By Abby Collins
This weekend, the QAFL finals reach a critical juncture as four teams vie to continue their season.
However, for Aspley and Morningside, it’s a battle to secure a direct path to the big dance.
The rivalry between these two sides is fierce, and they’ve already met twice this season.
In Round 16, Aspley delivered a convincing 16.7 (103) to 12.3 (75) victory over Morningside at the Panthers’ home ground, with the Hornets also winning their Round 10 clash 11.13 (104) to 8.10 (58) at Aspley’s home venue.
Now, Morningside are determined to even the score and earn a weekend’s rest, while Aspley aim to maintain their dominance and secure a straight path to the Grand Final.
Aspley will welcome back Cody Stackelberg, Erin Wasley-Black, Mitch Crawley, and Jasper Craven, but will be without Matt Payne, Raymond Hill, and Daine Macdonald.
Morningside will also be making some big changes now that they have all their key players back from injuries.
“We have had so many different guys playing all year; we have been decimated with injuries at times, so it is good to get all those guys back and all fit and firing at the right time of the year,” Morningside coach Paul Egan said.
The Panthers will see the return of Jacob Lohmann, Wyatt Greenaway, Max Nelson, and William Pendlebury, while Joshua Hammond, Cameron Macqueen, and Ben Morison step out of Saturday’s squad.
Each team’s elite running players will be the ones to watch, likely to have a significant impact on the game’s outcome.
“Given the hot conditions, I expect our elite running players like Will O’Dwyer, Ryan Banks-Smith, Jordan Hayden, and Daniel Henderson to have an influence on the outcome of the game,” Aspley’s coach Adrian Pilgrim said.
“Connor Stackelberg up forward works hard for his opportunities and will also enjoy the warm and dry conditions.”
The Stackelberg brother duo, known to be a formidable force, are prepared to get back to their well-oiled teamwork with Cody back on field.
The importance of water runners will be felt across the oval, and Morningside’s five under 15’s filling this role for the Panthers, will be taking their jobs very seriously as the self-proclaimed ‘Hydration Managers.’
Both coaches are expecting and excited for a heavy contest this Saturday.
“We are excited and looking forward to the challenge. It’s a high-stakes game, and we are expecting a contest reflective of this,” Pilgrim said.
“Morningside are a well-balanced team with match winners across every line.
“They don’t rely on individual players, which makes them dangerous, and so we need to win our share of 1v1 contests.”
With each team ready to focus on their consistency, the skills on display this Saturday will be a must-watch for aspiring football players.
“We know that going up against Aspley means we have to be consistent for the whole game; you must be on for all four quarters, not just parts of the game,” Egan said.
“So that’s the focus going into this round.
“They are a pretty well-balanced side across the park. It’s going to be one of those games of who can do it for longer, and hopefully we can.”
Both teams boast impressive lineups and a strong desire to secure a direct path to the Grand Final, making this qualifying final an encounter no one wants to miss.
