THE contentious selection by Palm Beach-Currumbin officials of Broadbeach forward Korey Fulton certainly worked in favour of the Lions on Saturday when they smashed Maroochy-Northshore at Fisherman’s Road.
By Terry Wilson
Playing on permit and resuming from a month lay-off with foot ligament problems, Fulton revelled in the drop from the NEAFL to kick 12 goals as the Lions ran over the top of Maroochy, winning by 31.9 (195) to 6.8 (44).
Whether or not the Lions did the right thing by playing Fulton so close to the finals, denying an in-form reserve grader the chance of a first-grade appearance, remains to be seen.
But such talk was like water off a duck’s back for Fulton – not to mention coach Craig O’Brien – as he bagged his third 12-goal haul in Queensland (two of them with Broadbeach in the QAFL).
Pre-match, O’Brien said he did it because Fulton is a very similar player to indisposed Lee Clark, who is due back next round, and he wanted his players to get used to having a smaller, quick-leading type up front.
Whatever the critics may say, the move proved a hit.
Fulton said he could have turned out for any of the Gold Coast clubs, but his connection with PBC, where he played in 2008, was the sealer.
“I was coming back from an injury, I hadn’t played for a month and I just needed a game of footy,” said the veteran Fulton, who is second on the all-time QAFL/NEAFL goalkicking list.
“It was just a game of footy. It could have been Surfers Paradise, but they weren’t playing.”
The dozen goals is not a career high for Fulton, who as taken off the ground 10 minutes into the final term. He once kicked 13 for South Warrnambool in his days in Victoria country.
As the scoreboard on Saturday suggests, the Lions were classes ahead of Maroochy, although O’Brien praised the Roos for their opening effort, saying the home side dominated them for the opening six or so minutes.
But he was particularly pleased that, with Fulton dominating, he also had nine other individual goalkickers and claimed the club could have had eight best-on-grounds.
Also noticeable was PBC’s even spread of accurate scoring. They kicked 8.3 in the opening term, then had scores of 7.2, 8.2 and 8.2 to finish.
Away from the fireworks Fulton provided, ever-reliable James Drake kicked three from centre half-forward in another top game, while half-back Angus Munroe and full-back Brendan Rhodes did well. Rhodes played on Maroochy forward Jarrod Clarke and did well.
For Maroochy, their best were captain David Hulsman, Jarrod Gale, Jarrod Raun and Kane Tyson, regulars on the best-players list.
