Finals race is on in earnest

If results fall their way on Saturday, Sawtell Toormina Saints could emerge from the weekend with the Minor Premiership in their keeping. In what was expected to be a rebuilding year, very few would have expected this at the start of the season but the Saints efforts in 2018 have already exceeded the expectations of most.

A swag of retirements following last year’s Grand Final loss and a rookie coach at the helm meant the Saints were anticipating one of their hardest seasons in a long time. The return of a number of those players has eased the pressure but much of the successes to date has been built on young players such as Mitch Napier, Connor and Jordan Perks, and Alec Baldwin stepping out into the limelight.

The Saints have been strong in attack but much of the basis for their ladder position is based upon having the meanest defence of any team this year. This has been a team effort but is based upon the key positions that are filled by the experienced pairing of Matt Flynn and Callum Day.

The Saints are at home this week to the Grafton Tigers whose performance in the past month belie their ladder position.

It’s been another tough season for the Tigers who are yet to register a win, but they have competed strongly against each of the other teams in recent weeks and haven’t been far away from claiming the maiden victory.

Grafton has struggled with injuries and haven’t been able to get a settled line-up on the park but have shown that when they do they have the potential to upset their rivals. They already have one eye to next year and are keen to finish the season strongly so that players are keen to return in 2019 and help the club to push on.

Coach Chris Curthoys has the team moving in the right direction and is helping to get the best out of young players such as Ronan Leslie, Clancy O’Neill and Evan Whitty who are the future leaders of the club.

Coffs Harbour Breakers need to claim a win against Port Macquarie Magpies at Fitzroy Oval/The Old Camp if they want to keep the race to the Minor Premiership alive.

The Breakers are coming off back to back victories but, more importantly, these wins have been as a result of their best performances of the season. There’s no great surprise that this has coincided with the return to the team of players such as Brett Vella and Royce Close who were instrumental in last season’s success, whilst Shaydan Close and Ben Gibbeson add pace and silky skills to the line-up.

With Finals just around the corner Breakers will be keen to build upon their efforts of the last fortnight, knowing that the premiership tilt is now in full swing.

Port Macquarie Magpies have had patches of good footy in the past month but haven’t been able to put the full package together. Their only win from the past three weeks came from their worst performance and time is running out to find the consistency that is needed to sustain a serious challenge for the title.

On the positive side of the ledger, the Magpies were only narrowly defeated by both Sawtell and Breakers in high scoring affairs so they have the capacity to beat these teams. This needs to start on Saturday with a win over Breakers to set down a performance marker for the remainder of the season.

Sam Johnson has been an ever reliable path to goal and Ed Smith has been a great foil since debuting several weeks ago. The return of coach Tom Marmo from injury has provided the team with better on field direction and his efforts in his dual capacities will be key to the Magpies’ fortunes.

Port Macquarie Women are still buzzing from the excitement of last week’s drawn result and will be looking to use that positive energy as an advantage against Coffs Harbour Breakers.

Cambridge McCormick has been influential for the Magpies in the ruck and around the ground. The growth of players such as Britt Hargreaves, Claire O’Dwyer, and Anishah Burnes means that the team is developing real depth across all key positions.

The Breakers are deep into an injury crisis that includes two torn ACLs and a badly broken wrist. Every time the team takes a step forward another serious injury seems to strike in what is becoming an all too familiar feeling of two steps forward, one step back for coach Brad Giri.

Mid season recruits Katika Adams and Keely Owen have helped to soften the blow and their combination with the team’s experienced players in captain Bella Crawley, Casey Miosge, and Cassidy Ronalds will be key to the Breakers fortunes for the rest of the season.

Round 12 fixtures – Saturday 21 July

Sawtell Toormina Saints v Grafton Tigers at Richardson Park, Sawtell (Under 17 at 12:30pm, Seniors at 2:20pm)

Coffs Harbour Breakers v Port Macquarie Magpies at Fitzroy Oval/The Old Camp (Under 17  at 10:00am, Women at 11:50pm, Reserves at 1:20pm, Seniors at 2:50pm)

For full fixture details, click here.