TIGERS NOT PANICKING OVER FLAG DEFENCE ... JUST YET
PREMIERS Labrador have hit a flat spot in their chase for a hat-trick of QAFL flags although coach Aaron Shattock is hardly reaching for the panic button just yet.
The Tigers struggled for the second week in a row when they edged Western Magpies by 14.11 (95) to 13.12 (90) at Sherwood Oval in Brisbane on Saturday.
The previous match they struggled to beat WilstonGrange by 11 points – results against sides that are far from the top five and the finals.
The Tigers are still unbeaten, though, despite their apparent slump, something coach Shattock points out.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Shattock said. “You have your ups and downs during a season and we’re still undefeated.
“It depends on how you look at it – a glass half full or a glass half-empty.”
Shattock conceded the Tigers are a bit flat but that they can afford to be with a minor premiership in the bag two games from the finals.
“We’re not really playing for too much at the moment,” he said.
The Magpies threatened a huge upset when they kicked six goals to start the final term and led by three goals.
But that was when the big four of Bill Hicks, best-onground Adam Clarke, Bryce Retzlaff and Wayde Mills stood up for the Tigers.
Broadbeach set up a big derby next up against Labrador when flogging WilstonGrange at Hickey Park.
The Cats had 12 goalkickers as they won by 16.17 (113) to 9.4 (58) in a result that pleased coach Brett Andrews.
Broadbeach are fourth and finish the regular season against Labrador (away) and Morningside (home), so they need at least one win from those two to play finals.
“That is a good sign to have 12 goalkickers,” Andrews said, praising the effort of former Morningside ace Adam Spackman on the ball.
“But you could have thrown a blanket over 10 of them for best honours.”
Surfers found Morningside too good at Esplen Oval, losing 27.11 9173) to 6.5 (41).
The Demons were only four points behind at quartertime before the Panthers ran riot with a second term.