and will urge coaches to pull the trigger early and swing the game in their favour. Whichever coaching group can stay calm and pull the trigger early and make that game changing move will give their respective side the upper hand.
4) Going defensive on Grand-Final day won't work, just ask Fremantle in 2013. The team that is willing to back their own ability and attacks will win this Grand-Final. Easier said then done, we know.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
North Mackay Saints
#5 Blake Jones - One of the competitions best and a key if the Saints are to hold a loft the Premiership Cup. Has had a stellar season including Central Queensland selection at next weeks State Championships and last week taking out the Under 14 Representative Player of the Year. Jones is fast, agile, has an elite penetrating kick and sets up a lot of the Saints attacking raids.
#3 Jack Alexandrou - Classy left-footer that has found his groove in season 2015, playing majority off his footy off half-back but it is his ability to read the play and cut off oppositions thrusts forward is second to none. Similar to Easton Wood in the AFL for the Bulldogs, Alexandrou has had one superb year and the Saints will be like to the medium defender as a key contributor in the big game.
Mackay City Hawks
#11 Adam Fedor - What more can be said about this young man, the 2015 Leigh Sharrock Medalist backing up from taking out the Under 13 Best and Fairest Medal last year. Two best and fairests in two seasons and taking out the top award this year as a bottom age player, is an outstanding result. Fedor is key to the success of the Hawks and will be looking to his versatility. Similar to Corey Enright of the Geelong Cats, Fedors ability to play small or tall is second to none, play forward pocket or in the ruck makes him one of the most damaging players in the competition.
#21 Jay Churchward - A fairly unknown player to the rest of the competition but this young Hawk has played all 15 games this season. In his first year of Australian football Churchward has been a key cog in the Hawks success and playing numerous roles through the midfield and across defence. Keep an eye on #21 zooming around and leading from the front.
THE FINAL SAY
The two best teams of season 2015 are playing off in the 2015 Grand-Final and rightly so. To pick a winner is tough both boast impressive lists, with North Mackay having the slight advantage due to their last start win. A goal in it and well one thing is for sure, a Hawk or Saint will be holding the Under 15 Mackay Isuzu UTE Shield Premiership Cup at the games end.
Last Modified on 14/09/2015 12:15