Adjudicator appreciation day was
played in cool conditions with a slight breeze favouring the surfside. You
could feel the love from our resident umpire advisor who later admitted to some
problems in smiling at some decisions. But smile he did, as our blokes lit the
blow torch on their opponents. The Vultures had strung together 3 wins and were
confident of returning to 2009 GF form. But no passengers, standout intensity
and an almost visible coaching presence on the field concluded in a convincing
victory to our blokes. Photos of the day can be found in Caught in the Act: Mt
Gravatt May 2010.
Also noticeable was the new time
clock – Tiny’s Time – we favour
classic analogue clock faces against digital LED read outs, however Marty King
and the QAFL will be happy, moreover ecstatic when the electronic
scoreboard/time clock is installed atop the Gold Coast Bulletin
scoreboard. (please also note Travelonline.com is now an on board
sponsor, just click on the logo to link with their website)
Sponsors Lunch
Ken Hinkley gave up some valuable family time for a roast pork lunch lovingly
prepared and served by Cat’s Kitchen staff overseen by the effervescent Mick
Williams who was anticipating a double with the Cats and the Bombers. Ken has a
pedigree second to none as both player and coach who sought the GCFC position
because it is “the ultimate goal of all coaches to be involved in the
development of younger players particularly in a unique environment of a new
club.” In response to questions Ken informed us that there are some 30 players
currently contracted (gave Tom Nicholls a big wrap) and there are 10 priorities
in their sights. Patience will be the key – current planning does not revolve
around wins. As a friend and sometime confidant of the Ablett family, Ken was
adamant that Gary Ablett Jnr’s decision will not be influenced by Nathan’s
presence and the big hurdle will be loyalty. Ken predicted a rotations limit of say 20/quarter plus one
substitute should a player go down. As far as converts, he has not espied Hunt
but clearly hopes he can play and expects him to rattle a few off the half back
line. Ken reckons if a professional is totally committed a successful
transition across codes is possible. In response to a question concerning draft
dilemmas and trade, Ken made it crystal clear that giving up rated youth was a
mistake and while they will live with a 2011 – 2013 in the bottom half there is
every intention to retain young talent (Josh Toy was mentioned in dispatches at
this point). In general the
players appear to enjoy living on the coast, which was confirmed at Ken’s
invitation by an ambling highly vocal Lewis Moss.
El Presidente, Rolfey thanked
sponsors, Top Cats and Catsonians for their contribution to a growing budgetary
demand to keep our sides on the park week-to-week and year-to-year. No super
profits here but the efforts of the Board, (and we have an outstanding Board
this season), sponsors and those individuals who give of their time and oxford
scholars are greatly appreciated by the players and supporters and we urge all
to patronise our sponsors. (See the home and sponsorship page). This season Broadie and Surfers have
combined to present a Grassroots Sports Luncheon – details available home page
– and reservations are going pretty well. Over 1000 are expected for a great
day. Contact Geoff Bowers or Bob Walters for tickets. May 22 is the players auction, (Rowey was giving away Cats
dollars to the ladies for player purchase), and you better dust off the formal
gear for the upcoming ball.
Seniors
Nathan Lyons didn’t come up and
Hales, J-Pants, Smithy, Liam Frawley and Stalk were confirmed as the
interchange bench (Stalk actually started with Cloughy on the pine). Pratt
lined up on Tink and there was a bit of feeling to the opening. Stewie was on
Morrison and Quickie got Doyle and Stalk won the raffle with Tarrant standing
on his toes. A forward push by the Vultures resulted in a behind and Quickie
made an error in finding Morrison with his kick-in. A goal gift at the 2 minute
mark that did not auger well. However it was to prove to be a rare mistake by
Nathan who for the rest of the day took Doyle, Smouha and Morrison to pieces
with his run on style and giving off the nut to either a dominant midfield or
his back line associates in Searly and Rhino (welcome back), both of whom
created link and switch play opportunities with clever positioning. The 50
gamer opened our account with a point. The pace of the game, at least by our
blokes, was obvious from the start. With JD working hard inside, Smithy was
particularly influential delivering the ball off his longer left foot, and with
our centre field architects of Fife, Wilko, Stewie, the Rolfe and Pants Bros
putting the sherrin inside our 50 at twice their rate, our forwards were
getting plenty of supply. Nick
O’Hare and Macca were turning inboard at the right times and all players were
filling the spaces and using their lock-on radar to limit the forward floods by
the Vultures. As mentioned, we had no passengers, our pace and intensity forced
turnovers and an apparent improvement in precise ball handling saw us looking
the better and playing by far a better brand of footy. The Vultures insisted on
their floods, chipping the sherrin around 360 degrees within their pressing
flood and trying to hold up play. We couldn’t understand their insistence that lasted for the
four stanzas. To be fair at that stage the scoreboard didn’t reflect what we
felt was a winning feeling. It took some 22 minutes before Hales received the
nut from Cloughy and in response to the instruction of “kick yer goal” calmly
went back and found the goal post erections. Quarter time Broadie 1 5 to Mt Gravatt 2 4
The second stanza, indeed the rest
of the game, continued in pretty much the same vein. Only this time we held
them goalless. The usual suspects controlled the game with ferocious attacks on
the ball at ground level, with pressure skills when they had possession, with high
speed movement of the air conveyance, some committed pack breaking by the likes
of Rhino and Smithy, and surprising deftness in handball usage to get out of
situations. Our confidence was
growing and apart from still having too many at the aerial contests, like the
ladies in Rowie’s hands, the vultures were putty in ours. Jones felt the full fury of a Smith
hit, while Cloughy was awarded a free on opposition intent to remove his
head. Twelve minutes in we hit the
front when Cookie goaled after a chain assist from Smithy and Fults (he went to
school after a previous attempt). We consolidated when Tink snapped brilliantly
from a stoppage in the canteen pocket, then followed up with the centre
clearance that found Fults. Unfortunately no post erection. Smithy and R-pants
combined to find Fults who slotted his first of three for the day. We cannot
emphasise enough that all players were making the efforts requested by the
coaches. The defensive pressure, the blocking, player awareness of events
around them seemed to be ‘de rigor’ to the group. On field leadership was also
present at each break when Fults gathered the group short of the coaches and
supporters for player discussion that appeared to strengthen their resolve.
Half time: Broadie 4 7 to Mt
Gravatt 2 6
The third saw us add 5 majors. A lack of discipline cost us an early
sausage roll while Cookie was off target again (3 behinds for the day). Fults
joined that club; he was to eventually to go home with 3 goals 3 behinds and 1
OB under his belt. Our accuracy was perhaps the deficiency of the day. The
players certainly kept on coming and desperate efforts such as a Fifey mark on
the goal line, Quickie’s constant motion and JD’s running, running, running,
demonstrated player commitment to finish off. Tom Nicholls worked his way into
the game and took a one hander from a Tinka pass pursuant to Liam Frawley,
Squiz and Smithy getting him the nut. Tom immediately snapped a goal. Fifey, Sqiz
and Aaron, R and J Pants, Macca, Smithy, Searly, Tinka, Wilko – pick a name –
were all having a well coordinated dip. Some confusion in what we observed and
official reports but Cookie goaled from a R-pants pass, and then a Hales
shepherd allowed Smithy to gather when the ball came off R-pants’ dial and his
pass to Tinka resulted in another one or was it the other way round? A Rofe, T
Rolfe, J-Pants and SOD – goal! Then some good work by the ironman lifesaver,
who was active all day, initiated a chain featuring R-pants, SOD, Cookie, SOD
again, Squz into Fults hands who goaled from a free kick. The Vultures were
looking less likely and not too keen to play it out. We had kept them to 4
goals for three quarters of footy. Three quarter time: Broadie 9 9 to Mt Gravatt 4 9.
It remained to be seen if our
blokes could maintain the intensity, to not go into our shells, to put pressure
on the ball carrier and lock on to their chipping game. One minute in provided
a taste of the player attitude when JD, Smithy, Squiz and Nick O’Hare got the
ball forward for A Rolfe to goal (again we might have it wrong, official
reports have a Stalk goal – ask him). Stewie gave a lesson in perseverance
which resulted in a complete North South transition via the linking ability of
Searly only for Tinka to miss. Vulture heads were dropping, nah, were dropped.
Cookie added another point from Fulton flank, and Nick O’Hare improved his
accuracy percentage with a goal enabled by a Squiz tackle that forced the ball
free. Rhino was threatening and his presence was also. Pants to Pants to Fults
was greeted with cries to hold it up. Fortunately we ignored that call and got
on with it. Unfortunately Fults was off line again. JD had his second shot for
the stanza, this time dead in front 50 out - a behind. The intensity kept
going. Wilko made a great intercept and followed with a grub pass to Nick
O’Hare who found Fults for a twin calico. Macca and Smithy to Squiz – a poster. O’Hare across the face to Hales
whose left foot snap was also off target. Point was we didn’t hold it up, we
kept going with the flow. Quickie put in one of his runs to clear the nut and
Morrison appeared to have his number taken in frustration as much as anything
else. He had been classily outpointed on the day. The siren went at 28 minutes
as Cookie had a shot on goal after some finesse by JD, Smithy, Rhino, A F Rolfe
and Fifey. Guess what he scored.
Final score:
Broadbeach 12 17 89 def Mt Gravatt 5 10 40
Goals: We had
Fulton 3, Zorko 2, Cooke 2, and 1 each to Nicholls, Aaron Rolfe, Haley, O’Hare
and Clough. QAFL has Fulton 3, Cooke 2, and 1 each to Zorko, R Pantic,
Nicholls, Haley, Walters, O’Hare and Clough.
Best: Quick,
Fife, Wilkinson, Searl, Fulton and R Pantic.
A good win. Another at Western
magpies next week and…., but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Last Modified on 17/05/2010 22:13
