DARREN MONCRIEFF
Friday, July 1, 2011
WHICH would you prefer: a Matera creating mayhem or crafting magic at Subiaco Oval? The answer may depend on which team you barrack for but both those scenarios are likely to unfold when Gold Coast ventures west to play Fremantle tomorrow.
It will be the Suns' second visit to the home of WA football and with them will be the teen that got away.
Brandon Matera, son of WA great, Wally, makes his first visit to the ground that his dad and uncles, Peter and Phil, built their reputations on. He missed the match against West Coast due to injury.
Seasoned football watchers will most likely relish the prospect of watching a new generation Matera confound the opposition.
The 19-year-old (pictured) has provided spark and imagination in the Suns forward line eight games into his AFL career. In those eight games, Matera has kicked 11 goals.
He was one of the new club's 12 talented 17-year-olds made available to it under the AFL's draft concessions in 2009. Like his dad and uncles, young Matera came through via WAFL club South Fremantle's juniors.
Matera caught the eye of scouts at the under-16 and under-18 national championships and was one of those first chosen for the 2009 All-Australian side.
Tomorrow will be his first match back from a four-week recovery period and the Suns are expected to ease him back into it as a sub.
Also back in for the Suns is Liam Patrick, who will be an emergency, while Nathan Krakouer has been dropped and Harley Bennell still not considered for senior selection.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 01/07/2011 16:42