With the QAFL Season kicking off this weekend, AFL Queensland quizzed 13 of the captains and co-captains on the teams and players they think will stand out this year.
Aspley and Broadbeach have been tipped to feature in the big dance once again, with Redland Victoria Point and Palm Beach Currumbin the teams to beat come finals time.
Defending premiers Aspley Hornets secured eight of the 13 votes as the team most likely to be there on Grand Final day this year, followed by Redland Victoria Point with three votes and Broadbeach and Palm Beach Currumbin with two votes each.
A total of 11 different clubs were considered possible chances to contest the finals while four of those clubs were touted as Grand Final contenders.
Nine players across the competition were voted as potential Grogan Medal winners with Will Martyn from Wilston Grange the favourite with three votes followed by Mitch Robinson (Morningside) and Brock Aston (Redland Victoria Point) with two votes each.
The QAFLW captains also had their say on who they thought would be this year’s Grogan Medalist and named Robinson and Martyn as well alongside Seb Rogers (Noosa), James Nelis (Aspley), Blake Erikson (Broadbeach) and Josh Wagner (Maroochydore).
Matthew Hammelmann (Redland Victoria Point) was as a clear favourite to take out Leading Goalkicker, Goal of the Year and Mark of the year. He was also a shoe in for Leading Goalkicker according to our captains with 10 votes. Keegan Downie (Morningside), Aaron Wilson (Noosa), Mitch Scholard (Maroochydore) and Bryce Retzlaff (Labrador) were also in the mix.
Wilson was also thought to be in contention for Goal of the Year, alongside Malachi Dumas (Palm Beach Currumbin), Scott Miller (Redland Victoria Point), Jacob Townsend & Sam Jasper (Broadbeach) to name a few.
Wilston Grange’s Matt Eagles was next in line for Mark of the Year.
The captains were asked six key questions on the season ahead, with the proviso their individual answers would be treated anonymously to ensure personal views. See their votes below:
Which other clubs do you think will make finals this year?
13 – Aspley, Broadbeach
12 – Redland Victoria Point, Palm Beach Currumbin
7 – Maroochydore
5 – Labrador
4 – Noosa, Wilston Grange
3 – Surfers Paradise
2 – Morningside
1 – Mt Gravatt
Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
8 – Aspley
3 – Redland Victoria Point
2 – Broadbeach, Palm Beach Currumbin
Who do you think will win the 2023 Grogan Medal?
3 – Will Martyn (Wilston Grange)
2 – Mitch Robinson (Morningside)
2 – Brock Aston (Redland Victoria Point)
1 – Caleb Franks (Redland Victoria Point), Blake Erikson (Broadbeach), Sam McLachlan (Maroochydore), Seb Rogers (Noosa), Tom Thynne & John Croad (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Who will be this year’s leading goal kicker?
10 – Matthew Hammelmann (Redland Victoria Point)
1 – Keegan Downie (Morningside), Aaron Wilson (Noosa), Mitch Scholard (Maroochydore), Bryce Retzlaff (Labrador), Jacob Townsend (Broadbeach)
Which player is most likely to win goal of the year?
1 – Malachi Dumas (Palm Beach Currumbin), Aaron Wilson & Benjamin Woodburn (Noosa), Matt Hammelmann & Scott Miller (Redland Victoria Point), Jake Chapman (Aspley), Jackson Bury (Maroochydore), (Noosa), Nick Dodge (Aspley), Jacob Townsend & Sam Jasper (Broadbeach), Kelly Castle (Morningside), Oscar Stewart (Wilston Grange), John Baker (Sherwood)
Which player is most likely to win mark of the year?
2 – Matt Hammelmann (Redland Victoria Point), Matt Eagles (Wilston Grange)
1 – Ethan Sekac & Malachi Dumas (Palm Beach Currumbin), Callum Crisp (Noosa), Tyler Hausfeld (Redland Victoria Point), Liam Dawson (Aspley), Sam McLachlan (Maroochydore), Kasey Nicholas (Broadbeach), Darcy Cameron-Reeves (Morningside), Marly McGregor (Wilston Grange), Jack Austin (Sherwood)
