Centrals Trinity product produces the goods in thrilling Gold Coast derby
By TERRY WILSON
A TEENAGER from Cairns has played a major role in helping Broadbeach take over top spot on the QAFL ladder after a sensational Gold Coast derby win against Palm Beach Currumbin.
Michael Selsby kicked three goals, the final one of which turned out to be the match-winner, as the Cats beat PBC by a solitary point – 11.10 (76) to 10.15 (75) – at Salk Oval on Saturday.
As the final scoreline isuggests, the derby was an absolute thriller from start to finish and the issue went down to the final siren when PBC had a chance to snatch a late victory.
Lions newcomer Liam O’Brien had a chance to put his side in front after the siren but he missed with a gettable pressure kick that sailed to the right of the big sticks.
The win ended a four-season drought for Broadbeach at Salk Oval. The last time they won there was in 2016 under the coaching of Brett Andrews.
Cats coach Craig O’Brien, who won two premierships from four grand finals when he was with PBC, was full of praise for the promising 19-year-old Selsby who was best on ground for the Cats.
“It was a very mature game from a 19-year-old,” O’Brien said of Selsby’s performance as a small forward.
“He’s kicked three goals and in the last quarter he would have had four or five assists.
“He is a ripper. To his credit he got cut from the Suns Academy and come back and has been sensational.
“He had three good games in the twos and earned his spot. “He was the difference today, a kid who has played three games of footy.”
Selsby hails from the Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs where he won the AFL Cairns goal of the year in 2018 before trying his luck with the Gold Coast Suns Academy.
The clash whetted the appetite of players, officials and fans from both clubs who are now looking forward eagerly to the occasion if, and when, the sides meet again in finals.
“It was a really good game of footy between two good sides and I really think that if we play them again on a bigger ground it will be an even better spectacle,” he said.
“It was character building for us, to be honest. Palm Beach upped the pressure in the second quarter and we couldn’t go with them.”
Broadbeach started well and led by 11 points at the first break. But the Lions hit their straps and dominated a second half in which they kicked a costly 4.7 to 0.1.
But in the final term, after trailing by 23 points at three-quarter time, the Cats stormed home with 5.4 to 1.4 from the home side.
PBC coach Jess Sinclair pointed to the inability of his side to bury the Cats in the second term as a key to deciding the fixture.
“We always knew it was going to be tight, but not that tight,” he said.
“In the second quarter we didn’t put them away – we had our chances to but didn’t have that margin great enough to put them to the sword.
“Broadbeach are a good side. They took their chances late and probably deserved to win in the end.
“We made some shocking decisions and a couple of fundamental errors when the heat was put on us and we didn’t stand up when we had to.”
Selsby, forward Connor Nutting, especially in the final term, Tyrone Armitage in the middle and veteran Josh Searl at the back were best for the Cats.
Key defender Jackson Emblem did a good job on gun Broadbeach recruit Jordan Moncrieff (1.2) and, along with fellow defender Matt Spencer and utility Ashton Crossley, served the Lions’ cause well.
But, as Sinclair pointed out, the Lions had too many of their prime movers down on the day.
Premiers Surfers Paradise fall to bottom on the ladder
LAST year’s premiers Surfers Paradise have it all ahead of them to even make the top six for the QAFL finals this year after another scoring power fade on Saturday.
The Demons crashed by 5.8 (38) to 16.7 (103) at Dittmer Park in a result that pushed the Vultures up to fourth on the table and sent the premiers crashing to last spot.
Hurt by the loss of three suspended players and a multitude of injuries, Surfers simply just did not have the attacking power to trouble the home side.
Mt Gravatt, led well by Orien Kerr, ruckman Andrew Smith and Jayden Crawley, trailed by nine points at quarter-time, but from that point it was all the Vultures as they put on 15.3 to 3.5 in the remaining three periods.
Defender Daniel Charlesworth, and the tall Jewell brothers Sam and Myles were best for Surfers.
Labrador key trio Leigh Osborne, Fraser Thurlow and Jayden Young all starred as the Tigers won for the first time this season with a 15.10 (100) to 13.9i (87) in a willing contest against Wilston Grange at Hickey Park.
At half-time the Gorillas looked likely to take the match when they led by 17 points but the Tigers dug in for a vital win that keeps them in with a chance of playing finals.
Up on the Sunshine Coast, competition newcomers Maroochydore made it two wins in their QAFL debut season after beating disappointing Sherwood by 12.7 (79) to 6.12 (48) at the Maroochydore Multisports Complex.
The Roos now sit sixth on the ladder, a win clear of Labrador, Wilston Grange and Surfers Paradise.
It was a sweet victory for coach Andrew Cadzow in the coaches’ box as another Cadzow, Ben, starred out on the ground.
Jackson Ryan, Jacob Simpson and Alex Jacobs were also strong performers for the Roos who led throughout against an opposition that was widely tipped as genuine flag contenders.
