Local derbies and long road trips
Round 5 action in the AFL North Coast Senior Competition is headlined by the local derby between Coffs Harbour Breakers and Sawtell Toormina Saints, while Port Macquarie Magpies make the long trip north to face the Grafton Tigers.
The Breakers remain undefeated in season 2019 and the derby element of this round’s match will be downplayed within the group. Whilst the two clubs love nothing better than to beat each other, the focus for the Breakers will be sticking to the game plan that has served them so well to this point. Buying into rivalries and Grand Final redemption will only be to the team’s detriment. No doubt this is a message that will be reinforced many times throughout the preparation.
The Saints have struggled this season following a raft of big name departures at last season’s triumphant end. Their places have been taken by a brigade of talented 16 and 17 year olds who are showing plenty of potential in their debut year, but it’s a lack of battle hardened leadership that is costing the club at the moment. The match up against the Breakers is another chance for the whole club to step up and show that it has the capacity to compete with the competition leaders and develop into a genuine premiership threat again this season.
On paper, the match between the Grafton Tigers and Port Magpies is expected to be one-sided, however the road trip can be a great leveler if players aren’t prepared to make the journey.
The Tigers have raised the rallying cry this week and will be hoping that this encourages a number of peripheral figures to get to training and commit to lacing up the boots at home on Saturday. With a full complement on the team sheet and three or four quality additions the Tigers can match it with every other team. The trademark Tiger heart and effort is on display each week from the players that are committed to the cause and they just need more people to buy in.
Port resumed their winning ways last week and will be keen to keep that run going. Complacency combined with the possibility of players not wanting to travel are the big threats so the club will be trying to keep all eyes focused on the big picture. The Magpies are better placed in 2019 than they have been in recent memory and will know that winning clashes like this one with the Tigers is key to their hopes of being involved in the biggest matches at season’s end.
A preview of the round 5 Women’s matches will appear online on Friday (17 May).
For full fixture details, click here.
