Labrador Tigers QAFL mid-season report card

“It was a season-defining day that allowed us to hang on to the top end of the ladder.” Labrador QAFL coach Liam Burke details what it will take to continue the club’s resurgence in 2019 in our mid-season report card.

AS we reach the halfway mark of the 2019 QAFL season, we chat to the coaches of the Gold Coast teams and run the rule over their performances to deliver the Bulletin’s mid-season report card.

OVERVIEW OF LABRADOR AFTER ROUND 10 WITH TIGERS COACH LIAM BURKE

Ladder position: Fifth

Results: 4 wins, 5 losses and 1 bye

Percentage: %86.30

Rating: C+

“It took us quite a while to get going. We got touched up and embarrassed early in the season. Some of the changes we have made have shown we are capable but we are just lacking some consistency at the moment.”

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HIGHLIGHT: Round 7 12.11 (83) to 7.14 (56) win over Wilston Grange

“Coming from five goals down against Wilston Grange was superb. We sit above them on the ladder but it was a season-defining day that allowed us to hang on to the top end of the ladder. At quarter-time it could have gone the way games earlier in the season went.

Round 4 QAFL Australian rules game between Surfers Paradise Demons (blue) and Labrador Tigers at Sir Bruce Small Park. Photo of Surfers Paradise player Trent Goldfinch (left) and Labrador’s Bryce Retzlaff (right). Photo by Richard Gosling

To stand up away from home I thought was brave and I think that kickstarted a little run of good form which has given us a bit of hope.”

SURFERS PARADISE MID-SEASON REPORT CARD

BROADBEACH CATS MID-SEASON REPORT CARD

LOWLIGHT: Round 4 4 19.16 (130) to 5.5 (35) loss to Surfers Paradise

“That Anzac Day game for us was definitely our most disappointing. We didn’t look anywhere near the team we wanted to be and we were left embarrassed all over the ground.”

STAR:

“Alex McKay came in with some big wraps and has lived up to that as well with what he has produced on the field.

Round 4 QAFL Australian rules game between Surfers Paradise Demons (blue) and Labrador Tigers at Sir Bruce Small Park. Photo of Alex McKay. Photo by Richard Gosling

The best thing about him is that he doesn’t just look pretty on the outside, he is prepared to do the grunt work all day. He has been tagged most weeks as well so that has been pretty inspiring for the guys around him.”

WHAT NOW FOR QAFL REP GAME?

GROGAN MEDALLIST SENDS WARNING TO RIVALS

BACKBONE:

“Dane Watmuff. He has been our best defender so far. Playing at centre-haflback and on the flank he regularly takes good opponents. He missed the entire season last year due to a knee reconstruction so to be up running so quickly this year is amazing.

Round 4 QAFL Australian rules game between Surfers Paradise Demons (blue) and Labrador Tigers at Sir Bruce Small Park. Photo of Dane Watmuff (right) and Dylan Mutu. Photo by Richard Gosling

He was up and going from the word go, he didn’t need a month to get into form. He has been a standout from Round 1.”

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THE RUN HOME:

Round 11, June 22: v Surfers Paradise (home)

Round 12, June 29: Bye

Round 13, July 6: v Broadbeach (away)

Round 14, July 13: v Palm Beach Currumbin (home)

Round 15, July 20: v Wilston Grange (home)

Round 16, July 27: Bye

Round 17, August 3: v Morningside (away)

Round 18, August 10: v Sandgate (home)

Round 19, August 17: v Mt Gravatt (away)