UQ v MAGPIES
UQ pulled themselves off the bottom of the QAFL ladder, with an upset 15-point win over the Magpies.
The Red Lions claimed their second win of their season with their most consistent effort of the season, leading at every break, before taking a 13.10 (88) – 10.13 (73).
UQ forward, Rhys Tagell, continued his late run of form with a four–goal haul, but it was the service he received that helped him to his biggest 2014 return.
Al Carlson was instrumental in the midfield for the students, while Dan Mauch and Tom Warby were also good, but Red Lions coach, Matt Stewart, said his side’s lift across the board proved the difference.
“We’re the kind of side that needs everyone to play well to win, so it was hard to single anyone out (as the best),”he said.
“We just talked about doing the small things and they got rewarded.”
Stewart said the win was a sign of the team’s continued improvement.
“If you look back to last year, we lost to them by 200 points,” he said.
“This is reward for the work they’ve been doing at training.”
Magpies coach, Glenn Humphrey, was brutally honest about his side’s performance.
“Everything went wrong,” he said.
“It was the worst I’ve seen our guys with their disposal by hand or foot.
“It was like they were just out the making up the numbers.”
“Their bodies are starting to tell under the pressures of games of football,” he said.
“They’re not standing up as well as they were.”
Dom Beer was dominant in the ruck for the Magpies, a silver lining for his side in the match.
LABRADOR v SURFERS PARADISE
Labrador is within striking distance of third spot, after a 27-point win over Surfers Paradise.
The 10.10 (70) – 6.7 (43) win put the Tigers just a game behind Palm Beach, and three wins clear of fifth-placed Mt Gravatt.
Labrador set the tone early, kicking with the breeze in a five-goal to one first term, which was almost the difference in the game.
Labrador dominated the disposals, with an estimated 16 more inside 50s than the Demons, creating more opportunities.
The most ominous sign for the Tigers’ opponents would have been their strong defence, with Jye Warren, Blake Bantoft and Will Jacobs among the best in a backline that kept the Demons’ regular goal kickers without a major for the day.
Tigers coach, Steve Daniel, said the defence really proved themselves in the match.
“Our back line was terrific,” he said.
“When we played them last time , we weren’t real happy with our performance, all you can do is bounce back and have a win.”
The only sour note for the Tigers was an injury to Southport-listed Jake Goldsmith, though that could cause more headaches for the Sharks than the Tigers.
An undermanned Demons outfit battled hard, showing an effort with which coach, Beau Zorko, was happy.
“We lacked a little bit of polish and class,” he said.
“I don’t think we had a player that didn’t give effort, we just lacked class.
“I’m pretty excited moving forward because this group’s got real character.”
Harrison Fraser was the best for the Demons on the day, while Ryan Dienjes and Regan Finlay led their side well.
SANDGATE v BROADBEACH
Broadbeach kept themselves a game clear in second spot, with a 10-goal win over Sandgate on Saturday.
The Cats’ 19.7 (121) – 9.7 (61) win over the Hawks was the perfect way for the visitors to kick off their last month of home and away season.
Broadbeach coach, Wayne Petterd, said his side could still look to work on improving its consistency over a game, despite ending up comfortable winners.
“We got off to a good start, but we probably feel away a bit in the last,”he said.
“I think if you get a fair jump on those lesser lights, it knocks them around a bit , we’ve just got to learn to sustain it.
“The pleasing fact is we got the scoreboard ticking over early.”
Taylor Haley kicked another bag against the Hawks, with six, while teen, Connor Riley, continued his late season rise with another good performance on the wing
“He (Connor) is just learning every week and he’s come a long way,”Petterd said.
“His support through the back line was important as well/”
It was an improved effort from the Hawks, who looked to have embraced a week off and regrouped after a tough preceding month.
Hawks coach, Ian Carter, said their effort was far improved from a disappointing output leading up to the bye round.
“We’re really sticking fat with each other and… I don’t think the score was really reflective of the effort we gave,” he said.
“There were patches where we were a bit lazy and a little bit selfish, but if we can change that, we’ll be in really good stead for the final three games.”
Tom Overington was the best for the Hawks, while Ben Beaven was also impressive.
WILSTON GRANGE v PALM BEACH
Palm Beach made Wilston Grange’s charge to the finals that much harder, with a 20.14 (134) – 9.12 (66) win on Saturday.
With both sides undermanned after some late changes, the Lions’ next generation proved crucial.
Rising star, Brad Scheer, slotted into the side with ease on his return from Queensland U16 duties, while youngsters Jacob Guise and Callum McBurnie were also impressive.
It was Brock Askey who proved the game breaker for the Lions, with the consistent midfielder lifting ta new level, causing coach, Daryn Cresswell to liken him to one of the competition’s other big names.
“Brock Askey was outstanding, his performance was up there with a Ryan Davey performance,” he said.
“Brad Scheer has really matured this season, we ran him through the midfield and he was terrific.”
Cresswell said his side’s defensive pressure was a key to the win.
“It was always going to be a tough, physical game and our guys absorbed it well,” he said.
“Our ball use and our pressure around the ball was good and we switched it, found open space and kicked the ball inside 50 well.”
Gorillas captain, Steve Brittain, once again underlined his importance to his team, as the side’s best, while late inclusion, Brad Terrell, played his best senior game.
Grange playing coach, Matt Trewhella, said his side struggled to convert their opportunities, a trait that cost them against a punishing Lions outfit.
“Our efficiency was poor,” he said.
“When we did get a bit of a run on, they were just so good at getting numbers back and our forwards are always outnumbered.”
MT GRAVATT v MORNINGSIDE
Morningside likely secured the QAFL minor premiership with their 15th straight win, over Mt Gravatt.
The Panthers will finish the round three games clear of second-placed Broadbeach and a very hand percentage gap on their rivals, after the 19.10 (124) – 11.13 (79) win.
With three weeks left of the regular season, the Panthers would be almost impossible to knock off top spot, which gives them a week off going into finals.
Morningside didn’t have it all their own way against the Vultures, who took the lead midway through the second term, before six unanswered Morningside goals broke the game open.
Against their historic rivals, Mt Gravatt fought out the game well, winning the last quarter, four goals to three.
Redland-listed forward, Rhys Estall, had a day out in the Vultures forward line with seven goals, while Matt Johnson limited the influence of Nathan Kinch.
Vultures coach, Brad Pollock, was pleased with the character his team showed..
“They tried their guts out all day,”he said.
“I was really pleased with the boys’ effort, but they were just outclassed at certain points of the day.”
Dustin Gordon kicked five for the Panthers, his biggest haul of the year for the senior side, continuing his steady rise through the season.
The result means the Vultures are still clinging to fifth spot by a thread, with seven percentage points between them and sixth-placed Surfers Paradise.
