Place Preview - Sherwood in Do or Die Battle
Andrew Thomson
Sherwood face a do-or-die match at home at McCarthy Homes Oval, Chelmer on Saturday when they host 2019 Premiers Surfers Paradise in QAFL Round 8 action.
In this shortened QAFL season and with a final six, a win to the Pies will virtually seal a finals berth and another win in the final match at Labrador next week will seal fourth place on the ladder and a home final.
A loss on Saturday will place the Pies final's hopes in jeopardy.
Both teams are on 8 points and the Demons have shown improved form in recent matches after a slow start to the season minus many of their Premiership stars. On paper Sherwood have a strong team but have spluttered in most matches and this has therefore not translated into victories this season.
Saturday is the time to unwrap a well tuned motor and with a week off to lick their wounds the Pies should be fired up for a big performance in front of what should be a big home crowd with the club's Ladies' Day and the 2000 Colts Premiership Reunion part of the day' s activities.
The selectors have brought in 3 youngsters in Bruce Reville and Jack Briskey, both back from Lions Academy duties and Zane Lovell is rewarded for strong and consistent form in the Reserves.
Out are the injured Cade Scott and Aaron highlands and Sam St John goes back to the Reserves.
Highlands and Scott will both be missed but in Reville and Briskey they have two young stars in the making to fill their shoes.
The Pies midfield and forward line has been spluttering and both will need to lift if the Pies are to win and keep their finals hopes alive. Ryan Harwood and Will Fletcher have both been the form midfielders and Samson Ryan has a big job to get the Pies going from the centre bounces.
The Pies need to get the ball quickly down to key Forwards Liam Dawson and Brody lumber if they are to kick a winning score.
It is getting to the pointy end of the season and the Pies need wins to stay in finals contention, starting on Saturday.
QAFL Rd 8: Sherwood v Surfers Paradise at McCarthy Homes Oval, Chelmer on Saturday, August 29th at 2 pm
B: David Lewis (C) Jack Briskey Ethan Sivijs
HB: Errin Wasley-Black Jack Goodall Luca Winton (C)
C: Claye Beams Will Fletcher Dan Edwards
HF: Aaron Maricic Jack Austin Brody Lumber
F: Bruce Reville Liam Dawson Riley Easton
Foll: Samson Ryan Caleb Franks Ryan Harwood
Interchange: Tom Baulch, Jayden Gallagher, Zane Lovell, Drew Mitchell, Brenton Saunders
Emerg: Trystan Juffs-King, Sam St John, Zac Collison, Sam Hartog,