The round one washout of the QFA division one competition delayed history, but only for a week.
When the action finally gets underway this Saturday the 8th of April, eight teams will be playing each other for the first time for points.
The changeup to the structure of last year’s QFA North and South competitions, means that what’s now QFA Division 1, will feature some of the most unpredictable games of QFA football in recent times.
After exiting the 2016 QFA South finals through some wayward goal kicking, the Bond University Bullsharks will have a point to prove when they meet QFA North reigning premiers the Mayne Tigers.
At Giffin Park, QFA South premiers the Coorparoo Kings will fight it out with 2016 QFA North finalists Coloundra, in a clash of two teams trying to state their claim as contenders in the new look competition.
The Noosa Tigers and the Springwood Pumas will also go head to head for the first time in a QFA match, with most pundits leaning toward last year’s grand finalists the Pumas. Nothing is certain however, in the early stages of a brand new competition with a number of teams facing completely unknown opposition.
The University of Queensland is an interesting prospect this season, having played 2016 in the QAFL. UQ will take on Maroochydore, who played off for QFA North cup in 2016 and looked in excellent shape over the pre-season, beating Springwood to the tune of 118 points.
The Maroochydore UQ game shapes as an important match that will determine the standard of football these clubs are able to produce and where they fit in division one of the QFA.
In the remaining game, Yeronga South Brisbane and the Burleigh Bombers are set to face-off at Bill Godfrey Oval in a contest between teams that know one another well from last year’s QFA South competition.
The Bombers ended up sixth on the ladder in 2016, just three spots behind the Yeronga South Brisbane Devils who placed third having won two more games. Fans will be expecting a hard fought contest between these even teams, both eager to start their season with a win.
By Sean Melrose.
Twitter: @seanmelrose
