The QAFL premiershipt table has a more settled look now, just a fortnight after nine teams harboured finals ambitions.
Tuesday 20 July 2010
The final five in the QAFL is set, barring some miracles by Redland, with a month still to play in 2010 – how quickly the tide has turned.
Just a fortnight ago there were nine teams believing they could sneak into the top five with an ounce of luck, but no more.
Mt Gravatt’s resurrection has put paid to that, while injuries to key players have hurt prospective challengers Broadbeach, Aspley and the Brisbane Lions.
While Aspley have sat in ninth place for the last 10 weeks, they were always within striking distance of the finals until the last week. Their highest ranking of the season was sixth after Round 2.
It is more heartbreaking for Broadbeach, who spent five weeks at different stages in the final five, and were fourth after Round 7 and fifth at Round 11.
The Lions were fourth after the opening month of the season, eighth after Round 7 and back to fourth following Round 9, before dropping three straight games.
Finals bound NT Thunder were a lowly ninth after Round 4 with a 1-3 record, but have steadied to sit in fourth place place for the last five weeks.
Mt Gravatt plummetted to last after Round 2 and spent seven of the last 14 weeks in seventh place or worse, before regaining a string of quality experienced players from injury.
They will take some dislodging from the top five, although they do meet Morningside, Southport and the Lions in the last month of fixtures.
Morningside and Labrador have not been out of the top three all season, while Southport have held top spot for the last 11 weeks, something they hold on to by percentage from Labrador entering the bye weekend.
Redland are just a game out of the top five but face the top three teams in the last month of the season, although Mt Gravatt also have a tough haul to September.
