NOT too long ago, the chances of Surfers Paradise making the finals, let alone getting as high as grabbing the double chance, appeared remote.
by Terry Wilson
Gold Coast Bulletin
That is no longer the case because, after beating Wilston-Grange by five points in a thriller at Small Park on Saturday, there is every chance the Demons can crack it for a top-three berth.
The Demons play Springwood on Wednesday night in a catch-up match, then play bottom side Coolangatta in the final round. They should win both and move to 42 points.
Wilston-Grange (40) play Palm Beach-Currumbin at home next weekend and Noosa (40) host leaders Western Magpies.
Should Noosa fall to the Magpies and the Gorillas lose to PBC, Surfers would be third provided they win their next two matches.
If they play like they did in the final term on Saturday they are home and hosed.
Up to then, though, coach Beau Zorko was concerned.
“We were extremely inconsistent,” he said. “We had enough of the ball early to be in front, and by a comfortable margin. We butchered it with skill errors and went away from what we were trying to executive. But in the last quarter we showed 20 minutes of the football we’re capable of producing.”
Surfers should beat Springwood on Wednesday night, then to do the same to Coolangatta in the final round on Saturday.
Eight points from those matches for the Demons would take them to 42 points and apply the blowtorch on to the Gorillas (40 points), who close the preliminary rounds and, should Noosa (40) lose to leaders Western Magpies in the final round, the Demons could conceivably snatch third place for the finals and play Palm Beach-Currumbin in the qualifying final.
By the same token, as they walk a finals tightrope, the Grange can also get third spot and the finals double chance provided they beat PBC next weekend.
For Surfers, veteran Simon Fenton was again all class on a half-back flank, 16-year-old Cassidy Haberfield again oozed promise and rugged Ryan Dienjes was outstanding in the middle.
Skipper David Tough, clearly his side’s best on Saturday, said it was gut-wrenching to lose a game after being so far in front.
And it was especially galling to lose their seventh match from their last eight at Small Park.
“We lost a couple from our midfield rotation – Cole Agosta and Mitch Howe – so we were running on an empty tank,” Tough said.
“And when Surfers got their tails up early in the last quarter they just kicked away.If you go to sleep against quality teams like them it just kills you.But we’ve got to keep our heads up.”
Steve Brittain on ball and half-back Lee Fazackerley stood out with Tough for the Gorillas.
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RUTHLESS Palm Beach-Currumbin continued to deliver pain to the Burleigh Bombers at Salk Oval, sending the visitors packing to the tune of 40.18 (258) to 4.1 (25).
The final margin of 233 points was Burleigh’s worst loss since Labrador beat them by the same margin back in the 1975 GCAFL competition.
It was also PBC’s highest score since they ran up 50.21 (321) against Springwood in 2008.
The Lions were best served by half-back and skipper Angus Munro, Sam Bourke at centre half-forward and Jordan Bates on a wing.
Coach Daryn Cresswell is now considering resting a few players for the away match against Wilston-Grange next weekend secure his Lions have second spot, and the home ground qualifying final advantage, all wrapped up.
He acknowledged Burleigh were significantly undermanned, but was nevertheless happy with the way his side went about their task.
“We played well and we’re probably hitting our straps at the right time,” Cresswell said.
“Our conversion was certainly better.”
The only concerns for the Lions were Matt Boyd and Martin Curtis, who both rolled ankles. They are likely to miss the Grange trip, but Cresswell said they will both be right for the finals.
The Lions were best served by half-back and skipper Angus Munro, Sam Bourke at centre half-forward and Jordan Bates on a wing.
Burleigh’s best were Jacob Howell, Oliver Rennie and Matt Diedrich.
