Tigers given a lesson
SURFERS Paradise have taken another step towards becoming a champion team after putting Gold Coast rivals Labrador to the sword on the way to maintaining their unbeaten start to the QAFL season.
The Demons beat the Tigers 19.16 (130) to 5.5 (35) before a big home crowd at Sir Bruce Small Park on Saturday.
Labrador made use of an early breeze to boot five goals and lead by eight points at quarter time but Surfers Paradise outscored them 108 to five in the next three quarters.
The Demons smashed Labrador in the contest, improved their efficiency and their pressure was unrelenting.
Surfers Paradise have been one of the biggest improvers in recent seasons under coach Brad Moore but have rarely put teams away the way they did the Tigers.
“That’s one of the things we have spoken about,” Moore said. “We have been in games where we felt like we had upper hand but we switch off a bit and don’t maintain that concentration and that level.
“(Saturday) was a big step in the right direction. When we were performing well we maintained that and kept at it. We didn’t let the foot off.”
Surfers Paradise hold second on the ladder behind premiers Palm Beach Currumbin after four rounds, while Labrador are at the bottom, still searching for their first win.
Labrador have undergone huge changes in recent times, welcoming new coach Liam Burke and blooding many young players in the past year.
Injuries have also been a factor but Burke said it wasn’t an excuse. He said they would
persist with their game plan and team.
“I don’t think we make massive structural changes,” Burke said. “It’s just about our ability to apply ourselves for the four quarters that is hurting us at the moment.
“It’s about mentally staying in games and applying ourselves to make sure at every stoppage and every whistle blow we are quick to move.
“We have to be the first to react rather than being on the back foot all day.
“It seems we are chasing our tails at the moment. We are second to the ball, we are last to get up off the ground and last to spread.”
Burke said the club remained united.
“We are all in it together so that starts with spending time with each other at the footy club and at training, making sure everyone is their doing extras,” Burke said.
“It’s not like the old days where we will smash ourselves on the track. Footy has changed a bit from that. Maybe we will change up what we are doing at training to re-energise the group.”
Meanwhile, Broadbeach secured a close 10.16 (76) to 11.6 (72) win over the Western Magpies at McCarthy Homes Oval on Saturday to take their season to 2-1.