Tuesday 17 August 2010
NT Thunder ace Darren Ewing is back in contention for the prestigious Ray Hughson Medal going into the final qualifying round of the QAFL season.
Ewing’s five-goal haul against top side Labrador last Saturday helped him move to within seven goals of leading goalkicker Cleve Hughes.
Ewing’s Thunder face eight-placed Broadbeach at the Garden Oval this Saturday, where he should see plenty of opportunities, while Hughes travels to Graham Road for Southport’s clash with a resurgent Aspley.
Hughes’ single goal against Mt Gravatt last weekend was his lowest haul of the season since Round 3 at Labrador, when he was also held to a solitary major score.
Third and fourth placegetters Tim Notting and Aaron Cornelius both went goalless in Round 17.
The last round will decide leading goalkicker status at four clubs.
Aspley guns Matt Shir and Jamie Sheahan are locked on 23 goals, while it is a similar story at Redland where Adam Mueller and Daniel Dzufer have kicked 36 each for the Bombers.
There is a three-way race at Broadbeach, where veteran Korey Fulton’s record of having won the goalkicking in every season he has spent with the Cats is under threat.
Fulton and co-captain Dayne Zorko have booted 30 goals each, while centre-half-forward Michael Cooke is on 29 goals.
The Western Magpies have a race in two between Luke Scott (20 goals) and Val Pope (18), although Jye Spencer (16) is also in contention.
Livewire rover Zorko holds the honour of the best individual game of the season with his 12 goals against the Magpies in Round 10, while Hughes managed the other double-figure effort of 2010 with 11 majors against Broadbeach in Round 12.
Hughes and Ewing have kicked six goals or more in a game on five occasions this season, while Cornelius and Shane Morrison have achieved the feat three times.
Round 17 Leaders:
71: Cleve Hughes (Southport) 7
64: Darren Ewing (NT Thunder) 5
50: Tim Notting (Labrador) 0
45: Aaron Cornelius (Brisbane) 0
41: Kent Abey (Morningside) 2
40: Nathan Gilliland (Mt Gravatt) –
39: Shaun Mugavin (Morningside) 5
36: Adam Mueller (Redland) 2
36: Daniel Dzufer (Redland) 2
35: Shane Morrison (Mt Gravatt) –
