By Chris ‘Yeendy’ Yeend
PANTHERS ADVANCE IN HEART STOPPER
Morningside is buzzing this week after its Reserves team celebrated a thrilling one-point win over Labrador to advance to the 2021 Grand Final.
To continue the line of thrilling contests at Reserves level over the past few weeks, the Tigers and the Panthers threw everything at each other in an incredible effort.
It was predicted last week that the match would be a shoot out with at least 10 goals each. Maroochydore won 10 goals to 9.
Labrador sprinted out to a nine-point lead at quarter-time and looked to be in the driver’s seat early.
Morningside responded in perfect and timely fashion in the second quarter with five goals from as many shots to race away to a game-high lead of 13-points at the main break.
The Tigers fought back galantly in the third thanks to the tremendous presence of Shaydan Close (four goals) as they held their opponents goal-less in the third and led by five-points heading into the final term.
The final quarter resembled a battle between two fierce gladitors as both Labrador and Morningside dug deep and gave everything they had.
With scores tied in the dying moments, the siren sounded with the ball in the hands of star forward Jordan Brown. With 19 goals to his name across the home and away season, all he needed to do was score; and that he did with a telling point, one almost as famous as Tony Lockett’s effort back in 1996.
The Panthers saluted in enemy territory to win a cliff-hanger in what would be the first of two heart-breaking losses to Labrador for the day.
Labrador now faces Palm Beach Currumbin for a place in the Grand Final.
Morningside 3.0, 8.0, 8.2, 10.4 (64) defeated Labrador 4.3, 5.5, 8.7, 9.9 (63)
Goals: (Labrador) S. Close 4, J. Baxter 2, T. Brown, N. Anderson, P. Turner 1.
Best: (Labrador) M. Riddle, N. Anderson, R. Coombe, S. Close, B. Evers, M. Johnston.
PBC DARE TO DREAM
Palm Beach Currumbin kept its season alive with an impressive 12-point win over Maroochydore to advance through to the Preliminary Final at Morningside on Saturday.
The Roos had the hot-start in the opening term as quality teams from the Sunshine and Gold Coast met in neutral territory in Brisbane. The Roos, led by Sam McKenzie (3 goals) up forward, raced away to a 15-point quarter time lead and restricting their opponents to just one scoring shot.
PBC flicked the switch in the second term thanks to the dangerous Jed Walter (3 goals) who helped inspire his team to a run of four goals and take the lead by five-points at the main break.
With Lachy O’Toole toiling away for the Roos and Cooper Portelli doing likewise for PBC, the third quarter was going to be tense.
PBC continued its impressive run with three of four goals for the team to lead by 14-points heading into the final term. Maroochydore failed to capitalise on its efforts in front of goal, kicking 1.4 from its five scoring shots.
The final term was a genuine arm-wrestling and PBC’s backline was unstoppable. It held the Roos to just three-behinds and secured a 12-point victory.
The middle quarters were the key for PBC, kicking 7.6 to 2.6 to set up the win.
Palm Beach Currumbin 1.0, 5.4, 8.5, 8.6 (54) defeated Maroochydore 3.3, 4.5, 5.9, 5.12 (42)
Goals: (Palm Beach Currumbin) J. Walter 3, D. Dyer, E. Dawson, H. Hall, L. Torpy, C. Portelli 1.
(Maroochydore) S. McKenzie 3, B. Thomas, M. McDonald 1.
Best: (Palm Beach Currumbin) C. Portelli.
(Maroochydore) L. O’Toole, C. Bakes, M. Habgood, B. Thomas, S. Nelson, S. McKenzie.
Picture by Russell Freeman Photography.
