By Chris ‘Yeendy’ Yeend
The stage is set for another big round of QAFL Senior football. A number of big matches headline the round with Noosa and Wilston Grange having its first byes of the season after playing its round six fixture on Good Friday.
Maroochydore welcome Brent Pearson back into the team to slot into the ruck in place of Braidon Pearn. Aspley welcome a number of stars back with Tom Jeffrey, Tom Templeton and Lachlan Rayner returning to the squad.
Sherwood welcomes Tom Goodall back into the team and will play a key role in defense. Redland Victoria Point welcome three players to make their debut for the club. Harry Kemp will make his Senior debut, while Alex Pope and Jake Chapman will make their Senior debut for the club after playing Senior football elsewhere.
Mt Gravatt welcome back Taj Townson, Jack Mammone and Michael Gordon while Labrador welcomes back Harry Law fresh from his VFL debut and fellow young gun Campbell Lake.
Jamee Rekkers headlines the returning players for Surfers Paradise alongside Jack Brauman and Rom Standish. Morningside lose Wylie Buzza back to the VFL but regain former Lion and Blue Mitch Robinson from injury which is a handy replacement.
Ky Molony, Jack Stringer and captain Tom Thynne headline the returns for Palm Beach Currumbin. Broadbeach have a number of changes with co-captain Lucas Jellyman, Sam Jasper, Alan O’Neill and Tom Reeves coming in for Lockett, Harrington, Brown and Bishop.
MAROOCHYDORE v ASPLEY
Ladder
Maroochydore – 9th (4 – 89%)
Aspley – 3rd (14 – 185%)
Leading goal kicker
Maroochydore – Ben Thomas (7 LW) and Mitch Scholard (1 LW) – 9
Aspley – Nick Dodge – 11 (2 LW)
Last week
MAROOCHYDORE – it was a tough result against the Sharks last week, going down by five-goals. It was highlighted last week that this team needed to secure a win against a top six side, and it still remained competitive against those teams without coming away with the win; this was an example of that, but it needs to pinch a win or two across the season against those sides.
X Factor
Maroochydore – BEN THOMAS – kicked seven goals from 11 effective kicks against a dynamic Sharks backline, arguably the best in the competition. Thomas is no stranger to kicking multiple goals in matches and serves as the perfect crumbing forward to a key tall forward line. He put on one heck of a performance last week; the team can build a bit more around him and Scholard to form a formidable duo.
Aspley – NICK DODGE – kicks multiple goals each week and doesn’t need much of the ball to do the damage. He kicked two goals last week from three effective kicks and he has hit the scoreboard more frequently this year than he has in the previous season. Must have been the goal-of-the-year he kicked in the Grand Final that set up his confidence.
Who will win
Aspley is expected to win; but the pressure has been turned up on Maroochydore to secure a win against one of the big teams. This is that game. The Roos are a finals-calibre team this year and how it will perform against the reigning premiers is crucial, particularly at home. Don’t expect a winning margin greater than four-goals.
SHERWOOD v REDLAND VICTORIA POINT
Ladder
Sherwood – 12th (0 – 55%)
Redland Victoria Point – 1st (16 – 165%)
Leading goal kicker
Sherwood – Pat McCarthy – 8 (1 LW)
Redland Victoria Point – Matt Hammelmann – 16 (3 LW)
Last week
SHERWOOD put on a competitive display against Morningside last week who welcomed VFL leading goal kicker Wylie Buzza into the team. The Pies were effective inside the forward 50 scoring on 63-percent of occasions it went down there; just with some poor kicking in front of goal. It had 15-percent greater disposal efficiency than its opposition which is a key to make the most of hitting targets against good teams. The scoreboard reflected a 59-point margin, the game itself didn’t reflect that.
REDLAND VICTORIA POINT had a disposal efficiency of almost 80-percent last week in the 29-point win over Maroochydore in a highly entertaining game and score on almost 60-percent of inside 50 entries. These key stats highlight the efficiency across the entire playing list which is a key in big matches. This was a tough win that it was made to earn, but it was an outstanding team performance.
X Factor
Sherwood – WILL FLETCHER – an incredible 40 disposals against a solid midfield and five clearances from centre bounces. A lot to like about his performance and there is just so much to love about the way he plays his football.
Redland Victoria Point – CALEB FRANKS – outstanding midfielder that gathered 12 contested possessions last week and five centre bounce clearances. Of his 29 touches, three of them missed targets and it highlights his ability to hit targets while under immense pressure.
Who will win
Redland Victoria Point will be too strong on the road. Expect a fast and free-flowing game on a hard deck that will see lots of goals kicked from both sides and a Sharks team that will consolidate its place at the top of the food chain in the QAFL. It’s Ladies Day at Sherwood and it promises to be a fantastic day.
MT GRAVATT v LABRADOR
Ladder
Mt Gravatt – 7th (8 – 87%)
Labrador – 6th (8 – 101%)
Leading goal kicker
Mt Gravatt – Dylan Smith – 11 (0 LW)
Labrador – Harry Law – 6 (DNP LW)
Last week
MT GRAVATT surprisingly went down to Wilston Grange by 14-goals last week which went against the script of how much this team has built and developed in the opening month of the season. After leading at quarter-time, it kicked three of the next 20 goals of the game including conceding eight goals to nil in the second term. This team is far better than what the result showed.
LABRADOR played a tough defensive game against PBC at home last week to record a 44-point win. To hold its opponents to four goals; goals kicked in just two quarters and hold it scoreless in the final term is a testament to how hard this team is working. It laid an impressive 65 tackles and 33 effective spoils to back up its tremendous work.
X Factor
Mt Gravatt – JOEL LEAHY – a solid contributor week-in, week-out. Had 21 touches last week with 10 contested possessions and a number of centre bounce clearances. He never gives up and is a quality asset to this team.
Labrador – TOM SIMPSON – simply all class. Gathered 30 touches last week, 10 marks and laid 11 tackles. He is the blue print of how tough this team is.
Who will win
Labrador will be too strong and further entrench itself in the top six of the competition as it continues to build momentum after a disappointing start to the year.
SURFERS PARADISE v MORNINGSIDE
Ladder
Surfers Paradise – 10th (4 – 89%)
Morningside – 2nd (16 – 127%)
Leading goal kicker
Surfers Paradise – Billy Beardsell – 6 (3 LW)
Morningside – Keagan Downie – 13 (4 LW)
Last week
SURFERS PARADISE pulled up a bold and impressive showing against reigning Grand Finalists Broadbeach on the road. The 24-point result was a fair indication of how well this team is starting to improve. The key concerning stat is that it recorded just 15 tackles across the whole game. If it recorded double that, and in its half of the ground, the result could have tipped in its favour.
MORNINGSIDE flexed its muscles with an impressive 59-point win over a determined Sherwood outfit at home. Wylie Buzza came in for his first game for the club and kicked seven goals alongside fellow star forward Keegan Downie with four. The pair combined for 14 effective kicks, 11 goals and nine marks inside 50. No team can stop that.
X Factor
Surfers Paradise – MALACHAI LINES – has been a handy addition to this team across the off-season and showed that he could win plenty of the ball against good opposition. He links well with team mates and pushes up the ground to win the ball in space and get the ball inside attacking 50. A likely type that has shown plenty in just a handful of games.
Morningside – RYAN DADDS – kicked a few goals from a handful of touches last week and is highly rated within the team. He is great with applying pressure around contests and hits the scoreboard in crucial times.
Who will win
This will be perhaps the closest match of the weekend. Surfers Paradise is better than what its ladder position shows and while Morningside is off to a remarkable start to the season, it won’t be an easy game. Surfers Paradise perhaps, by a few kicks.
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN v BROADBEACH
Ladder
Palm Beach Currumbin – 8th (8 – 78%)
Broadbeach – 5th (10 – 109%)
Leading goal kicker
Palm Beach Currumbin – Nick Crowley – 5 (1 LW)
Broadbeach – Jye Lockett – 11 (3 LW)
Last week
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN was held to just one goal in the first half in the 44-point loss to Labrador last week which won’t win you many games. Additionally, it kicked just three goals in the third term and went scoreless in the final quarter. This team has so much better scoreboard hitting ability than that. On a positive note, it did record 18 contested marks and fewer clangers.
BROADBEACH had to fight hard at home to shrug off a competitive Surfers Paradise outfit by four-goals last Sunday. The team recorded 17 effective spoils and laid almost 40 tackles more than its opposition to take its pressure game to a new level. Four players kicked multiple goals in a solid outing.
X Factor
Palm Beach Currumbin – ZAC HARRISON – tough, physical and ultra intense. The best hard-ball winner in the team and throws himself recklessly into all contests. If you ever need someone to execute a fearless passage of play to inspire their team mates, he is your guy.
Broadbeach – JYE LOCKETT – like Nick Dodge with Aspley; Lockett has been crafty up forward across the season kicking multiple goals in all four games played this season and provided a real focal point inside forward 50. Players of his calibre that hit the scoreboard at that level of frequency in all games will be a driving force behind a key victory.
Who will win
Broadbeach will be too strong, but it will be an intriguing match-up especially if the home team is looking to respond well after a disappointing performance last week. It’s hard to tip against Broadbeach as, like its AFL counterparts, look to be more dominant after a slow start.
