Coopers - Friday Night Footy Preview
Andrew Thomson
the top of the table Woodsmen take on unknown quantity, the Bribie Island Bulldogs tonight at McCarthy Homes Oval.
Bribie Island were the Premiership winners in 2019 in the lower division and earnt promotion this year into the higher rated Friday night competition. It’s been nearly 10 years since these sides clashed, with the Woodies having fond memories of sensational Bribie Island Bus Trips in years gone by!
Once again, as is the nature of Woodies footy, there are 5+ changes to the side this week, headlined by the loss of club legend Jimmy Rozynski who sadly ruptured his ACL last week in the superb win over Jimboomba. Also out with a hamstring strain is the pontiff Val Pope, who turned back the clock last week with a vintage best on ground display and Luke Scott and Gabe McKinnon miss due to other commitments. However, on the positive ledger the Woodies are able to bring in former QAFL Senior Captains in Lachlan Woods and Gerard Moore, and multiple best & fairest winner Sam Curtis among some strong inclusions. Also in for his first game is Nick Barling, who is a very strong addition to the Woodsmen stocks.
It promises to be a fast paced battle as the Woodies are starting to hit their straps and adjsut to the pace of the younger brigade led by Colts Premiership players Abdullah Haddad and Sammy Minin, who was best on ground in the QAFL Colts 2018 Grand final Triumph.
With 2 x QAFL calibre ruckmen in Gerard Moore and Nick Barling feeding a strong midfield led by Gareth Crawford, the Woodies will be looking to lock the ball in their forward half and create scoring pressure with their speed at ground level and strong half back line lead by boom recruit Chris Brown.
If you’d like to get down to the club to enjoy some footy after the headline act, the u11 girls Sherwood Derby enjoy a Coopers and a meal from Bistro 56 or BBQ Mafia - we’d love to see you down there.
Be sure to register your attendance and adhered to all protocols!
Woodsmen vs Bribie Island - Fri 31/7 - 730pm @ McCarthy Homes Oval
B: Merritt - Evans - Young
HB: Brown - Thomson - Vine
C: Verma - Crawford - Jackson Jnr
HF: Haddad - Barling - O’Dea
F: Mihalopoulos - Davis - Minin
Foll: Moore - Woods - Curtis
Int: Petch - Gillespie - Skipsaris - Bates