Thursday 10 March 2011
Traditional QAFL heavyweights Morningside and Southport enter the new NEAFL competition with the best pedigree for success.
With the start of the NEAFL premiership season little more than three weeks away, the Panthers and Sharks will be two serious contenders for the inaugural title.
Morningside have won four premierships in the last decade and played six grand finals in total in that time.
They have won the last two flags and possess a combination that is far from ageing.
Morningside have missed the finals just once in the last decade – and that was 10 years ago.
Southport’s record is equally enviable.
The Sharks have won three pennants and played in seven grand finals in the last 10 years.
They have finished third for the last two seasons – the first time they have missed consecutive grand finals since 1994-95-96.
Mt Gravatt have enjoyed a strong decade, with two premiership wins and two other grand final appearances.
The Vultures have missed the finals just once in the last nine years and have been strong performers since joining the State League in 1994.
The new NEAFL competition provides an opportunity for the likes of Redland, Broadbeach and Labrador to establish a new tradition of success.
Redland made the QAFL finals just twice in their 11 seasons at State League level and lost all three finals in which they participated.
However, they have made enormous advances since regularly conceding 30 and 40 goals in a match through 2006, and look more than capable of becoming a power in the new competition.
It is a similar story to Labrador, whose on and off-field operations have taken a huge turn for the better in recent seasons.
The Tigers made their first grand final last season and led by four goals late in the third term before being swamped by Morningside.
The Tigers made the QAFL finals just three times in 14 seasons but like Redland, can establish a whole new tradition in the new competition.
Broadbeach never played in a QAFL grand final in their 14 seasons at State League level, their best being a third place finish in 1997 and 2004.
The Cats made just the five finals appearances in 14 years but by the same token were never an ‘easybeat’.
Their last finals appearance was in 2006 but they do have a young midfield brigade capable of winning plenty of games if their good work can be finished off in front of goal.
