Sharks boss: We’ll be ready for Liam Jones

REDLAND-VICTORIA Point coach Phil Carse says the Sharks will have a plan for Liam Jones regardless of where the Palm Beach Currumbin star lines up in Saturday’s clash at Salk Oval.

Ex-carlton AFL defender Jones has expectedly been one of the QAFL’S best players so far this season and helped to completely transform Palm Beach Currumbin’s back six.

But the Lions have yet to face a forward line of the Sharks’ calibre – spearheaded by former Brisbane Lion and current QAFL leading goalkicker, Matt Hammelmann.

The obvious assumption is that Jones, one of the competition’s best defenders, will go to Hammelmann, its standout key forward.

But Carse is not so sure. “They’re two really quality players so it will be a great match-up if it does happen,” Carse told The Bulletin.

“But watching Jones the past few weeks he’s been playing a bit higher up the ground and trying to go forward – whether that happens again, or he sits a bit deeper will be interesting.

“Our major focus is always what we do but when you have a player of Liam Jones’ quality, who could still be playing fantastic footy at AFL level, you have to plan for him.

“Either way, we’ll be ready with a few plans of our own.”

While there will be plenty of interest inside the Sharks’ forward 50, Carse believes the game will be won and lost in midfield.

The Sharks’ on-ball brigade has been arguably the most dominant in the QAFL this season, and boasts three of the top-five disposal getters in the competition.

But the Lions’ ball-winners are equally as potent, led by premiership-winning duo Thomas Thynne and Tyler Cornish.

“I think it will be a pretty wet game and heavy ground, so the midfield will have a big say in this one,” Carse said.

“Whichever team can get on top in the contested footy and around the stoppages will have the upper hand.

“We’ve got some guys in there that are in really good form at the moment, and Palm Beach has some quality players as well.”

Both Redland-victoria Point and Palm Beach Currumbin enter the match at 4-1.

Saturday’s clash begins a month-long run of difficult fixtures against fellow top-four hopefuls for both the Lions and Sharks, making this a pivotal game to win.