LYNCH MOB ARE IN FOR HARD TIME, SAYS FOGG
CURRA coach Jamie Fogg has launched a shot across the bow of neighbours Hermit Park ahead of their high-stakes clash at Neil French Oval, warning star forward Ben Lynch wouldn’t be able to bully the Swans as he did the Suns last week.
Lynch rocketed to first on the Townsville goals leaderboard with a 14-goal effort against Northern Beaches to take his season tally to 44.
Lynch will have a far tougher time this weekend, Fogg warned, asserting his crop of defenders efenders would not be cowed by the defending champion fullforward.
“He’s a quality footballer, we found that out in the grand final last year, but he kicked 14 goals, and – I don’t want to be the person who brings it up – but the opposition wasn’t quality,” he said.
“No disrespect to the Suns, they’re obviously struggling at the moment, but … we’re not the Suns.”
Fogg conceded it was a fair effort to boot 14 against any opposition but highlighted his defence had held Lynch to six goals combined from their last two meetings.
“He’s someone we’ll look to shut down but they’ve got other avenues to score with Mckye Turner (21 goals) and some of their small forwards, so their forward line is not just a one-horse show,” Fogg said.
Shutting down the Tigers attack would be a major boon in the race for the second finals seed.
The runner-up to minor premier Thuringowa will earn the chance at direct qualification into the grand final or a lifeline should it lose.
Hermit Park and neighbours Curra are in the thick of the hunt, and with back-to-back fixtures over the next week, that coveted spot could soon be sewn up.
Adding motivation to a strong performance is silverware on offer with the annual Eric Johns Cup, awarded to the club that wins two of the three senior grades between the rivals.
Johns was a stalwart of both Annandale clubs
with life membership awarded on both sides of the fence at Neil French.
Curra’s misfiring goalkickers did the Swans no favours in last week’s 13.9 (87) to 2.7 (19) loss to Thuringowa, but there is a silver lining to be found even there.
Most of those behinds could have been goals had the side kicked straighter, and Fogg is optimistic improvement will be found on the scoreboard this week.
Thuringowa plays University at North Shore Oval on Saturday.
In the women’s competition, Hermit Park plays Curra, Garbutt plays Northern Beaches and University plays Thuringowa.