Submitted by Chris Yeend
Wild weather across the SEQ region on Saturday saw two QAFL games postponed; Aspley and Maroochydore and Morningside and Labrador while the remaining four matches took place in very trying conditions.
REDLAND-VICTORIA POINT 7.6 (48) defeated PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN 5.6 (36)
Streamed Game – Cluch TV
The Sharks travelled down to the Gold Coast in one of their biggest challenges of the season against a red-hot and emerging Lions outfit.
With Matt Hammelman in fine form up forward for RVP and Liam Jones in quality touch for PBC; star power was at an all-time high with equal match-ups across the ground.
The midfield competition for the Sharks were headlined by Brock Aston, Jack Rolls and Caleb Franks lined up against the Lions midfield that consisted of Liam O’Brien, Tyler Cornish and captain Tom Thynne. The trio from both teams had been in tremendous attacking form as of late with lots of contested possessions across the six of them. On paper, this was a dream match up of pure brute physicality in ultra-wet conditions.
When the siren sounded; it was of no surprise that the influence of all six players were some-what limited with all players heavily taken out of the game from each other, and all six dropping in and out of the game in regards to influence.
FIRST QUARTER – SHARKS CAPITALISE
Palm Beach Currumbin dominated in the inside 50s but struggled to convert on the scoreboard. With Pete Yagmoor playing loose at half-back for the Sharks, the Lions struggled to find more direct routes to goal.
On the other hand, Liam Jones was the loose defender, playing half a kick in front of Hammelmann and winning plenty of the ball early.
On the other hand, Redland-Victoria Point had limited inside 50s with Josh Brown kicking the opening goal of the game. Both teams traded goals for the remaining quarter as the Sharks led 2.1 (13) to 1.1 (7).
Damian Steven for RVP deserves a mention for his outstanding defensive work in the midfield
SECOND QUARTER – Big Moment on Half time
The Sharks dominated the inside 50 count in the second term but struggled to capitalise.
Cam O’Leary looked dangerous up forward for PBC while Liam O’Brien was outstanding in the midfield in tough conditions.
The Lions had fewer inside 50s for the term but made the most of their opportunities with back-to-back goals to push out to an eight-point in the shadows of half-time.
Young gun Jake Warren was outstanding for the Sharks in the term with numerous defensive efforts inside the forward 50 and at one stage, as the smallest player on the ground, had the match up against Liam Jones.
The big moment in the game came right on half-time when Matt Warren had a shot for the Sharks from 30-metres out. He kicked truly and cut the margin back to just two-points as RVP went into half-time with great momentum.
Palm Beach Currumbin 3.5 (23) led Redland-Victoria Point 3.3 (21)
THIRD QUARTER – Adrian Williams unstoppable
With heavy showers hitting the ground during the half-time break, both teams came out with outstanding aggression. Franks started to come into the game more for the Sharks while Brock Aston made the most of his opportunities.
Brock Aston had a set shot on goal hard-up on the boundary line during the third term and kicked a goal from a near-impossible angle to give the Sharks more momentum.
The Lions worked hard across half-back with Brad Stafford, Jed Harrison, Jackson Graham and Cal McBurnie trying their hearts out. For all of their great work, Adrian Williams took the game into his own hands. One of the more underrated defenders in the competition, Williams took five intercept marks across the wing and half-back to put a stop to any attempts from the Lions to get back into the game.
The effort from Williams in a close-tightly fought game was as good as you’ll see from any player in his position and while his team mates kicked 4.0 inside the attacking 50, he was the reason the Lions couldn’t push forward.
Redland-Victoria Point 7.3 (45) led Palm Beach Currumbin 4.5 (29)
FINAL QUARTER – Lions Brave
With visibility difficult at the best of times and conditions muddy and slippery, PBC didn’t drop its heads and continued to work hard. Cooper Portelli kicked a goal mid-way through the term to cut the margin back to 11-points.
Damien Steven re-asserted himself on the game for the Sharks and Williams continued to be unstoppable in defense as the Lions kept pressing into the forward line.
The siren sounded with the Sharks securing a gutsy two-goal win, 7.6 (48) to 5.6 (36).
The Sharks were tested in a way it hadn’t been tested this year. The Lions absolutely showed that they have what it takes to compete against the very best in the competition. The level of intensity that the team showed was outstanding across a team that is one of the best for intensity in the competition.
NOOSA 8.4 (52) defeated SURFERS PARADISE 7.7 (49)
The Tigers made the trip down the highway and recorded one of its most important wins of the 2022 season.
They took on a red-hot Surfers Paradise team that had not won a game this season and had not played to the level of talent it has in the team.
The first quarter and a half showed that when the Demons are playing with confidence, they’re near unstoppable. They pushed out to a very hand lead, 6.1 (37) to 3.2 (20) and signs were looking extremely positive with Nick Scott and Jack Yelland outstanding.
Noosa broke into a string of confidence during the second term when it slammed home three straight goals to head into half-time full of momentum and taking a one-point lead.
Both teams traded blows in the third term and struggling to hit the scoreboard in incredibly testing conditions.
Scores were level heading into the final term at 6.3 apiece.
The final term was tough, gritty and testing. Noosa snuck ahead and over the line to win a thriller by three-points; denying Surfers Paradise of its maiden win of the season and in truly heart-breaking fashion.
Tom Baulch kicked three goals in the midfield for the Tigers while sam Hilton-Joyce kicked two for the Demons.
WILSTON GRANGE 6.18 (54) defeated SHERWOOD 4.6 (30)
Fresh after an incredible win over the Roos two weeks earlier, Wilston Grange were looking for another big victory against a resurgent Sherwood outfit.
Both teams went goal-for-goal in the first term with the Gorillas leading by three-points at the first change.
Neither team could buy a goal in the second term with the Gorillas leading by four-points at half-time.
As conditions became even more testing at Hickey Park, so were the Gorillas quest to kick goals. They kicked 1.7 to 0.4 in the third term to lead by 13-points heading into the final change.
The final quarter was tough but the Gorillas kept up the forward pressure, adding 2.6 to 1.1 to win a tight contest by 24-points.
Zack Derksen (backline) Hugh Filder (two-goals), Dan Lanthois and Matt Payne were in the best for Wilston Grange while Jaspa Fletcher (two goals) Josh Preval (two goals) and Luke Mitchell were outstanding contributors for a Sherwood outfit that is most definitely on the improve.
BROADBEACH 19.13 (127) defeated MT GRAVATT 1.6 (12)
This was always going to be a tough game for the Vultures at home but there was enough belief in the team that they could challenge the reigning premiers for parts of the game.
Broadbeach were challenge in the first term as Mt Gravatt took the fight right up to them, leading by just two-points at the first break; 1.4 (10) to 1.2 (8).
The second quarter belonged to the visitors as they posted 5.6 to nothing to lead by 38-points at half-time.
With testing conditions making goal kicking difficult, at least on paper; the Cats slammed home 13.3 to 0.4 in the second half to win by 115-points.
Five players kicked two or more goals for the winners; while Cal Searle across half-back; Michael Selsby in the middle and Ryan Pickering in the ruck were unstoppable. Jordan Moncrieff kicked four goals for the winners. Daine McDonald was the lone goal kicker for Mt Gravatt.
Picture by Highflyer Images
