By Abby Collins
With the 2024 QAFL home-and-away season coming to a thrilling conclusion, the race for the finals has reached fever pitch.
As the last round approaches, eight teams are vying for the six coveted spots in the playoffs, making for an electrifying end to the campaign.
With five teams comfortable in their final’s selection, three teams are battling it out for the final spot.
Current Ladder Positions
At the top of the table, Aspley and Morningside have been the standout performers this season, amassing an impressive 56 points each.
Their dominance has been such that they now sit two wins clear of their nearest rivals, Redland Victoria Point and Palm Beach Currumbin, who have 44 points apiece.
Wilston Grange occupies fifth place, just one win ahead of the chasing pack.
The real drama, however, centres around the last finals position.
Surfers Paradise currently hold the spot with 36 points, but they are only one win ahead of Labrador and Maroochydore, who both sit on 32 points and are determined to seize the opportunity.
Sherwood and Broadbeach, only one win behind the top 8 will be joining Noosa and Mt Gravatt in ending their seasons this weekend, but don’t count them out of this weekend’s wins, Sherwood could be the ones to truly shake up the ladder.
The Weekends key match ups
As the teams prepare for the last home and away game, several key matchups will have a significant impact on the race for the 2024 premiership title.
Labrador vs. Redland Victoria Point
This clash at the Tigers’ den promises to be a thriller.
Labrador, under the guidance of their new coach, Nick Jackson, have undergone a tactical transformation that has yielded impressive results in the second half of the season.
Their decisive win over Surfers Paradise in round 9 (17.8 (110) to 8.9 (57)) and their stunning victory against ladder leaders Morningside in Round 13 (17.8 (110) to 1.8 (14)) sent shockwaves through the competition at the time.
With their new game plan and a roster of powerhouse players, Labrador will be eager to continue their momentum against a Redland Victoria Point side they are yet to face this season.
Maroochydore vs. Morningside
Morningside will head to Maroochydore with the intent on putting their best foot forward to become minor premiers.
Despite Morningside’s strong and consistent form, Maroochydore have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with, particularly in the latter stages of the season.
Their Round 13 victory over Aspley (9.13 (67) to 8.6 (54)) demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion against the league’s elite.
With everything on the line, this match could be a defining moment for both teams.
Surfers Paradise vs. Sherwood
Surfers Paradise will enter their clash with Sherwood brimming with confidence after their previous victory over the same opponents in Round 2 (13.10 (88) to 8.10 (58)).
However, Sherwood’s ability to perform under pressure could pose a significant challenge to Surfers’ hopes of safely securing their finals spot.
A win for Surfers Paradise will guarantee their place in the top six, but a loss could open the door for Labrador or Maroochydore to snatch the final position.
With this game being the lead determination on the outcomes, the Demons will be ready to bring the heat and more to their last ensured home game of 2024.
Who Finishes where?
In short, it’s anyone’s guess.
Aspley (1st) will be wary of Palm Beach Currumbin (4th) who have plenty riding on this match. If Palm Beach Currumbin win, they secure a home final and could finish as high as third. If they lose, and Wilston Grange (5th) secure the win over Noosa (11th) then Palm Beach Currumbin would likely play away to Wilston Grange in week one of finals.
If Aspley beat Palm Beach Currumbin, they all but sure up the minor premiership, provided Morningside (2nd) don’t have a significant percentage boosting win over Maroochydore (8th).
Redland Victoria Point (3rd) should secure a home final regardless of their result and will likely finish 3rd or 4thwith a strong percentage holding them in good stead regardless of results around them.
Wilston Grange (5th) have the mathematical chance to finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th. Noting they’re up against the 11th placed Noosa, anticipating a win they will be hoping that Aspley defeat Palm Beach Currumbin to likely secure 4th spot by percentage and earn an all-important home final next weekend.
For Surfers Paradise (6th), the equation is simple. Win and they play finals. Lose and they’ll be sweating on Redland Victoria Point defeating Labrador to hold onto their finals spot.
Labrador (7th) must win to give themselves any hope of playing finals in 2024. They hold a stronger percentage over the 6th placed Demons, so a win for the Tigers will see them barracking for Sherwood to knock off Surfers Paradise and slide into sixth spot.
Maroochydore (8th) could technically make finals if some miraculous results go their way. They would need to defeat the second placed Morningside by a significant margin and see both Labrador and Surfers Paradise in particular lose heavily. Whilst unlikely for the Roos, anything is possible.
Individual Accolades
As the finals approach, the race for individual honours is also heating up.
The J.A Grogan Medal, QAFL Rising Star, and best goal and mark awards are still up for grabs.
The Ray Hughson Medal for leading goal kicker has seen a shake-up due to Matt Hammelmann’s (Redland Victoria Point) injury, allowing Connor Stackelberg (Aspley) and Keegan Downie (Morningside) to close the gap. Stackelberg, one of Aspley’s top talents, sits only 2 goals behind Hammelmann and is determined to take this season’s bling away from the back-to-back winner.
Rounding out the top 10 holding many from the top 6 teams who could rock the line up further are, Aiden Fyfe (Labrador), Jonathan Freeman (Noosa), Blair Rubock (Palm Beach Currumbin), Mitchell Patten (Surfers Paradise), Mitchel Scholard (Maroochydore), Cory Beaman (Palm Beach Currumbin) and Joshua Brown (Redland Victoria Point).
The goal-kicking leaderboard is sure to see some dramatic changes as teams get real.
The 2024 QAFL season marks a significant milestone, as it celebrates the 120th year of the state league.
The anticipation is palpable heading into Round 19.
With so much at stake and only one round left to play, the outcome of this season’s finals race is truly anyone’s guess.
The teams have given their all throughout the year, and the final round promises to be a fitting climax to an unforgettable season.
