By Chris ‘Yeendy’ Yeend
Maroochydore will field its strongest team of the season when it hosts Noosa as it welcomes captain Josh Govan into the team for his first game of the season. He comes into the team in place of young gun Bailey Hahn.
Noosa welcomes the return of Michael Bussey from suspension and will add some valuable class to the team.
Redland Victoria Point take in an unchanged line-up in the clash against Broadbeach after defeating Labrador by 50-points last weekend.
Broadbeach has made the one change with Matt Conroy rejoining the Southport VFL team that takes on Footscray in Melbourne; while Tom Reeves returns to the squad after playing in Southport’s 19-point VFL loss to Brisbane last Saturday.
Sherwood has named its strongest team of the season welcoming three big guns into the team that lost to Wilston Grange last week. Bruce Reville returns to the team after becoming a dad. Owen Collins returns after several weeks in the VFL as the 23rd man for the Brisbane Lions while Riley Greene comes in to add some class at half-back.
Palm Beach Currumbin will miss James Frawley in the clash with the Pies but welcome Carl Nicholson into the ruck and Matt Walkerden into the backline.
Aspley has taken in an unchanged line-up for the clash against Wilston Grange from the one that defeated Palm Beach Currumbin.
Wilston Grange welcome Hugh Fidler and Billy Richardson (CHB) into the team in place of Lachie Rhook and Will Pfitzner (EMG).
Morningside welcome speedster Darcy Cameron-Reeves back onto the wing and Wilson Barry returns from VFL duties in place of Cam Macqueen and Kai Purslow.
Mt Gravatt welcome Sam Kalbfell onto the wing and James Johnson to full forward into the team that defeated Surfers Paradise.
Surfers Paradise has made four changes with Laurence King, Cody and Josh Nieass; and Will Broadbent coming in while Alex Mitchell Ben Woodburn, Jalen Curtis and Dan Van De Werken are out of the team.
Labrador gains Jayden Young, Joel Edwards and Ben Hughes. It loses young gun and star forward Harry Law who has been named as an emergency with Southport that travels down to Melbourne to play Footscray in the VFL. Matt Watmuff and Jack Hammond both come out of the team but have been named as emergencies
MAROOCHYDORE v NOOSA
Last time they met
Round 16 – 2022 – Maroochydore
Maroochydore 14.12.96 drew Noosa 14.12.96
Leading goal kickers
Maroochydore – Mitch Scholard (4)
Noosa – Aaron Wilson (6)
Last Round
MAROOCHYDORE went down to reigning Grand Finalists and 2021 Grand Final opponents Broadbeach on the road last week by 28-points. It was another narrow loss to a quality team; something that has been a pattern for the club over the past three seasons. Lukas Kangur impressed with three goals and Dan Fleming was outstanding. It kicked 1.4 of its 11.8 across the first and last quarters; slow start and slow finish.
NOOSA had another narrow loss at home in Round 3, falling to Morningside by 12-points. Jai Fitzpatrick was outstanding yet again for the northern Tigers in another solid performance that was marred by poor kicking in the first and third terms (5.11). Aaron Laskey and Lachy Flagg impressed; but it was a tough result where it started slowly again like it had against Wilston Grange the previous week and came up short. A 0-3 start to the season is not a reflection of what this team should be able to produce.
Who will win and why
Maroochydore welcome back Josh Govan into the team and he adds tremendous leadership and talent to the midfield that will be a major difference maker. It has too strong of a forward line; and while it has the same issues as Noosa in regards to dropping away poorly at key moments of the game, will still have those X Factors to guide it over the line.
ASPLEY v WILSTON GRANGE
Last time they met
Round 9 – 2022 – Wilston Grange
Aspley 21.18.144 defeated Wilston Grange 9.4.58
Leading goal kickers
Aspley – Nick Dodge (7)
Wilston Grange – Lachlan Rhook (8)
Last Round
ASPLEY had to fight hard in the first term to shake off PBC in a seven-goal win. The Hornets kicked 9.5 to 3.8 in the middle quarters to seal victory against a gritty opponent. Liam Dawson was outstanding and Nick Dodge kicked four goals.
WILSTON GRANGE were pushed in the first half against a determined Sherwood outfit at home before kicking 10.10 to 0.2 in the second half to record an 82-point win. Five players kicked multiple goals while Dan Lanthois enjoyed an exceptional display. To have 36 scoring shots is a major effort by the forward-line attributed largely to a strong midfield led by new recruit Will Martyn.
The performance capped off a solid start to the season for the Gorillas with two wins from three games and its loss coming after the siren to the Panthers after leading by more than five-goals in the second half.
Who will win and why
This will be a far better game than what many will predict. Expect high-attacking football and some big scores kicked. Aspley will be too and the absence of Rhook will hurt up forward for visitors in a highly entertaining game.
MORNINGSIDE v MT GRAVATT
Last time they met
Round 18 – 2022 – Mt Gravatt
Mt Gravatt 12.15.87 defeated Morningside 4.11.35
Leading goal kickers
Morningside – Keegan Downie (9)
Mt Gravatt – Dylan Smith (8)
Last Round
MORNINGSIDE is on the prowl after another impressive win against a finals contender Noosa. With scores level at three-quarter time, the Panthers turned on another impressive last quarter to storm home and win by 12-points. Mitch Robinson (two goals) and Keeagan Downie (four goals) impressed. The Panthers are now 9.6 to 2.6 (+42) in final quarters from its opening two matches.
MT GRAVATT celebrated a thrilling one-point win over the Demons at home last week thanks to a late goal from captain Jonah Licht and a miss on the siren from opposing captain Harrison Fraser. It was a gutsy effort from the Vultures who trailed by 15-points at the main break and then kicked 10.9 to 7.11 in the second half to score an impressive win, and their second of the season. Dylan Smith kicked four goals while Marcus Khoo was outstanding in the ruck.
Who will win and why
Both teams remain undefeated from two bouts. Morningside continue to impress and develop in an up-hill manner. Expect the Panthers to have a bit too much speed around the midfield; but if Mt Gravatt can slow the play down and continue to play with hard-hitting aggression, this could be another game that goes down to the wire.
When we look back on this season, both teams will likely have played in the two closest games of the season in back-to-back full rounds; a result determined on the siren and one after the siren. Could we get a close finish here?
REDLAND VICTORIA POINT v BROADBEACH
Last time they met
Round 16 – 2022 – Broadbeach
Broadbeach 13.9.87 defeated Redland Victoria Point 12.12.84
Leading goal kickers
Redland Victoria Point – Matt Hammelmann (10)
Broadbeach – Jye Lockett (5)
Last Round
REDLAND VICTORIA POINT dug deep and played some hard, competitive football against Labrador on the road. At a venue that is not accustomed to high scoring, the Sharks put six goals on the board in the second term to turn an eight-point quarter-time lead into a 40-point half-time lead; ultimately setting up victory. Caleb Franks was outstanding while Reuben Williams impressed on his club debut with two goals.
BROADBEACH is on the winners’ list for the first time this season with a strong outing against Maroochydore at home. After leading by 28-points at the main change; the Cats took everything that the Roos could dish their way before breaking even in the second half with a win by that margin. Sam Banks-Smith was silky in his second game for the club while Jye Locett impressed with three goals up forward.
Who will win and why
Redland Victoria Point at home could be too strong in a battle of the league heavyweights. It is the most attacking team in the competition and have talent on every line. The new-looking Broadbeach outfit is flexing its muscles and putting the competition on notice again; this has a big-match feel about it and the who-ever wins will be crowned ‘The Hunted’ for the remainder of the season.
SURFERS PARADISE v LABRADOR
Last time they met
Round 15 – 2022 – Labrador
Labrador 17.9.111 defeated Surfers Paradise 7.7.49
Leading goal kickers
Surfers Paradise – Bryon Finch, Billy Beardsell and Tom Smith (3)
Labrador – Harry Law (6)
Last Round
SURFERS PARADISE went down to Mt Gravatt on the last kick of the game when captain Harrison Fraser missed a shot on the siren. The Demons dug deep in the first and last quarters where they kicked eight of their 11 goals. Jayme Rekers impressed in the last quarter while Malachi Lines was an outstanding contributor.
LABRADOR toiled hard in the loss to Redland Victoria Point at home last week, going down by 50-points. Coming up against the highest scoring side from the passed three seasons, the Tigers had just three goals on the board to three-quarter time and couldn’t maintain that scoreboard pressire. Lachie Henderson impressed while Harry Law was at his usual best up forward with three of the team’s six goals.
Who will win and why
With some key outs for the Tigers, the door opens up a bit for the Demons. Expect the Tigers to win in a tight contest with low scoring and hotly contested ball. The home team is not without a chance here but the Tigers have the credentials and should be just a tad too strong.
SHERWOOD v PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN
Last time they met
Round 6 – 2022 – Sherwood
Palm Beach Currumbin 14.9.93 defeated Sherwood 10.12.72
Leading goal kickers
Sherwood – Pat McCarthy (4)
Palm Beach Currumbin – Malachi Dumas, Nick Crowley and Jed Foggo (3)
Last Round
SHERWOOD played one brilliant quarter against the Gorillas last week; the second to cut a 23-point quarter-time deficit to 14 at the main break. The new and developing list was over-run in the second half. It’s been a challenging start for the Pies early with many new players joining the squad and players from last year returning back to the fold after lengthy stints on the side-lines with injury.
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN went down to the reigning premiers by seven-goals in a tough game. It kicked 1.6 to 4.2 in the third term that sealed the result of the contest. Nick Crowley and AJ Dawson impressed.
Who will win and why
Palm Beach Currumbin need to make a statement under new coach Jess Sinclair. It won’t be an easy game by any means with some key personnel out. Sherwood will take time to develop but do have some big ins that will make this game interesting for at least three-quarters especially with Bruce Reville in the team.
