Kinch winds back the clock
Cometh the moment, cometh the man. Nathan Kinch was back to his damaging best for Morningside in their QAFL Elimination Final win over Broadbeach on Sunday. You could have sworn there was two of him. Kinch spent his afternoon at the bottom of most packs before all of a sudden pushing forward or back to help out deep. He even kicked the goal of the day running along the boundary line after a few bounces down the wing. Big players stand up in big games, and Kinch looks primed to have another real big say in September.
The stache
From frocks to dreadlocks, the AFL Queensland Community Football Awards had it all last night, and everyone in attendance looked great. One certain facial feature stole the show though; George Fitzgibbon’s mustache. It was a cross between a 70’s film star and the lead character in My Name is Earl, and certainly got chins wagging. It must be effective though; Fitzgibbon took out the QAFA (B) Central Goal Kicking Award three days after he won the flag.
He is the one at the top right of this photo. Can’t miss it, really.
Surfers’ not keeping much in reserve
The Surfers Paradise reserves team has showed signs all year of tearing the competition apart; now it’s coming to fruition. A youthful Surfers senior list has meant there has been a pretty high rotation between the senior and reserves side this year, but now that it’s settled, they are doing some serious damage. They romped home to an 80-point win over Mt Gravatt in the elimination final on Sunday at Morningside, booking a spot with Wilston Grange this weekend at Yeronga. The big ground will suit these kids, watch out for them.
Zillmere pinch it
May 15. That was the last time the Zillmere Eagles were inside the top four in the QWAFL this year. That was until Saturday afternoon. Finals may not kick off until this weekend, but you may as well have called the game between Zillmere and Wilston Grange on Saturday afternoon an elimination final. Both teams had to win to play finals; the loser’s season would be over. The Eagles, with a bit of a point to prove after a slow start to the year, blew the game open early, extending their season by at least another week.
The Dog
It’s not often a four legged friend steals the show at an elimination final, but the chocolate brown Labrador who was cruising around Jack Esplen oval on Sunday deserves his own shout-out. Not much bothered old mate, who was happy to get up close and personal with most members of the crowd, and even snuck off to try and wander onto the ground to get a closer look. Don’t worry, the water boys rounded the dog up, gave him a scratch behind the ears, and guided him back to the crowd.
Lepri to miss the grand final
Season 2015 is down to the business end for Moreton Bay in the QWAFA, booking a grand final berth in a fortnight’s time with their win over Zillmere on Saturday. The job just got a bit more difficult though, as it looks like they will go into the game without their superstar forward Monique Lepri.
Lepri injured her ankle in last weekend’s game, and it looks like her year could be over. After kicking 51 goals in the home and away season, averaging 3.40 goals a game, she is near on impossible to replace.
Streaks ended
Three teams in SEQ went into this weekend yet to lose in 2015; none finished with wins next to their name. Coorparoo in the QFA South, Bond University in the QAFA (A), and Byron Bay in the QAFA (B) South all went through the home and away season blemish free, but had there streaks ended on Saturday.
Coorparoo and Bond both have the luxury of getting back on the horse this weekend in another final, but Byron Bay’s loss was in the grand final, meaning they will have to wait until 2016 to make amends. There are always a few upsets in September
By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles
