IBRAHIM’S AT HIS BEST FOR FINALS
IN what is a major warning to preliminary final rivals Brothers, reigning North Queensland footballer of the year Aden Ibrahim is adamant he is back to his best.
It has taken time, but the Saints Eagles South winger believes he has rediscovered the momentum that made him one of the most lethal attacking prospects last year.
Ibrahim missed five weeks of the season after taking up an opportunity through TAFE in Brisbane, but his return coincided with a late-season surge for the Saints.
Now they are playing for their place in back-to-back grand finals, the goal machine is adamant he will not be caught off pace.
“I felt refreshed when I came back from Brisbane but it took me a while to get that momentum back,” Ibrahim said. “I had five weeks off football, and you lose that fitness and touch. I wasn’t as confident in my game when I came back. It felt like I was restarting pre-season again.
“At the moment we have got the whole team back, the last two games we scored five goals and then four goals. It feels like the momentum is back for our boys.”
Ibrahim, who was Saints’ top goal scorer this season with 14, expected the back of the net to be plundered plenty this weekend with the two teams playing an attacking style.
Brothers will come into the fixture with retribution on their mind after being dispatched in the major semifinal against premier MA Olympic a fortnight ago.
“It is a big game and we know they will be hungry to win it,” Ibrahim said.
“We are both attacking style teams, they are going to be firing and we will be firing.”