SURFERS Paradise took a giant step towards a spot in the top five when they ended the unbeaten run of Wilston-Grange at Hickey Park on Saturday.
By Terry Wilson
Gold Coast Bulletin
The Demons won convincingly by 15.13 (103) to 5.8 (38) but, ironically, did not improve one run on the ladder when all sides immediately above them on a packed ladder also won.
What the Demons did was to confirm just how tight it is as the leading seven sides jostling for berths in the September action.
Surfers coach Beau Zorko was rapt that his Demons won so well, even though the Gorillas had half a dozen of their players sidelined.
“So did we, but I was very pleased with the effort and the result,” he said.
“But even more pleasing was that it was close to playing four quarters of our brand of football this year.”
Korey Fulton (six goals) and big Dan Green (four) (pictured)headed the scoring, half-back flankers Sam Folan and Rhys O’Brien were outstanding across the back line and rover Jake Ryan and centreman Simon Fenton also played major roles.
Beaten Grange coach David Martin, who is yet to taste success with the Gorillas in matches against the Demons, doffed his cap to the visitors.
“They were too good, as simple as that,” he said.
“They smashed us everywhere in workrate, in enthusiasm,, everywhere. From the first bounce to the last bounce we weren’t in the game of football.
“And I’m not going to blame injuries. It was probably the most disappointing performance since I’ve been at the club.”
The Grange had very few positives to come out of the match.
“I thought Matt Trewhella was terrific at centre half-back and Matt Penny worked hard one-out in the ruck.
“But apart from that we didn’t have many contributors.”
Coolangatta continue to create records but for all the wrong reasons after Mayne humbled them at Len Peak Oval.
The once mighty Blues were thrashed 37.18 (240) to 2.7 (19), which was their biggest defeat in more than two decades and far worse than the 189-point loss to the Western Magpies, also on home turf, in the fourth round.
It was definitely Mayne’s biggest score for a long time, but it is uncertain where the 240 points stands in relation to the highest score kicked against the Blues in their history.
Mayne’s 2011 Queensland rep Caleb Brown booted nine goals and Paul Allison six in the rout when Brown, Adam Stephenson and Jeames Gillett were best.
For Coolangatta, John Vogae, Jamie Beer-Carey and Southport Shark Evan Durea, playing on permit, were the pick.
At Bill Godfrey Oval, Palm Beach-Currumbin’s defensive side emerged when they smashed Burleigh by 23.16 (154) to 1.6 (12).
To keep a side, no matter what standard they may be, to just one goal was a positive for PBC coach Daryn Cresswell after the Lions’ meek surrender to the Western Magpies the previous round.
“It wasn’t so much playing a team below us on the ladder, or not so much about goals scored, it was how we defended,” Cresswell said.
The former Sydney Swan was rapt with the first-up effort of new signing, midfielder Martin Curtis, the former Geelong VFL player who switched from Broadbeach last week.
“He’s going to be a really good player in this competition,” noted Cresswell.
Half-back and on-baller Angus Munro was superb for the Lions, picking up 37 possessions, and Matt Boyd was also a standout.
Burleigh’s best were defenders Tim McKay and Jeremy Koehler.
On the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore played their best football of the season so far in a very competitive game against top dogs the Western Magpies. Although the final score was 22.19.151 to 10.7.67 the Magpies had to earn every kick.
Anthony Corrie was the leading goals scorer with 4 with Ben Heffernan-Roper, Reid Dobson and Tim McEvoy all in top form. For the Roos Jack Gale, Jarryd Hill and Jarrod Raun were best.
The Sandgate Hawks continued their winning run with a convincing 92 point victory over Springwood Pumas at Lemke Rd. The Hawks have run into some good early season form despite losing a number of gun players over the off season.
Liam Rutledge kicked 6 goals in a best on ground performance with Patrick Walton and Matthew Nuss also in top form.
The Pumas can take some comfort from the fact that they had plenty of ball in their forward line with 22 scoring shots however they could only manage 5 goals. Best for Springwood was newcomer Matt Vasterink who has been in their best each week along with Mark Thompson and Dylan Whitney.
The final score was 22.7.139 to 5.17.47
