A dismal final quarter performance saw the Coolangatta Tweed Blues plummet to lose their AFLQ Premier Division match against arch rivals Palm Beach by more than 100 points.
Even the presence of AFL great Jason Akermanis, playing on permit for the Blues, wasn’t enough to save them from the 24-18 (162) to 8-8 (56) loss to the Lions at Len Peak Oval, Kirra last weekend.
Coach Neil Mackay has promised a lot of soul searching before the team’s next big match against another traditional rival, Surfers Paradise, at home in Kirra on Sunday afternoon.
“If we can win against Surfers, then we will draw even with them on the ladder, with three and three,” Mackay said, stressing the significance of the Surfers clash.
He said they had a “diabolical” final few minutes of the game on Sunday afternoon, allowing Palm Beach to run away with the game after a pretty even third quarter.
“We kicked five goals to two in the first quarter and then in the second quarter we did our Doctor Jeckle and Mr Hyde and were 7-0 for the quarter.”
He said they fought back in the third quarter and looked good for the first 10 minutes of the final stanza, with Palm Beach kicking 11 goals to the Blues’ one.
Despite the big loss, Mackay still had positives out of the game – particularly the performance of star one-day recruit Jason Akermanis.
“It was great to have him; he was fantastic,” he said.
“At half-time I gave him the midfield group to talk to. “
Akermanis was also involved in the team talk at three-quarter time.
“He was just as disappointed with the last quarter (as Mackay was),” he said.
“As a coach I had a chat with him (after the game) and got his thoughts on what he saw and what his opinion was – it was a very positive exercise.”
