Taking a grand final win in his stride
Kicking a goal after the siren to win a game makes you a hero. Doing it after the siren on grand final day makes you immortal. In the Division 1 Brisbane Juniors Under 14 Grand Final on Sunday, Sandgate’s Matthew Stride marked the ball 40 metres out right on the boundary line, trailing Wests Juniors by three-points. As he was preparing for possibly the biggest kick of his football life, the siren went.
Like a seasoned professional, Stride went back, as cool as a cucumber, and slotted the goal. He had done it; he won the flag for the Hawks. Check out the last 30 seconds here, the commentary is one of my favorite bits about it.
Fairytales do exist
Before Mayne’s QFA North Grand Final on Saturday, superstar forward Luke Faulkner announced to the group that this would be his final game. Faulkner has achieved pretty much everything you could across his career. When it comes to forwards in Queensland, you would be hard pressed to find a better one. It might have been the final time he pulled the boots on, but that didn’t mean he was done being the hero. With two minutes to go, and Maroochydore storming home, Faulkner stood up one last time. He kicked two goals in two minutes to swing the momentum off the game off his own boot, and hand the Tigers another flag. A fitting way for him to go out.
Beaven the one-man band
As far as individual brilliance goes, Ben Beaven’s passage of play against UQ in round 14, where he fended off two, kicked it, marked his own kick, fended off another one before snapping the goal is up there with the best of them. So much so, the Channel 9’s Footy Show recognised him as the winner of last weeks ‘Almost Footy Legends’ segment. Check the one-man show here: http://www.9jumpin.com.au/show/aflfootyshow/videos/4475376533001/
Tomahawk signs at Victoria Point?
Geelong full-forward Tom Hawkins was spotted out at the QAFA (A) Seniors Preliminary Final on Saturday, supporting younger brother Charlie, who was a member of the victorious Bond University side. Was there a little bit more to the visit than that though? Hawkins was seen wearing a Victoria Point polo shirt, shaking hands with committee members. Could be the Shark’s have singed a new spearhead for 2016?
Byrneing bright
At three quarter time of the QWAFA, the game was balanced on a knife-edge. Enter Georgia Byrne. She bobbed up with two critical last quarter goals to help the Zillmere Eagles advance to the grand final this Saturday. It might not have been the sole factor to the Eagles’ win, but it sure did play a big part.
Tis’ the season
With the majority of teams now finished up for the year on field, the silly season starts. While players would be enjoying their break right now, the coaching merry go round is in full swing, as team’s looks to secure the people who direct it all. Check out what’s on offer here:
Goondiwindi
Corbin Sellen and Jack Collings celebrated on Saturday night as members of Mayne’s 2015 QFA North premiership team, but they go back much further than that. Both were teammates in Goondiwindi back in the under 12’s, before making the move to Brisbane later in life. There’s nothing better than celebrating a win with your mates, especially when you go way back with them.
The all time greatest?
Seven wins on the trot in football is a fantastic achievement in today’s game; seven grand finals in a row is out of this world. John Blair will coach Aspley in his seventh consecutive grand final at the helm this weekend when they take on The Northern Territory Thunder in Saturday night’s NEAFL Grand Final. From 2008 to 2011, Blair took Morningside to the big dance four times in a row. After a year off in 2012, Blair took the top job as Aspley, as is yet to miss out on the last game of the year. Since 2003, Blair’s worst finishing position on the ladder is third. Unbelievable.
What do they say about bad kicking?
Eighteen to 12, that was the scoring count in Coorparoo’s favour in their QWAFL semi final against Coolangatta-Tweed on Saturday evening, but the score line read opposite. Coolangatta-Tweed won the contest by four-points, booking a spot in the grand final in a fortnight’s time, leaving Coorparoo ruing missed opportunities. They kicked 2.8 in the second quarter, leaving them on the back foot for the rest of the game. If these two teams meet again next weekend, expect the Navy Roos’ to put a real focus on finishing off in front of the big sticks.
Footy/work balance
Is their anything this bloke can’t do? On Friday night at the Gold Coast SUNS Club Champion awards night, Labrador skipper and reigning Grogan Medalist Ryan Davey was announced as the SUNS employee of the year. Could have kick started a couple of big weeks for him.
By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles
