By Chris ‘Yeendy’ Yeend.
BROADBEACH has cemented itself as the first team to advance to the Reserves Grand Final after an impressive 32-point victory over Aspley.
Palm Beach Currumbin set up another Preliminary Final date with Aspley after defeating Morningside by six-points in the elimination Semi Final at Broadbeach.
MAROOCHYDORE stunned Palm Beach Currumbin to advance through to the Colts Grand Final after a thrilling three-point victory.
Reigning Grand Finalists Broadbeach kept its premiership dreams alive with an impressive 21-point win over Wilston Grange.
RESERVES
BROADBEACH 13.9.87 defeated ASPLEY 7.13.55
The Cats on the road to the Hornets showed exactly why it deserved to be the 2023 Minor Premiers with an impressive outing.
With Sam Banks-Smith, Adam Hull and Alan O’Neill coming back into the team; and star goal kicker Harry McInness also lining up; it helped set the stage for an impressive outing.
Aspley welcomed back Lachlan Sherwood and club legend James Nelis into the team who are quality players of the highest order.
The Hornets led a low-scoring opening term by seven-points, 10-3. The Cats stormed out of the quarter-time huddle and into a goal-kicking frenzy as they kicked 6.1 to 2.0 to take an 18-point lead into the main break.
The third quarter was tough and tight; with both teams clawing away at the scoreboard; both kicking three goals each and the margin was reduced to 17-points at the final change.
With a spot in the Grand Final on the line; Broadbeach made the most of its time in front of goals; kicking 4.3 from seven scoring shots; while on the other hand, Aspley kicked 1.6 as the final margin pushed out to 32-points.
With Harry McInness initially named as an emergency for the Senior team; he took his place in the Reserves team and showed that he is one of the most must-see players in the competition with seven goals in a best-on-ground performance for Broadbeach. This was a follow-up from his eight goal performance against Labrador in Round 21 and capping off a brilliant four-week stretch with 25 goals.
Broadbeach recruit Shawn Watson impressed while Luke Dempesy-Ceh was outstanding.
For Aspley; Mason O’Sullivan kicked three goals, Lochlan Harrop was outstanding and Josh Bankes was unstoppable.
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN 8.10.58 defeated MORNINGSIDE 8.4.52
The Lions roared into yet another Preliminary Final after a pulsating victory over the Panthers.
This was a contest; that perhaps with depth, the Lions had the upper-hand on paper, just; but Morningside continues to showcase that it has been one of the most challenging teams to face this season with the second best record of any team against all 2023 finalists; behind Broadbeach.
This had the makings of an instant classic and we saw that from the opening bounce as Morningside led a tight first term by two-points.
PBC stormed back into the contest in the second term with four goals to one to take a 16-point lead into the main break.
The third term was just as tight as the opening term; neither team preparing to concede an inch and the Panthers cutting the margin back by one-point; to 15 heading into the final term.
Morningside was always going to challenge; and it did thanks to some tremendous work from Cam MacQueen and Kai Purslow as it clawed its way back late in the game. It kicked three goals in the final term but the one major from the Lions was enough to seal the contest in what was to be the first of back-to-back six-point matches at Subaru Oval.
For the Lions; Dean Karstiris was outstanding up forward with three goals while Harrison Day, Ethan Dawson and Hunter Hall impressed.
For the Panthers; Shaq McLeod was outstanding up forward with three goals including a big goal from long range in the third term; Tane Routledge kicked three goals while Mitch Howson impressed.
Aspley host Palm Beach Currumbin in a second consecutive Preliminary Final at Redland Victoria Point on Saturday. The pair met in the same game last season with 2023 AFL Draft prospect Jed Walter kicking three goals to guide the Lions to a thrilling five-point win after trailing for most of the game.
COLTS
MAROOCHYDORE 7.11.53 defeated PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN 7.8.50
“Who will win
Of all the six games that take place on Saturday across the Colts, Reserves and Seniors – PBC is just about the best guarantee to win out of all games and that speaks volume of the depth in this team that continue to produce stunning results.”
The above was written by yours truly in the Colts Preview last week; words that could not be eaten any quicker as Maroochydore came from four-points down at three-quarter-time to pinch a thriller by three-points.
This was a tight game from the outset as the Roos opened up a nine-point lead at the first change. The Lions kicked the only goal of the second term to cut the margin to two-points at the main break.
The Lions came out in the third term and edged ahead with two goals to one in a quarter where both teams had chances, kicking four points each.
The Roos stormed out of the blocks in the final term with three goals to come away winners in a thriller.
Hunter Moore returned to the side for Maroochydore and was the hero of the contest; kicking four of his team’s seven goals. Brad McDonald returned from the VFL and was a key player while Riley McMillan was tough from the opening bounce and was a stand-out across the day.
The Lions welcomed the return of a number of key stars but few stood out like Under 17s Tom Grimster who was outstanding. Jack Stringer kicked two goals to take his tally to 14 from six games at Colts level in 2023 while Macklin Johnston impressed.
BROADBEACH 9.15.69 defeated WILSTON GRANGE 7.6.48
Reigning Grand Finalists Broadbeach kept its premiership hopes alive with an outstanding 21-point win over a determined Wilston Grange outfit.
The Gorillas stormed out of the blocks in the opening term with a remarkable effort to hold their opponents to five-points while kicking three goals of their own to lead by 15-points at the first change.
Broadbeach hit the scoreboard with better accuracy in the second term with three goals to two; while cutting the margin back to six-poiints at half-time.
With inaccurate kicking proving to be the achilles heel for the Cats across the first half; it proved so again in the third term where they kicked 1.5. Fortunately for the home team; the backline was rock-solid and restricted the Gorillas to just two points.
With a finals elimination on the line for the losing team; the final term was played at break-neck speed; but it was Broadbeach that flipped the script on its 1.5 third term to kick 5.1 in the final term to seal an impressive 21-point win.
Beau Addinsall and Jack Jovanovic kicked two goals (41 for the year) for the winners and Cooper Gwynne was outstanding alongside Finlay Gray.
For Wilston Grange; leading goal kicker Jack Fewster kicked two goals while Tom Prole and Under 17 star Jack Thompson were outstanding.
After meeting in the 2022 Grand Final; Palm Beach Currumbin and Broadbeach will lock horns to determine who plays Maroochydore in the 2023 Grand Final.
