Last week saw the Suncoast Power under 14’s team head to the Gold Coast to participate as one of eight teams in the AFL Queensland State Championships. After a ten week build up, the final squad of 25 came together under the keen tutelage of coach Tristan Scott and his offsiders in Mitch Hyde and Trevor Larkins for a footy opportunity of a lifetime.
This year’s team were generally quiet in nature and sometimes the spark to kick start them was a challenge, with leadership being an area to work on for all. Bu once the final squad was settled a fortnight out from the carnival the players began to feel a greater sense of ease, the challenge to “make it” was now history and to the opportunity/role they could begin to feel more comfortable.
That said it is fair to say that through the selection process many most capable boys missed out, and we thank them for taking up the challenge and know historically that if they continue to develop their skills and fitness over the coming years other representative opportunities will present.
With jumpers presented and bags packed, the Gold Coast beckoned, some apprehension amongst the long time Power staff members as to what we would deliver in the week ahead.
Day one was thrown into some disarray as our opponents from Papua New Guinea were caught still on home turf while the mighty Oceania AFL warrior Cadz worked feverishly with immigration. So fixturing was rearranged and the Power were then scheduled to play the Gold Coast South team of Stingrays in lieu. So, same bat station, same bat time but different bats to combat was the call to arms.
Game one started well and the team took a lead into the first break, and we were still near on the money at half time with a four point deficit but we couldn’t manage a score with our opponents kicking 1.4 and looking stronger. Unfortunately for young Ossie Osberger minutes before half time of game one his week was over with a fractured collarbone his result of attack on the sherrin, disappointing for all.
Game one flowed on after halftime with the Power scoring soon after for the last time in the match with a quality goal from Wide Bay boy mountain Steve Eekelschot who was playing some sensational footy presenting strongly from centre half forward. With a 13 point deficit at the last break it wasn’t game over but a sterling reply coach Tristan was to need from his troops as the last stanza beckoned.
The sterling effort was not to present as our opposition rang rings around us kicking 3.3 to us not troubling the flag waver. A disappointing finish to a game that we were most competitive in during the first half, still had a chance at the last break but lost by 34 points at the final siren blast.
Much to take out of the game was the coaches post game message and reverberated at the following mornings recovery session, as all now knew what was the standard of play to expect in the coming couple of games.
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First
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Second
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Third
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Final
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Suncoast Power
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2.2.14
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2.2.14
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3.2.20
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3.2.20
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Gold Coast South
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1.2.8
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2.6.18
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4.9.33
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7.12.54
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Power Goals – Steve Eekelschot 2, Sam Hodgson 1.
Power Best Players – Steve Eekelschot, Dan Ryan, Courey Hubscher, Brad Ilott, Jy Bennett.
Game two came with a twist, when and how was this game to be staged as we still awaited the arrival of our PNG Binatangs team. Much internal debate and planning took place as the scheduling for day two was thrown around, many phone calls to all on Tuesday afternoon informed “simply turn up for play on Wednesday morning” and the hope is the big bird from Moresby will take flight with team on board.
The early word on Wednesday was the Binatangs were in the air and a high noon game we would have after their 9am touchdown in Brisbane. Touchdown and then customs they were cornered for near an added two hours, with a smart bus trip down the M1 arrival was close to 12 and stripped with a smart warm up our game got under way at half past.
The Binatangs were excited but no doubt caught very much under-prepared. They delivered a strong first quarter as both sides ran fast and furious for the contest and resultantly both sides had 5 scoring shots apiece, but with better accuracy the Power had a five point lead at the first break.
The following two quarters saw the Power hold sway through the centre of the field as our taller blokes in Hodgson, Hunt and Eekelschot pushed up the paddock and contested strongly, giving our midfielders good use of the pill. At the final break our lead had squeezed out to four goals and the feeling was that our game plan and desire for the contest was taking us toward victory.
The Power followed up within the first few minutes of the final quarter with the first major, giving a five goal lead but Coach Tristan was still exuding a few beads of sweat. Then all of a sudden the Binatangs clicked and within eight minutes we all witnessed some fantastic, infectious footy as their scattered style of play with plenty of group running, swarming forward, take ‘em on play kicked in to gear leaving our structured match play system in disarray. These eight minutes of high intensity footy produced five goals for the PNG team and probably saw the Power team touch the ball on few occasions.
Scores became level as the Binatangs kicked truly with 5 straight and 6.7 apiece the scoreboard revealed with only minutes of play left. Finally we got some control back over that Sherrin that had been missing from our grip over the past eight minutes and we went forward with a pass finding Dylan Menti some 30 metres out and on a slight angle – any score would help break the deadlock. With poise young Menti went back and kicked truly giving him a second for the quarter and three for the game but more importantly gave us a goal break in with the clock headed toward 15.
The siren finally blew and the Power recorded a somewhat lucky victory against a team who had as bad a pre game routine as you could get. Still the Binatangs are to be highly commended for what they brought to their first game of the championships. The next day the Binatangs with the Country Kookaburras made up for their missed game one match and those in attendance certainly witnessed what a most capable and exciting team they were. PNG footy is appearing to be going ahead in leaps and bounds and with the players keenness to learn and play the great game of AFL we are sure that many quality footballers will come from this region in the years ahead – well done to all on game development in that part of the world.
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First
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Second
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Third
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Final
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Suncoast Power
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2.3.15
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3.5.23
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5.7.37
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7.7.49
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PNG Binatangs
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1.4.10
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1.5.11
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1.7.13
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6.7.43
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Power Goals – Dylan Menti 3, Steve Eekelschot 2, Brent Morris 1, Baiden Howard 1,
Power Best Players – Courey Hubscher, Brad Ilott, Gareth Hunt, Dylan Menti, Steve Eekelschot, , Brenton Philp, Brent Morris, Sam Hodgson.
So for the Power now the ledger was one win, one loss and opportunity to play off for fifth spot in the championships. Our target on day three was the South Eastern Bushrangers with the game scheduled for 1pm Friday. Again a team change took place as staff looked to give all players a minimum of two games, although for young Ossie this wasn’t to be.
With all preparations complete and still a feeling of some luck we received to a fast finishing Binatangs team in game two but that still said the knowledge we played very well for 52 minutes of that game and held out in the end, we entered this game with some steely resolve. In fact this was to be our real test as history tells us Power 14’s teams can fade in game three. The pre championship feeling was we had a team of great unknown and now day three was the test of what had been learnt over the past eight weeks and how much gumption we had in the kit bag.
And no doubt a fantastic game the boys dished up as we hit the ground running and full of positive team morale. For a bunch of young men who began a little timid in approach and desire they blossomed as a team and game three was most pleasing for this.
The first quarter we controlled, could’ve kicked a little straighter at the big sticks but we went in to the first break with a lead, intensity levels were up and the will to win was evident.
The second quarter was an even tussle and we still held a two goal lead at the main break. Again we controlled the third quarter with the Bushrangers unable to penetrate a backline that fullback Courey Hubscher had led with distinction all week, his attack on the ball and the opposition all week was fantastic and if caught out of position he still gave 100% at the contest.
The fourth quarter was pleasing being that we again won it on the scoreboard and lengthened our lead but showed we were eager to run the game out strongly.
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First
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Second
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Third
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Final
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Suncoast Power
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2.4.16
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4.4.28
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6.5.41
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8.6.54
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SE Bushrangers
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0.0.0
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2.2.14
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2.2.14
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3.3.21
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Power Goals –Ben Glover 3, Steve Eekelschot 1, Marcus White 1, Jessie Malthouse 1, Scott Sinclair 1, Dan Ryan 1.
Power Best Players – Courey Hubscher, Gareth Hunt, Steve Eekelschot, Ben Glover, Dan Ryan, Brenton Philp, Jy Bennett, Regan Glynn.
Post game many handshakes and slaps on the back were dished out, some pride in winning two of three but still that first game and its second half we should remember as that, with the eight minutes against PNG were our negatives of what was otherwise a fantastic week.
Deservingly so, Courey Hubscher was rewarded with the Power coaches award for the championships, with no doubt Steve Eekelschot very much up there as well as he produced 180 minutes of fantastic team footy from the forward half of our paddock.
A special mention to the three Wide Bay families of Glynn’s, Philp’s and Eekelschot’s for their commitment to the team, driving down from Wide Bay twice a week for training over five weeks – great effort!
Many thanks are always just in such a team effort; so well done to our three coaches in Tristan, Trevor and Mitch for their time, commitment and passion. They as coaches were so ably supported by the ever present Sports Medic in Keith Hicks and our trainer Lindsay (“give me two meals”) Sutton. Also special mention to a couple of great young men in Ben Meehan who unfortunately suffered injury that saw him forgo his place in the team a week out, and also Lewis Scott who helped so valuably with water carrying and running duties. Thanks to AB our head runner and sparring mate for many of the boys.
Last Modified on 05/08/2011 15:04