Wynum (2) v Sandgate (3)
Fri 15 August 7:30pm: Kianawah Road
Wynum will host Sandgate this week to kick-off the 2014 QAFA (B) Central Finals series, in a qualifying final matchup. The Vikings and Hawks will do battle at Kianawah Road under lights on Friday night for the third time this season to determine which club will avoid an elimination game next week.
The Vikings have been extremely consistent in 2014 and have proved to be one of the competitions best performers. A 14-2 record and 6-0 finish to the season has seen Wynum emerge as a genuine premiership threat, putting the rest of the competition on notice.
Wynum will be full of confidence heading into Friday nights clash, downing the Hawks both times the clubs met in 2014. The Vikings towelled Sandgate up in Round 7 by 58-points and produced a gutsy 7-point win on Hawks home turf in Round 16.
The Vikings will also enjoy home ground advantage this week, giving them every opportunity to take the game by the jugular and secure a semi-final birth.
The news doesn’t get any better for Sandgate, who have struggled with form recently, losing two of their last three to limp towards the finish line in the regular season.
The odds are clearly stacked against the Hawks, but they have proven in 2014 that they are genuine threats when switched on and can tear teams apart in minutes.
Big wins against Yeronga South Brisbane, Kedron and Kenmore during the middle of the year proved Sandgate can do serious damage, and the challenge for the Hawks this week will be to find that form again to overcome the favoured Vikings.
Despite an impressive regular season from Sandgate, Wynum look to be too strong for the Hawks and will start clear favourites heading into Friday night. However, Sandgate are a genuine chance if key players Aaron Widt and Keane White can perform at the elite level they have shown in recent weeks.
Jimboomba (4) v Yeronga South Brisbane (5)
Fri 15 August 7:30pm: Leyshon Park
Jimboomba and Yeronga South Brisbane will have no more second chances come Friday. Only one spot is up for grabs, but both clubs will be desperate to extend their season another week to at least have a crack at a QAFA (B) Central flag.
It shapes to be Elimination Football at it’s finest. The Redbacks and Devils have an identical 10-6 record and both finished the season with three wins from four games. The only statistic that separates the two clubs is head-to-head tally, with Yeronga South Brisbane winning that battle 1-0 in 2014.
It was all the way back in Round 2 that the two clubs met, at this week’s venue, Leyshon Park. The Devils proved too classy for the Redbacks on that given day, winning comfortably by 26-points.
Jimboomba will go into the game off a heavy win, crushing Kedron by 139-points last week in a dominant display. The Redbacks have proved that they can score, and score big this season, boasting a whopping 172.4%. Their danger man, Joshua Murray has booted 52 goals from 14 games this season and is one to look out for.
Yeronga South Brisbane on the other hand will need to bounce back after a disappointing 100-point loss to competition heavyweights, Woodsmen, last week. The Devils have been inconsistent throughout stages of 2014 but have proved they can rise to the occasion when needed.
Classy wins against Sandgate and Zillmere, as well as a nailbitting 2-point loss against the undefeated Woodsmen in Round 9 have proved the Devils can knock anyone over on their given day.
Home ground advantage lies with Yeronga South Brisbane heading into the Elimination Final clash and that could prove to be the difference maker come Friday. The Devils are an impressive 7-1 on home turf in 2014, with their only loss at Leyshon Park coming against competition favourites Woodsmen.
The Devils will go into the game slight favourites with a winning record over Jimboomba and home ground advantage, but the predicted rain Friday night could even the playing field and reward the team who want it that much more.
BYE: Woodsmen (1) – The boys from Chelmer earn a rest for the first week of Finals after claiming the QAFA (B) Central minor premiership with a dominant 16-0 record. The Woodsmen will play the winner of Wynum v Sandgate on August 23 for a chance to go straight into the Grand Final
