THE brave run at a finals berth ended for Surfers Paradise on Saturday, but only after a terrific effort against strong flag contenders Palm Beach-Currumbin at Salk Oval.
Needing to win their last five matches to make the play-offs, the Demons fell at the second last hurdle, going down to the Lions by 22.12 (144) to 19.9 (123) in a classic Gold Coast derby.

WILSTON-Grange’s shot at a drought-breaking premiership has been hurt by a season-ending injury to skipper David Tough.
Tough, the former Morningside player, sustained a double fracture of an arm as the Gorillas beat Burleigh by 19.23 (137) to 12.13 (85) at Bill Godfrey Oval on Saturday.

SANDGATE head into this year’s finals series with major question marks hanging over their heads after avoiding a massive upset away to Maroochy-Northshore on Saturday.

NOOSA’S renowned midfield – an engine room much-admired by opposition sides – set the Tigers up for what ended up a comfortable win against Coolangatta on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

WESTERN Magpies all but stitched up a place in the qualifying final after trouncing listless Mayne by 133 points at Chelmer Oval on Saturday.

IF Surfers Paradise are to go on and play finals later this month there is only one way they will do it – by winning their two remaining fixtures against Palm Beach-Currumbin and Wilston-Grange.

FINALS-bound Wilston-Grange hope to turn into party-poopers when they travel to Bill Godfrey Oval for a vital clash against Burleigh (2pm start).

SANDGATE have had some good news for a change – their quality ruckman/forward Brendan Forbes’ rib injury is not as serious as first thought.

DURING the week the word was that Coolangatta fancied themselves as chances to pull off a major upset when they host premiers Noosa at Len Peak Oval on Saturday (2pm start).

WESTERN Magpies coach Peter McClennan has targeted second spot on the ladder as a likely finals position for his side, who take on winless Mayne at Chelmer Oval on Saturday (11am start).

THE minor premiership, carrying with it the bonus of a home second semi-final, looks at the mercy of defending champions Noosa after they powered to an emphatic win over 2010 grand final rivals Sandgate on Saturday.
The Tigers, with fresher legs following their round 15 bye, ran all over the top of the tiring, injury-besieged Hawks to win by 12.16 (88) to 7.5 (47) at Lemke Road Oval.

THE future for Coolangatta looks as bright as their new floodlights if a big win over Burleigh in their Gold Coast derby on Friday night is any indication.

WILSTON-Grange all but cemented a place in the finals top-three after downing Springwood by 55 points at Hickey Park on Saturday.

THE contentious selection by Palm Beach-Currumbin officials of Broadbeach forward Korey Fulton certainly worked in favour of the Lions on Saturday when they smashed Maroochy-Northshore at Fisherman’s Road.

THERE could be an unprecedented situation of four points separating the top five teams as the race for the Pineapple Hotel Cup hots up this weekend.
Round 16 kicks off on Friday night with a Gold Coast derby between Coolangatta and Burleigh at Len Peak Oval, but the spotlight then focuses on the 2010 grand final rematch between Sandgate and Noosa at Lemke Road Oval on Saturday.
This is a clash which could really tighten things up at the top of the points ladder.
Should Sandgate (44 points) lose, they will be joined by Noosa (currently 40 points), Western Magpies (44) and Wilston-Grange (40), should the Gorillas get over Springwood in their clash at Hickey Park.
The Western Magpies have the weekend bye, as do sixth-placed Surfers Paradise (36 points), so these two sides do not get any points for the weekend.
Palm Beach-Currumbin (36) are away to Maroochy-Northshore in the only other match of round 16 when the Magpies, Surfers and Mayne have the bye.

COOLANGATTA christen a $450,000 floodlights system for their Gold Coast derby against Burleigh at Len Peak Oval on Friday night (8pm first bounce).
The new lights have been a long time coming, but already have been rated as good as any others on the Gold Coast.

WILSTON-Grange have five vital inclusions for their clash with Springwood at Hickey Park on Saturday.
Coming at a time when critics continue to underestimate the Gorillas, things could not be brighter for coach David Martin and his charges, who continue to be written off as premiership threats.

PALM Beach-Currumbin have named star Broadbeach forward Korey Fulton in the team that travels to the Sunshine Coast for a match against Maroochy-Northshore at Fisherman’s Road on Saturday.
Fulton, second on the QAFL/NEAFL’s all-time goalkicking list, was the surprise selection for the Lions, his inclusion likely to draw criticism at such a late stage of the season and when PBC are chasing a top-three finals spot.

THREE rounds to go and it’s a terrific battle shaping for the Pineapple Hotel Cup finals double chances.
After 15 rounds there are now four teams with three losses – Sandgate (146.5 per cent) and Western Magpies (131.3 per cent) on 44 points, followed by Noosa (180.4) and Wilston-Grange (130.1) on 40 points.
Then come Palm Beach-Currumbin (161.9) and Surfers Paradise (107.6) on 36 points, although Surfers have the bye to come in their desperate battle for a place in the finals.
On Friday night Wilston-Grange saw off brave Mayne by 18 points and on Saturday Sandgate reclaimed top spot on the ladder after beating Western Magpies by 46 points.
Elsewhere, Palm Beach-Currumbin beat Springwood by 84 points and Surfers Paradise downed Coolangatta by 20 points in their Gold Coast derby.
It is an intriguing run in to the finals, with Sandgate to have the final-round bye, and the Magpies and the Demons next weekend’s bye.
By next Saturday afternoon we should have a much clearer indication of who is going to make it to the finals.

PALM Beach-Currumbin maintained the pressure on their top-three rivals with a big win away to Springwood at Lowe Oval on Saturday.

SURFERS Paradise remain in the hunt for a finals berth after seeing off Coolangatta in a Gold Coast derby at Sir Bruce Small Park on Saturday.

COACH David Martin is harbouring concerns that his Wilston-Grange Gorillas seem to have lost their way a little in team ethic.

AFL Queensland has recently appointed nine new club co-ordinators via the Queensland Government’s Jobs Plan initiative to help run the game at community level

WILSTON-Grange coach David Martin does not look at points on the premiership table this season, simply because of the complicated 11-team, 18-round fixture draw.

IT is crunch time for 2010 grand finalists Sandgate in their bid to cement a top-three place for the Pineapple Hotel Cup finals.

SURFERS Paradise have had to make four changes to their line-up for another Gold Coast derby, this one against at Coolangatta.

OPTIMISTIC Springwood coach Paul Opbroek is confident there will not be a repeat of events when the Pumas last tangled with Palm Beach-Currumbin.

SEASON 2010 grand finalists Sandgate have suddenly found themselves under pressure to stay in the top three in the race for the Pineapple Hotel Cup.
The Hawks fell to ever-emerging flag threats Palm Beach-Currumbin by 16.5 (101) to 10.8 (68) at Lemke Road on Saturday, a result that dropped the Hawks from a share of top spot to a share of second with premiers Noosa.

WESTERN Magpies have taken over as top dogs in the Pineapple Hotel Cup after a big win over Springwood at Chelmer Oval on Saturday.

BURLEIGH’S finals hopes were well and truly gone before they tackled Surfers Paradise in their Gold Coast derby at Sir Bruce Small Park on Saturday.