By Chris ‘Yeendy’ Yeend
Noosa welcomes back captain Aaron Laskey into its team to add some valuable leadership and experience into the midfield while Mav Pettigrove also comes back to add some electricity in the forward line.
Sherwood welcomes back Brisbane Lions VFL product Owen Collins into the midfield. Goal kicking machine Alex Dickfos makes his first appearance in the Senior team after kicking more than 100 goals in the Sherwood QFA 3 side in the past two seasons.
Aspley welcomes back Errin Wasley-Black into the backline and Jackson Allen also returns. Tom Jeffrey and Will Peppin are notable omissions.
Morningside has named two big stars to line up tomorrow with Mitch Robinson named in the centre while former Essendon VFL and current Brisbane Lions VFL star Kyle Dunkley makes his first appearance in Panther’s colours. Mitch Howson has been named at cenre half forward as the team looks to bounce back from its shock loss to Surfers Paradise by 64-points last week.
Maroochydore welcomes Thomas Holt and Riley McMillan back into the team.
Broadbeach welcomes Shawn Watson (ruck), Leonardo Lombard and Oliver Jeffrey into the team.
Labrador has made two changes with Nathan Kady and Matt Hoy coming in for Harry Law (VFL) and Campbell Lake.
Jack Manly, Lachlan Rhook, Patrick Snell, Oscar Stewart and Billy Richardson return to the Wilston Grange line-up with co-captain Matt Eagles a notable absentee.
Surfers Paradise have named Ben Woodburn and Alex Mitchell, William Broadbent and Ray Leonard into the team with key forward Jayme Rekers and Nick Williams some of the key outs.
Redland Victoria Point welcome Harrison Hunkin and Jake Harrison into the team in place of Liam Eadie and Callum Banim.
Palm Beach Currumbin will be without Ashton Crossley and Jed Harrison but welcome back Lewis McNally into the ruck, Malachi Dumas.
NOOSA v SHERWOOD
LADDER
Noosa – 11th (0-58%)
Sherwood – 12th (0-55%)
LEADING GOAL KICKER
Noosa – Aaron Wilson – 8 (BYE)
Sherwood – Pat McCarthy – 11 (3)
LAST WEEK
NOOSA had a bye last weekend and will give itself the perfect time to re-access where it’s at and launch into a strong month of football to turn its season around.
SHERWOOD were the surprise packets of the competition in Round 6 when it went toe-to-toe with ladder leaders Redland Victoria Point for a half of football; even closing within less than a kick early in the third term before running out of legs. The performance from the Pies is not surprising given they have challenged and beaten some of the competition’s best teams in the past few seasons while sitting in the bottom half of the ladder. While this is good in theory, fans just want to see more of it, especially against the teams around them and convert those opportunities into wins.
X FACTOR
Noosa – WILL O’DWYER – his praises can’t be sung enough. He had 32 touches against a star-studded Aspley team back in Round 5; doing things that a player of his short size and experience shouldn’t be able to do; but he does it, and to a high standard. If you had to pick the team of the year of current list of Senior players in the QAFL under the age of 22 to form your ultimate team; Will is one of the first three that you’d pick; and that’s being generous.
Sherwood – RILEY EASTON – a tough player that loves winning the contested ball. He gathered 18 touches last week with eight of them contested. He laid a team-high six tackles and was able to win some valuable clearances. He can hit the scoreboard and keep the forwards busy with his strong kicks into the forward line.
WHO WILL WIN
This is the toughest game of the weekend to tip; with so much riding on the result of this contest for both teams. The winner will toast to its maiden victory of the season and the loser will be left looking for what it can do to try and find that first win against some quality teams. Both teams have enormous potential; and if they can sustain it for longer periods of matches; they would have at least one win to their name after five games. Flip a coin.
ASPLEY v MT GRAVATT
LADDER
Aspley – 2nd (18 – 204%)
Mt Gravatt – 8th (8 – 81%)
LEADING GOAL KICKER
Aspley – Nick Dodge – 14 (3)
Mt Gravatt – Dylan Smith – 14 (3)
LAST WEEK
ASPLEY put on a clinical performance on the road against Maroochydore last week with a stunning seven goal to one second term to run away 81-point winners. The rest of the competition is on notice after beating a team that has the capacity to challenge. Has the gap between second and third place started to open up a lot greater?
MT GRAVATT and Labrador went against the script with a 38-goal shoot-out. The Vultures kicked their highest score of the season and while it went down; it went down swinging in a highly entertaining game that already has fans going back to watch the game in its entirety to admire the exhibition. However, if you’re coach Tony Lynn; leaking 23 goals is a concern; and it faces a team that could again put a similar number on them in that capacity.
X FACTOR
Aspley – COEN HARKER – a genuine tough worker that doesn’t get the accolades some of his other team mates accumilate; but he is one of the hardest working players behind the scenes and fulfills his role really well. He gad 25 touches last week and led the team in tackles with nine and clearances with nine. He is strong, confident and a machine.
Mt Gravatt – DYLAN SMITH – After crossing to Mt Gravatt from the Syndney at the end of 2019, Smith spent time with Mt Gravatt and Aspley (while in the NEAFL) for several seasons. Since play with the Vultures full time from the start of 2022, Smith has been a handful up forward. He kicked 16 goals from 15 games last year; but has made his mark this year with 14 goals from five games with a minimum of three goals in a game when he finds the scoreboard. If Lynn could find another running partner up forward that can kick at least two goals a game and be another key target; this team could ride off the back of Smith and generate more success.
WHO WILL WIN
Aspley will be too strong here at home in a highly entertaining game. Give Mt Gravatt credit where its due; it’s only had one ordinary game where it kicked just 41 points in the loss to Wilston Grange; otherwise it averages 93 points per game and Aspley averages 103. If we can see some of those scores that is reflective on overall form across the opening quarter of the season, Mt Gravatt could cause some serious issues.
MORNINGSIDE v MAROOCHYDORE
LADDER
Morningside – 3rd (16 – 105%)
Maroochydore – 10th (4 – 74%)
LEADING GOAL KICKER
Morningside – Keegan Downie – 13 (0)
Maroochydore – Mitch Scholard – 10 (1)
LAST WEEK
MORNINGSIDE were absolutely stunned on the road to Surfers Paradise last week. After a commanding win over Sherwood at home the previous week with some brilliant attacking efforts; the Panthers were lost in the bush when it failed to kick a goal after quarter-time and losing by 64-points.
MAROOCHYDORE had a rather forgettable outing against Aspley when it went down by 81-points at home and conceded seven goals in the second term en-route to a tough loss.
X FACTOR
Morningside – KAI PURSLOW – had 18 touches last week and laid a team-high seven tackles while gathering a team-high nine contested possessions and had 19 hit-outs to lead everyone on the ground. A genuine work-horse that is a key to this team’s success.
Maroochydore – LIAM JACKA – had 26 touches last week; 20 of which were kicks. He is a quick player that injects speed and precision through the backline and midfield. He is a quality player in between the arcs and is unstoppable when it full flight.
WHO WILL WIN
Both teams are coming off surprising big losses; while being loaded with tremendous potential. Maroochydore is far better than a 10th placed team in terms of talent and ability. Morningside is the surprise packets of the competition and a win here will help keep it fully entrenched in the top half of the ladder. This is the most important game of the season for both teams thus far; if the Panthers win – it continues to solidify itself in the top six and builds the wall that will make it very hard to drop out; if Maroochydore wins – it keeps its finals’ hopes alive already at this point of the year, a loss will make it so tough to come back.
BROADBEACH v LABRADOR
LADDER
Broadbeach – 4th (14 – 119%)
Labrador – 6th – (12 – 116%)
LEADING GOAL KICKER
Broadbeach – Jye Lockett – 11 (DNP – VFL emg)
Labrador – Harry Law – 10 (4)
LAST WEEK
BROADBEACH showed just how strong it is when it flexed its muscles in the third term to dispose of Palm Beach Currumbin with a remarkable 10.2 quarter that turned a 13-point deficit into a 35-point watch-winning lead. It was a stunning display and showed the dominance that this team can show on the opposition and an effort that could see it build on for greater success. The 46-point win was impressive against strong opposition.
LABRADOR kicked 23.11.149 last week in an incredible display of attacking football to beat the Vultures by eight-goals. This is one of the highest scores from the team in many seasons and completely flipped the script of what this team can produce; considering that it has been one of the best defensive teams of the competition in the past three seasons. The nine goal third term was magical and gives this team belief that it can win in a shoot-out.
X FACTOR
Broadbeach – FLETCHER HOOKER – after joining the team from the Coates Talent League Tasmanian team in the off-season; we saw the best of what this kid can produce. He had 15 disposals with of which nine were contested; laid an equal team-high six tackles and kicked four goals. The best is yet to come.
Labrador – NATHAN WRIGHT – since coming through the junior program and making a name for himself in the Colts competition and coming down from Townsville, he made his Senior debut last year and made his mark last weekend with a massive haul of five goals. We’re getting a taste of just what he is capable of and could start to fill that gap as a major forward. He led the game with six marks inside 50 and enjoyed 16 disposals in a stand-out performance; the first of many at this level.
WHO WILL WIN
Broadbeach put opposition teams on notice against the Lions and may be just a tad too strong. Both teams have had a strong rivalry in recent seasons; more so at Labrador where games have been tight. On the back of some brilliant scoring efforts last week; we could see the flood gates open up a bit in this game that will make it a great contest where the home-side will just win.
WILSTON GRANGE v SURFERS PARADISE
LADDER
Wilston Grange – 5th (12 – 132%)
Surfers Paradise – 7th (8 – 81%)
LEADING GOAL KICKER
Wilston Grange – Lachlan Rhook – 8 (BYE)
Surfers Paradise – Byron Finch – 8 (2)
LAST WEEK
WILSTON GRANGE come into this week off the bye after a 78-point win over Mt Gravatt in its Round 5 outing.
SURFERS PARADISE shocked the competition with an impressive 64-point win over highly fancied Morningside. The final result wasn’t the key talking point; it was its ability to hold the opposition scoreless for three quarters and deny the opposition forwards easy access to midfield delivery. This was a quality outing from the all-improving Dees.
X FACTOR
Wilston Grange – LACHLAN RHOOK – is one of the best medium sized forwards in the competition and when he is off the leash; he is unstoppable. Has brilliant sense in front of goals and is quick around the midfield.
Surfers Paradise – HARRISON FRASER – had just 12 disposals last week but led the game for inside 50s with seven. He is efficient and reliable and a solid tackler; while also having the capcity to hit the scoreboard.
WHO WILL WIN
This is one of the games to watch this weekend. Surfers Paraise is coming; but Wilston Grange need to secure wins away from the big three (Cats, Hornets and Sharks) to maintain its place in the top six. Hickey Park is a happy hunting ground for the home team and that may determine the winner.
REDLAND VICTORIA POINT v PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN
LADDER
RVP – 1st (20 – 168%)
PBC – 9th (8th – 73%)
LEADING GOAL KICKER
RVP – Matt Hammelmann – 26 (10)
PBC – Nick Crowley – 7 (2)
LAST WEEK
RVP were seriously challenged by Sherwood last week before pulling away late in the second half to record a strong 10-goal win. Speaking of 10 goals, Matt Hammelmann was on fire with 10 goals with six of them coming from the last 10 goals of the game in the second half. This team was challenged; and it might have been just what it needed.
PBC had just one bad quarter against Broadbeach that determined the result. Leaking 10 goals in the third term turned a 13-point lead into a six-goal deficit with all of the momentum in favour of the reigning Grand Finalists in the final term. The fact that this team had just 19 inside 50s for the game may be concerning; but it put on 21 scoring shots which was a testament to locking the ball inside the attacking 50 even after a minor score.
X FACTOR
RVP – LUKE O’SULLIVAN – has been a strong force in the team since crossing from the Vultures in the off-season. He has made an immediate impact in an already star-studded line-up for the Sharks alongside some of the best heavy-hitting midielders in the competition. He had 25 touches last week and was able to find space to gather some key ball usage to keep the forwards busy. He adds another key string to the bow of this team and doesn’t get the respect that he deserves.
PBC – TOM THYNNE – the raging bull was in fine form as a tremendous leader that returned to the midfield last week and had 27 touches including 14 contested possessions. He is an outstanding leader in this team and the midfield is so much stronger with him in it.
WHO WILL WIN
Redland Victoria Point will be too strong here. It is ranked number 1 in attack while Palm Beach Currumbin is ranked 10th. Unless we get heavy rain like we did in that incredible game last year at PBC that will slow the scoring; it would be hard to see the home team putting on anything less than 13 goals to record victory.
