Green remains the main Demons man
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terry.wilson@news.com.au SURFERS Paradise coach Brad Moore is only new to the job with the Demons but has quickly discovered just how much bustling forward Dan Green means to the team.
Green was an inspirational figure as Surfers brought off a shock 12.6 (78) to 11.7 (73) win over regular finalists Morningside in their QAFL clash at Sir Bruce Small Park on Saturday.
After losing a host of key players in the off-season, the Demons are desperately short of experience but the return of Green went a long way to help alleviate that issue.
“Dan brings a presence on top of his natural ability,” Moore said of Green, who kicked three goals.
“The boys walk a bit taller when he’s around.”
The Demons did their best to lose an unlosable game after an outstanding first half when they led by 38 points.
“We didn’t adapt to the rain after that and tried to play the same brand we had done in the first half,” Moore said.
With only one player left on the bench, the Demons only just held on for a moraleboosting win.
At Cooke-Murphy Oval, Labrador overcame some frustrating tactics from Western Magpies to take their clash by 11.9 (75) to 5.7 (37).
The visitors adopted a short-kicking, chipping style in drizzling rain yet the Tigers increased the lead at every break.
“It probably frustrates you when you haven’t got the ball, I suppose, but that’s all about all it does,” coach Aaron Shattock said of the Magpies’ style.
“It’s a different style but we won by 40 points, we doubled their scoring shots and they kicked only one goal in the last half – and that was 30 seconds in.”
W L D F A % Labrador 4 0 0 362 211 171 PB Currumbin 2 1 0 292 209 139 W Magpies 2 2 0 367 277 132 Mt Gravatt 2 1 0 292 266 109 Grange 2 2 0 340 335 101 Broadbeach 2 1 0 172 227 75 Morningside 1 3 0 329 356 92 Surfers 1 3 0 251 358 70 Sandgate 0 3 0 191 357 53 Pts 16 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 0
The Tigers had great service from defenders Wayde Mills and Jayden Young and Damien Hector turned up his game in the absence of regular midfielder Billy Hicks.
Southport NEAFL prospect Ryan Pantic breezed through his first seniors game in a year with a leading role in Broadbeach’s 8.13 (61) to 8.4 (52) win against Wilston-Grange.
After only two reserves games for Broadbeach in his comeback from 2016 knee surgery, the club’s dual best and fairest winner did well.
“He looked good and certainly looked fit enough,” said coach Brett Andrews. “He did everything we asked of him.”
Another Southport-listed player, forward Josh Baxter, was “fantastic” with three goals, said Andrews, while midfielder Luke Shreeve and tagger James Royes, on Steve Brittain, were also quality.