Results:
Labrador 18.10 (118) def. Broadbeach 11.6 (72)
Recap: https://aflq.com.au/labrador-vs-broadbeach/
Tigers back in yellow and black
After a disappointing loss in the semi finals to Palm Beach Currumbin, Labrador came out against Broadbeach determined to make a statement in the first quarter.
They were hungry, they tackled hard and moved the ball with precision, looking like a different side to the one that went down to the Lions the week before.
It was always going to be a challenge for Broadbeach, who no doubt met Labrador at their very best on Saturday and they couldn’t hold back the ferocious Tigers in the first term. It took until the second quarter for the Cats to get into gear and with a favorable breeze, they managed to get within three points at half time.
As the crowd waited for another thriller at half time, the Tigers quickly put that notion to bed with an explosive third term that blew the Cats out of the water. The Tigers booted 11 goals in the term, while Adam Clarke took control in the midfield and Jayden Young, along with his partner in crime Wayde Mills, were back to their imposing best in defense.
Tigers’ skipper Bryce Retzlaff was exceptional all day, leading hard up the ground and running back into space, showing his strong contested marking ability. Barry Hall led the Tigers on the scoreboard with five goals, while Retzlaff worked higher up the ground and kicked three in the Tigers’ 46-point win.
Gold Coast SUNS Academy prospect Kwaby Boakye was in ripping form for Broadbeach, racking up touches across half back and moving through the traffic with speed. Boakye’s SUNS Academy teammate Connor Nutting was also important for the Cats with five goals and some crucial link-up plays around the ground.
“Last week we didn’t play well,” said Labrador coach Aaron Shattock.
“This week we played well and I thought we negated Broadbeach’s speed which was in our favor.
“It was really pleasing, the boys responded to last week, it was humiliating in a way, but they came out and to their credit they got back on the horse.”
The Tigers now have a grand final to look forward to and plans were underway just moments after the final siren rang out at Cooke-Murphy Oval.
“It (the planning) starts now,” said Shattock, speaking after the game.
“But it’s just another week, that’s all we do, we don’t do anything different.
“Two Gold Coast sides, you’d like to think there would be a bumper crowd, a bit like the old days in the 90s and early 2000s – it’s going to be a ripper.”
By Sean Melrose
Follow @seanmelrose
