By Abby Collins
It is nearly time to crown our winners!
This weekend, the QAFL Grand Final will see Morningside and Redland Victoria Point going head-to-head in the battle of the season at Brighton Homes Arena.
The Sharks have been here many times before but have never taken home the cup.
There’s no denying the Panthers are favourites to win the big dance, but with the fighting spirit displayed by the Sharks last weekend against Aspley, coming back to win the Prelim Final with 6 majors in the final quarter, they’re not to be underestimated.
The last time these two sides met, it was Morningside who walked away victorious, winning with a final score of 14.6 (90) to 8.8 (56) in their Round 5 match-up.
Will it finally be the Sharks’ time to shine?
The line-ups have minimal changes on both sides for this weekend.
Morningside, who have been battling injuries all season, seems to have found their groove and returned many key players to the line-up at the beginning of this finals series.
The only changes they face now are bringing in Matthew Waters and Ryan Dadds in place of Keegan Downie and Luca Winton.
The Sharks make one change this week, welcoming back Matthew Hambleton as Jake Chapman steps out of the line-up.
Each team hosts some serious talent, but the way they work together the whole side shines.
The likes of Clay Cameron and Dylan Smith, along with the powerful and synchronised duo of Matt Hammelmann and Tyler Hausfeld, have been instrumental in not only creating scoring opportunities but also ensuring they find their way onto the Sharks scoreboard tally.
Nakia Cockatoo, Kelly Castle, and Kai Purslow will be the forwards to watch from Morningside, having made their mark on the competition this year with a combined total of 80 goals.
This game could be won in the backlines, with Cam Lovig, Zac Straker, and Garrett McDonagh imitating a brick wall more often than not for the Panthers.
But the Sharks’ last line of defence is not to be forgotten, with Adrian Williams, Mitch Stallard, and Jack Rolls having proved their mettle against the Hornets’ furious forward line last weekend.
The trio successfully turned shots at the posts into missed opportunities, aiding greatly in securing the match for the Sharks.
The midfield packs have their own heavy hitters.
The Sharks’ young gun, Daniel Annable, has grown into one of the more prominent competitors in the league, and with the talented Ethan Petterwood, they will try to take possession from the hit-out.
The ruck battle could be the make-or-break moment.
With Craig Malone listed as an emergency, the position falls to Jarrod Huddy again this round.
The battle of Huddy and Brad Hodge will be an important contest as each team will be looking to control the ball from the get-go.
This year’s Grand Final sees the return of the Sharks, but will their determination be enough to finally secure the win they have been hunting for all season?
The Grand Final will take place at Brighton Homes Arena at 2:30pm on Sunday, and this heavy contested matchup is one that no one wants to miss.
This weekend, we will crown the season premiership winners.
Will it be the Panthers or Sharks that claim all the glory?
