IT’S the toughest assignment the AFL North Coast has to offer.
Travel to Port Macquarie and come away with the four premiership points.
Over the years many teams have travelled south down the Pacific Highway with high hopes, only to drive home sore, sorry and empty handed.
The Coffs Swans are travelling on all eight cylinders at the moment but their undefeated record is on the line this weekend and Port Macquarie doesn’t plan on being a welcoming host.
Magpies coach Scott Abercrombie has called on one thing for the players to improve in recent weeks and that’s effort. And the Port boys have responded.
The results mightn’t be showing but the effort is there and it’s that trait that will be most on show when the reigning premier faces the ladder leader.
Coffs Swans playing coach Jay Guthrie is expecting a fired-up opponent.
Now the Swans are seen as the competition benchmark, Guthrie admits his team in the firing line.
“Last week was a tough game (against Grafton) and I think we can expect nothing less for the rest of the season,” Guthrie said.
A lot of teams head south with an undermanned line-up but Guthrie is pleased to report the Swans are getting somewhere near full strength.
Four players return to the line-up this afternoon including leading goalkicker Nick von Schill and new recruit Liam O’Halloran who is set to make his debut after moving up from Ballarat.
The Magpies will be closer to full strength as well.
The last time these two met the Swans easily dismantled Port but Guthrie is expecting an improved Magpies outfit to take the field.
“I think they’ll have a few back,” he said.
“There’s two new recruits who are playing for them now and Jesse Schmidt should be closer to full fitness.”
Photo courtesy Rob Wright / Coffs Coast Advocate
Bombers to push their home advantage
UPSETS can happen on the road and Camden Haven is hoping it can surprise Sawtell/Toormina today in a bid to shore up its position in the top four.
Playing on the smaller Laurieton Oval, the Bombers have worked out the nuances of their home ground and hope to use it to their advantage against one of the premiership front runners.
Not that the Saints will be a pushover. In fact, far from it.
Wins at Port Macquarie and Grafton so far this year show travel isn’t an issue for Sawtell/Toormina.
Camden Haven can be a different kettle of fish though.
The team is young and inexperienced but when it has the ball the Bombers’ midfield brigade can move like greased lightning.
If the Saints can curtail the opposition’s run it will go a long way towards proving its title credentials.
If Camden Haven can get off the leash and run in waves, the upset on the road will be on the cards.
Kangaroos will play with passion
THERE’S no need to call the priest and ask him to administer the last rites to North Coffs.
Kangaroos captain-coach Darren Funston said there’s more than just a pulse still beating at North Coffs. He says the club is full of life.
“Despite having to forfeit last week the feeling is pretty positive among the group,” Funston said.
“We’re going to go up there (Grafton) and see what we can come away with.”
What the Kangaroos will come away with after Saturday’s earlier start (first bounceat 1pm) is questionable.
In the past couple of seasons, Grafton has proven to be more than just a bogey side. The Tigers have made a habit recently of dominating North Coffs with some massive winning margins the result.
While not predicting a massive form reversal, Funston said the Roos would be more than competitive today thanks to the team’s “have a crack” mantra.
This weekend's encounter will be the last piece of travel North Coffs will have to endure for a month, giving the coach reason to believe the Kangaroos can start to rebuild in the second half of the season.
Grafton is hot favourite to make third position on the ladder its own.
The Tigers midfield is gaining fitness and no doubt Grafton has the top two teams looking over their shoulder.
Last Modified on 30/05/2014 14:59