The Under 16 Queensland State Academy Championship kicked off last weekend with the Sunshine Coast boys travelling to the Moreton Bay Regional Sports Complex AFL Precinct to take on the Gold Coast.
It was time for the might of the Sunshine Coast to turn the power on against a traditional strong region in the Gold Coast.
With playing uniforms handed out and the boys suited up in the new look Sunshine Coast Talent Academy Jumpers, it was time for the three months of solid training to be put into action.
Assistant Coaches, Trevor Larkins, Jarrod Raun and Michael Hyndman addressed their respective field chargers before Head-Coach, Steve Moody gave the boys their final words before taking the field.
The Gold Coasters looked sharp early with a couple of quick goals- due reward for the first up control they had on the Sherrin.
Sunshine Coast then clicked into gear, finding some pattern through the mid field that resulted in a few goals from Ryan McCombe.
A late quarter goal that really required some stronger lock down by our defenders and midfield gave the Gold Coast boys the ascendancy of a 20 point lead.
The second quarter is certainly one for us to forget, but that said probably the quarter the Sunshine Coast outfit will take the most from.
A seven goal quarter from the Gold Coast team showed their real class and for periods we just could not get a hand on the ball.
After the extended break, the Sunshine Coast team gathered its thoughts and with some sound words from Coach Moody the boys appeared to find an added resolve.
As the boys headed to the ground for play in the second half, key forward Jason Kennedy pulled up lame and from such was unable to take any further part in the game.
Already heading into game one, one player short on the interchange bench, the Sunny Coast unit was down to just three rotations.
The second half was certainly most pleasing with the boys showing great endeavour and adopting a ‘never say die’ attitude that kept the game interesting.
Within the Championship Booklet words in the Sunshine Coast brief say:
“You will always get maximum commitment to each and every contest from all concerned in the Teal and Gold.”
The second half showed that to be true with the Sunshine Coast boys looking like a completely different side than that who finished the first half.
The Sunshine Coast won on the scoreboard in both quarters of the second half and no doubt this was reward for effort.
The effort was typified by Brodi “Pinball” Finn who went in at one stage like a dog after a bone and rebounded at an even quicker rate – with wind lost he rested to regained composure and then back on the field of battle.
As the game opened up a little more in the second half and a number of our boys who had not experienced representative football honours before started finding their feet.
The boys started to control the tempo of the game, looking far more assured and from such the boys now have sound foundation heading into game two.
Coach Moody summed up the game talking to the positives and negatives for the boys to reflect on.
“We played three very good quarters of footy, but one poor quarter cost us,” Moody said.
“We were competitive, tough, and tackled reasonably hard for the whole game.
“I am happy with the second half which we won, giving us a bit of upside for game two.”
From game one Brodie ‘Pinball’ Finn was recognised as our best player with sound support from Joel Perry-Warren, James Puschmann, Ryan McCombe, Hayden Tompkins and Hayden Cliff.
Quarter by quarter:
Sunshine Coast
|
2.0.12
|
2.0.12
|
4.2.26
|
7.6.48
|
Gold Coast
|
5.2.32
|
12.3.75
|
13.6.84
|
15.11.101
|
Goal Kickers: Ryan McCombe 4, Lachlan McAllister 1, Sam Hodgson 1, Wade Nelson 1.
Our next outing is this Saturday May 17 verse Brisbane North at Burpengary kicking off at 2:20pm.
Monday May 19 is third and final game kicking off at 11.40am verse Queensland Diversity.
With these two games coming up it is a great opportunity for the Sunshine coast boys to be playing hard and striving for state selection.
Last Modified on 24/09/2014 11:04