'We're going for speed': Harbrow
AFL CAIRNS
SPEED kills.
That’s the mantra Manunda will take into tomorrow’s clash with the undefeated Port Douglas.
Hawks coach Marc Harbrow said his side would not be daunted heading to the Port Douglas Sporting Complex despite it being a virtual graveyard for opposition sides in 2017.
The reigning premiers have an average winning margin of 151 points at the ground this year.
“We’re going for speed,” Harbrow said ahead of the AFL Cairns match-of-the-round.
“Our players pride themselves on their speed and attack on the footy and we’re going to back ourselves in.
“We’re sticking with youth, and with that comes an air of unpredictability. They’re a great team, well structured and really well coached, but we’re going to take them on with our speed and agility.”
The Hawks have been the competition bolter this season and sit equal third on points with South Cairns.
They’ve jumped from second last to the cusp of a finals berth and are one of the few sides to have troubled the Crocs this year. They got to within 32 points in round three before being overpowered by 83 points in their most recent encounter (round 10).
Harbrow said they’d worked hard at establishing an ‘honest’ culture at the club.
“We’re moving in the direction we planned at the start of the season,” Harbrow said.
“To be sitting equal third is a great result and it’s on the back of real honesty from within group.
“Without honesty you can’t achieve a great deal. We’re fortunate to have a lot of blokes that just love the contact and physicality of the game.”
While conceding Port Douglas has match-winners on every line, Harbrow said shutting down star midfielder Peter Bury would be a focus tomorrow. The reigning Crocs best-and-fairest winner is having another standout season and could have a minder at the Croc Pit.
“Bury has been around football for a long time and is a quality player,” Harbrow said.
“He’s smart, hard and wins a lot of the footy. I might put one of our younger players on him because it’s an opportunity for education.
“You learn a lot playing on a quality players like that.”
Harbrow said Nathan Weiss would get the job on Port Douglas spearhead Kye Chapple, who again leads the AFL Cairns goalkicking table with 64 majors. He booted seven the last time the teams met.
“Nathan traditionally plays well on Kye but we can’t afford to just focus on him,” he said.
“Their smalls, like Jesse Mawson and Mathew Medcraft, are really dangerous once the ball hits the ground. We’ll have to put some time into them."
AFL CAIRNS - ROUND 15
Saturday July 8 - 2pm
Port Douglas v Manunda
Port Douglas Sporting Complex
SELECTED TEAMS:
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