Gold Coast Football Club vs Frankston Dolphins
Broadbeach AFC, Merrimac Oval, Dunlop Crt, Merrimac.
Saturday, 26 June 2.10pm.
Please be aware that this is Karmichael Hunt’s first home game and we are expecting a larger crowd, so early arrival is highly recommended.
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Big crowd expected for Frankston clash
Gold Coast Football Club will be looking to snare its second win when it takes on Frankston at Merrimac Oval on Saturday.
A big crowd is expected for the first home game of former Queensland and Australian rugby league representative Karmichael Hunt.
After debuting at full forward against Coburg a fortnight ago, Hunt will this week get his first taste of AFL defensive play when he lines up at fullback.
This week Rory Thompson, Matt Shaw and Hayden Jolly return to the squad.
The full team is:
B Josh TOY Karmichael HUNT Taylor HINE
HB Roland AH CHEE Michael GUGLIOTTA Matt SHAW
C Trent McKENZIE Marc LOCK(c) Joey DAYE
HF Luke RUSSELL Charlie DIXON Sam ILES
F Liam PATRICK Rory THOMPSON Alik MAGIN
R Zac SMITH Daniel HARRIS Maverick WELLER
INT: Tom NICHOLLS Hayden JOLLY Danny STANLEY
Brandon MATERA David SWALLOW
EMG: Mitch HARLEY Piers FLANAGAN Rex LIDDY
In: Hayden JOLLY Matt SHAW Rory THOMPSON
Out: Mitch HARLEY Rex LIDDY Piers FLANAGAN
Speaking after a rain-soaked Wednesday training session, GCFC Senior Coach Guy McKenna said Hunt’s switch to the back half after debuting as a key forward is all part of the rugby convert’s development plan.
“His league and union history tells me he’ll probably appreciate being behind the ball, but I’m asking him not to sit back. I want him to take the game on. He’s got speed. He’s definitely got strength. His opposition will dictate things a little bit in terms of trying to trick him at stoppages. He’ll make mistakes, but that’s fine. We need to work him through that. He’ll learn.”
McKenna said he expects Frankston to step up on Saturday despite the club’s lowly status on the VFL ladder.
“They’re a standalone club with a proud VFA/VFL history and some big, strong and capable players. They won’t want to drop a game to the newest club on the block, that’s for sure. One thing you know for certain with Frankston is that you’ll get a very competitive effort.”
McKenna said he expected his players to respond strongly after two losses in the lead up to last weekend’s bye.
“The boys should be nice and fresh. Last start we had three quarters of competitive offensive and defensive footy and we scored fairly well but in the third quarter with the breeze on our faces we struggled to control the game. Whether that was a mental or physical thing, the jury’s still out on. The important thing is the boys understand that we can’t have lapses. You can’t turn the tap on and off when you like. Once the tap is on, it stays on.”
• Frankston Dolphins, currently last on the VFL ladder with only one win to its credit, is one of only three standalone clubs in the fourteen team VFL competition.
• Karmichael Hunt’s first hit out may well have stolen all the headlines against Coburg a fortnight back, but schoolboy Josh Toy’s GCFC outstanding debut shouldn’t go unmentioned. Toy – only just 18 - tackled relentlessly, was strong overhead and competed all day to be among the best players afield. Definitely one to watch.
• Northern Territorian trio Liam Patrick, Roland Ah Chee and Michael Gugliotta will all line up in the starting eighteen this weekend. Special mention should be made of Gugliotta. A tall and athletic backman, ‘Googs’ has been a steady improver all year and is relishing the responsibility thrust upon him in the absence of the injured Michael Coad.
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