Rivalry set to go up in finals hunt
A RIVALRY simmering since Surfers Paradise’s Gold Coast Premier League return in 2014 will take on extra significance when Apollo host Broadbeach United on Sunday.
With the Round 9 clash to have a major bearing on this year’s finals race, Surfers and Broadbeach are treating the 3pm fixture at Lex Bell Oval as must-win.
After less-than-perfect starts, both sides have found form over the past month, winning three of their last four games to sit fourth and third respectively.
With ladder-leading Burleigh dropping their first points of the season in last week’s loss to Broadbeach, the door is now ajar for others to re-enter premiership calculations.
For Surfers coach Alex Morrison, a battle with Broadbeach is the perfect time for his side to make their move.
“Broadbeach and Surfers have been two of the top teams on the Coast the last three or four years so obviously there’s going to be very important games between the two. They’ve had some great clashes the last few years,” Morrison, who joined Apollo from Gold Coast Knights in the offseason, said.
“Both teams are coming in in good form. Broadbeach are a very good side and one of the top teams in the league.
“We’ve been focusing on attitude and being up for the game. Broadbeach are up for the game every week so we’re just going to have to match their intensity and their will to win. They’ve shown they have fantastic will to win.
“I like to keep the ball on the ground, play out of the back and play as much football as we can. (Broadbeach) play a bit of both, they play a bit of football too.
“They’ve got some excellent players so they’re able to mix their game up. They can really adjust their style to who their playing against, which is why they’ve been such a good side for so long.”
Having brought a host of new players to the club this season, Morrison said things were finally starting to click for last year’s semi finalists.
“We’ve been trying to gel and get used to each other so obviously that was going to take a bit of time.”