Local Derby Headlines Round 8
Photo: Brad Greenshields, Coffs Coast Advocate
The second Coffs Harbour derby of the season gets lead billing in round 8 of the AFL North Coast Senior competition.
Both Coffs Breakers and Sawtell Toormina Saints head into this clash at Richardson Park, Sawtell having only lost one match for the season, with just percentage separating them on the ladder. For Breakers, their only loss of the season came when a badly under strength side travelled to Ballina for the first round of the Cross Conference Competition and have won three in a row since. Sawtell’s only loss came a week earlier in the ANZAC Round when their nearest neighbours claimed the first derby of the season. Saints have won four straight since but will be more focused on local bragging rights than on the number of wins in a row.
Breakers like to play open attacking footy to take advantage of the run and carry of young guns Luke Symons, Shaydan Close, and Ben Gibbeson. Goal kicking has been shared around with Nick Stanlan-Velt, Luke Valdes, Brendan Norton, and Fraser Duryea each having kicked at least 10 goals for the season so there are plenty of avenues to goal.
Sawtell like to play a more contested game that suits their bigger bodies and more experienced heads in Luke Matthews, Mark Couzens, and Jed Ellis-Cluff and will be keen to keep the ball in tight and not let Breakers fleet footed players get into space. Up front, it’s more big bodies with Dan Pritchard leading the line well and getting great support from Aaron Clarke. In defence, brothers Callum and Lachie Day are forming a tight unit with the evergreen Matt Flynn, and will have to continue to step up to cover the loss of Jake Cosmai.
This should be a classic encounter that could set the tone for the rest of the season to come.
Down south, the winless Port Macquarie Magpies are a huge chance to break their duck for the season when they take on the Grafton Tigers. The Tigers won the previous encounter this season but have not travelled well and will start at long odds in this match. Both teams were badly beaten last start but the weekend away in Byron Bay could be the catalyst that the Magpies need to post their first win then to start looking ahead with anticipation to the next month of footy.
Port welcomed back Adam Mannes last weekend in Byron and he will be better for the run. Scoring goals has been their big challenge and Mannes will provide welcome support for Sam Johnson and Jesse Schmidt who are the club’s leading scorers with 8 goals apiece.
Grafton have a line-up that can be competitive with any team in the League but getting them all together has been the challenge this season. They can certainly rely on Luke Stanford who has been the standout performer of season 2017 and, if he can get more support, the Tigers will win matches. Pete Laurie has been the find of the season for the Tigers with his athleticism, while fellow youngsters Hamish Ellem, Ronan Leslie, and Kade Bagnall are finding their feet in the top grade.
Round 8 fixtures:
Sawtell Toormina Saints v Coffs Breakers, Richardson Park, Sawtell at 2:20pm
Port Macquarie Magpies v Grafton Tigers, Wayne Richards Park, Port Macquarie at 2:20pm
