WITH only percentage separating third on the AFL North Coast ladder from fifth, this Saturday’s clash between Port Macquarie and Grafton takes on extra significance.
Neither the Magpies or Tigers have played anywhere near their potential best football so far in 2014 but doing so in such an important encounter.
It’s something you don’t need to tell Port Macquarie coach Scott Abercrombie.
“It’s going to make a difference (if Port wins this weekend),” Abercrombie said.
“Sawtell and the Swans look like they’ve jumped ahead of the pack so these games against Grafton and Camden Haven are going to make all the difference.
“We’ve got to make sue we win those to give ourselves the best chance in the finals at the end of the year.
“Of course we have to make sure we make the finals first.”
In the opening round of the season Grafton mauled the Magpies to the tune of 130 points but the Magpies aren’t looking at this match as a chance for revenge. For them it’s more about redemption.
“I think we feel we owe it to ourselves,” the Port coach said.
“We weren’t happy with how we played in that first game and we feel this is a chance to put the record straight this week.
Photo of Grafton's Dan Zacek courtesy of Debrah Novak/Daily Examiner
Bombers get a chance to measure improvement
NOW that Camden Haven has played against everyone in its inaugural season in senior football, it can see how the young group of players has improved since the start of the season.
The Bombers played their opening match of the season against Coffs Swans and like everyone else since then, found the Swans too hot to handle.
At Fitzroy Oval Camden Haven gets to meet the top of the ladder team again but coach Pete Gallagher said his team goes into this clash with a bit of experience under the young players’ belts.
"Obviously it's a pretty daunting challenge for us playing the top side and they gave us a bit of a lesson in the first game," Gallagher said.
"We'd like to think we've improved a bit but having a couple of players missing due to injury after last week's game against Port Macquarie is a bit disappointing."
Gallagher said the core group of the players is aged between 17 and 20 and a group of that age will find natural improvement.
He said he wished he had a few more players aged in their mid-20s but he’s happy with the squad he’s got.
Whether that squad has improved enough to challenge the undefeated Coffs Swans on enemy territory remains to be seen.
Solid group of core players the key for the Saints
THE thing that’s impressed Sawtell/Toormina coach Jim Angel the most this week has been the attitude of his players.
The Saints are expected to easily account for North Coffs this weekend but Angel said the players are keen to hit the field this Saturday for an earlier start time.
“We’ve had a couple of tough games in a row and I asked a few blokes if they’d like a rest but they all said they didn’t,” Angel explained.
“They want to kick on and I suppose they know a week off is only just around the corner when the long weekend is here. Everyone is keen and they’re a pretty resilient bunch.”
That resilience has created consistency within the playing group.
The Saints have 11 players who’ve taken the oval in all five matches so far this season and Angel believes having such a core is a clear advantage.
“”You’ve got to be predictable to each other not just in how each other plays but also when it comes to the game plan as well,” he said.
Sawtell/Toormina has players returning to the line-up this weekend to strengthen the line-up but the return of North Coffs captain-coach Darren Funston will be a boost for the Kangaroos.
Funston said nothing has changed for his team while he’s been away.
“All that’s asked of the players each week is to go out there and have a real crack,” Funston said.
“We don’t ask any more of the boys than that but to give anything less than a real crack is unacceptable.
“With that attitude at least we know we’ll give an honest effort.”
Last Modified on 16/05/2014 18:07