Image: Empiria Digital

Another week, another round of intriguing matchups including rivalries, returning players and a huge top eight battle. All matches will be played at 2pm this Saturday.

Maroochydore 4th vs Labrador 6th @ Neil Upton Oval

This match looks to be the game of the round with the matchup turning into a bit of a rivalry after last year’s elimination final (6 v 7) where Labrador won at home. Both teams will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing Round Eight, with Labrador being defeated by Morningside by 106 points at home and Maroochydore having lost to Palm Beach Currumbin by 116. It is going to be a high intensity game where a win will start to wash away the sins of last week but a loss may make it difficult to stem the slide. 

How the Roos Win

Maroochydore will welcome back ex – AFL player Noah Cumberland, who used to play juniors at the Roos before being drafted to Richmond. He will add some extra power to a forward line with Aaron Wilson in it, which will be a scary duo for the Tiger defenders to handle. Hugo Papst and Koby Young have also hit the scoreboard with the duo averaging 5.2 goals a game combined. Luckily for Maroochydore, they have multiple strengths within their midfield being one of the best in the competition for a contested game. William Jones will be looking to continue his great season in the ruck, however he will have to dig deep against the Tigers’ Billy Marshall who is third in total hitouts thus far this season.

How the Tigers Win

Stop the Roos offence. Jayden Young and ex-Sun Rhys Nicholls will have their hands full but if they can get on top, it will boost their chances of winning greatly. In the forward line it will be Aiden Fyfe, Noah Casalini and Jake Goldsmith who will be the deciding factors, with Zak Marshall always handy for a goal as well. Tom Miller will go head to head against Benjamin Thomas in the midfield and if he can stop the Roos star midfielder, or at least beat him in the contest then the Tigers can probably get on top in the contest game. He will work hand in hand with the dual ruck combination of Marshall and the returning Marcus Khoo, with the duo being arguably the best ruck duo in the competition when up and going. If they can do that, they should be able to have a great chance to secure the win.

Aspley 9th vs Wilston Grange 10th @ Automall Aspley Oval

It’s always a spicy affair between the north Brisbane neighbours and this time on paper they look very evenly matched. The stakes have never been higher with the winner the chance to jump into the top eight. With Aspley coming off a bye and Wilston Grange snagging their second win of the season in a 28-point victory over Coorparoo, both teams will fancy their chances. 

How the Hornets Win

The best part of the Hornets game would have to be their aerial strength and with that being one of Wilston Grange’s weaknesses, they need to capitalise on it as much as they can. They should utilise long kicks up the line to gain field position to set up Jake Whitty and Jordan Taylor in the forward line. They will also rely on ex-Brisbane Lion Ryan Bastinac in the midfield to continue his dominance (23.3 disposals and 1.4 goals per game) alongside energetic Andrew Jeffrey and ruckman Finbar Delbridge (33 hitouts per game). 

How the Gorillas Win

The Gorillas are tackling machines. Third in the competition for tackles, it’s their well-known strength. However, they will need to be more controlled in the air against the Hornets, with gun fullback Lachlan Zakaras needing to set up the game from the last line. Jack Manly may look to take the responsibility to beat Bastinac in the midfield alongside Mark Horne and Darby Breeden. Along with Jack Thompson and Carter Simpson, the Gorillas will look at a range of young forwards to fill the vacancy left by Fitzroy Greenwool this week.

Coorparoo 11th vs Noosa 8th @ Giffin Park

The Round One rematch looks to be a competitive one as Noosa travel to Brisbane to take on Coorparoo for the second time this season. After letting Sherwood get their first win of the season last week, Noosa will be looking to get their top eight aspirations back on track, holding onto that eight spot by a slither. For Coorparoo they will be looking to get their second win of the season in front of a home crowd after a loss to Wilston Grange last week. 

How the Kings Win

The Kings have youth. Lucian Andonov, Ben Morison and Josh Altus can all be dangerous up forward. But for them to not just break even but break away with the win they will need the midfield to step up. Noah Polinski has done well this year, Lachlan Taylor has returned and they will need that duo at their best alongside Angus O’Brien. At the same time, Ben Hogan, David Lomude and Callum Ferguson will need to try to keep the Tigers forwards of Enrique Mazzeo and Rhys Free quiet. 

How the Tigers Win

The Tigers are better at keeping the ball than the Kings, and if they can keep disposal efficiency high, it will give them more time to set up behind the ball and stop the defensive transition game the Kings have been trying to implement. Rory McKenzie, Billy Shanks and Sam Willoughby will look to beat up the kings in the middle of the ground, with the trio all averaging close to 30 disposals respectively. Archie Shannon is on an upward curve. Up forward Mazzeo, Jai Mure and Free will have to be at their best and power the Tigers offence. Ethan Slaney returns as a defensive pillar.

In other games seventh placed Broadbeach takes on the second placed Lions in another local stoush at Neptune Homes Oval. The Cats will be looking to turn their season around after Matt Hammelman kicked 12 on them in a 61-point loss while the Lions will be looking to make it seven wins in a row after a commanding win against Maroochydore last week. 

First placed Surfers will take on a 12th placed Sherwood at Kallibr Homes Oval this week in what on paper looks like a mismatched match-up. They are strengthened with the return of Swallow, Greenwood, Ellis-Yolmen and Kennedy.

However, after upsetting Noosa last week and claiming their first win of the season, Sherwood will look to back that up against the Demons this week and claim their second scalp in a row. Young players have no fear and Fletcher returns. Going to the opposing teams home deck will be difficult but don’t count the Magpies out.

Morningside will take on Mt. Gravatt at Jack Esplen Oval in a battle of third against 13th. Morningside will look to continue their good form after a 102-point win over Labrador last week while the Vultures are trying to get their second win of the season and get out of last spot after a 76-point loss to first placed Surfers Paradise last week.

Finally, fifth placed Redland-Victoria Point have the bye this week and will take on Maroochydore next week at home.