Palm Beach Currumbin
The start of the year saw Palm Beach Currumbin make it clear to everyone they meant business.
Apart from a second round loss to Morningside, they won every other game in the opening half of the season; the minor premiership was theirs to lose.
A few injuries and some patchy form in the back half of the year left a few people questioning how deep they could go into the finals.
A round 16 loss to Broadbeach meant the minor premiership race was wide open, and they were going to have to battle it out with Labrador in the last round.
Despite a fast start, the Lions were overrun by the Tigers, and slipped to second at the end of the home and away season.
That meant a first up final against the Western Magpies at home. They had three chances late in the game to win it, but fell just short; meaning a do-or-die elimination final against Mt Gravatt was their next challenge.
That’s when it all turned around for the Lions. They decimated the Vultures, and then dominated the rematch with the Magpies a week later in the prelim to book a grand final spot, and a shot against the defending champs.
Labrador
It’s been the cliché season of two halves for the Tigers.
After round 6, the reigning premiers were on the ropes. At 2-4, some were questioning if the Tigers would even make finals, let alone be able to go back-to-back.
They slowly found their feet towards the halfway point of the year, before turning their fortunes around as they headed for home.
Their loss in round 9 – at the hands of Palm Beach – would be their last to this point. They beat every single team in the back half of the year, claiming the minor premiership, and booking a week off to start the finals.
It should also be noted that they haven’t lost since Todd Featherstone returned to the team. Good luck charm?
Their one and only finals game was against the Magpies, which they won by 22-points in a game they never looked like losing.
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
