One of the first things King has done to help arrest what he terms Queensland’s “dusty” patch is to provide some continuity to its program.
“This year, we have had the boys since the state championships in March and we’ve had a program where they have been playing together regularly ever since,” King said.
It started by playing in the AFL Queensland pre-season competition, then the squad played two games against an AFL Queensland development under-23 team and another against Northern Territory. It then headed to Melbourne for the AFL Challenge Cup and also played games against TAC Cup sides Bendigo Pioneers and the Oakleigh Chargers.
King views the Challenge Cup and the match against the Chargers, when Queensland played three games in eight days, as a simulated carnival and an ideal lead-up.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS:
“The championships are always about your first game. We have an unenviable task of playing the reigning champion, Tasmania, in the first game. Having been involved with Tassie last year, I know just how proud a state it is and how it is going to defend its title with great vim and vigour. The whole championship revolves around that first match.” – Martin King.
Player to watch: JOEL MacDONALD
“Joel is a medium-sized midfielder with a fantastic level of endurance. He runs very well and is very competitive. He knows he has to go up a couple of notches to let people know who he is.” – Martin King.
Coach: MARTIN KING
Team Manager: ROBIN HULL
No NAME CLUB DOB HT WT
1 Gary Lee Suncoast Lions 19 May 85 174 70
2 Mark Harris Broadbeach 25 Apr 84 181 72
3 Rory Lake Morningside 11 Jul 85 174 66
4 Josh Gordon Labrador 17 Aug 84 183 82
5 Jay Drummond Labrador 01 Jan 85 178 72
6 Jeff Teale Northern Eagles 20 Nov 84 181 79
7 Paul Shelton (c) Morningside 27 Jan 84 177 80
8 Hayden Wilson (vc) Morningside 06 Mar 84 174 70
9 Arnold Knight Broadbeach 06 Feb 85 178 70
10 Billy English South Cairns 10 Apr 84 179 74
11 Jacob Furfaro Mt Gravatt 04 Feb 85 184 82
12 Tim Harders (vc) Redlands 05 Apr 84 185 75
13 Matt Pardew Cairns 16 Feb 84 185 82
14 Kris Jahnke Western Magpies 05 Nov 84 177 75
15 Toby McIver Northern Eagles 24 Apr 85 185 75
16 Matthew Giles Mt Gravatt 12 Apr 84 187 84
17 Joel MacDonald Mt Gravatt 10 Oct 84 186 77
18 Chris Lambart (vc) Northern Eagles 27 Apr 84 185 80
20 William Fozard Western Magpies 29 Mar 84 177 64
21 Simon Northcott Northern Eagles 25 Apr 84 192 83
22 Daniel Merrett Southport 12 Dec 84 194 90
23 Caleb Brown Mayne 27 Oct 83 195 85
24 Peter Hay Morningside 28 Jun 84 192 83
25 Martin Pask Western Magpies 02 Jan 85 190 89
26 Chris Constable Redlands 07 Jan 85 185 72
