By Chris ‘Yeendy’ Yeend
The QAFL season continues to deliver some of the most exciting matches seen in recent seasons; all in the space of a handful of weeks. From draws to goals after the siren, fans can now tick ‘shot on goal as the siren sounds to determine the result of the match’ off their bingo cards, and we’re only in Round 3.
Surfers Paradise captain Harrison Fraser had the chance to live the boy-hood dream with a shot on goal on the run just as the siren sounded against Mt Gravatt.
Fraser marked outside 50 for the Demons with his team trailing by two-points; and with Vulture Jackson Griffiths standing the mark, Fraser played on; ran to 48 metres out, had a shot on goal with the siren sounding as the ball drifted wide in an incredible finish.
The result at Southside Toyota Oval joins Keegan Downie’s winning shot on goal after the siren against Wilston Grange and the draw between the reigning Grand Finalists; all in the opening round.
MT GRAVATT 11.15.81 defeated SURFERS PARADISE 11.14.80
The QAFL Match of the Day lived up to all expectations in a tight arm-wrestle at Southside Toyota Oval.
The win-less Demons looked to open their account against the Vultures that tasted success in the opening round. The Dees looked in the box-seat early on the back of more accurate kicking in the opening term. Both teams had seven scoring shots, but it was the Dees that kicked 4.3 to open up a handy 15-point quarter-time lead.
The Vultures closed the gap to eight-points at the major break; and came out the stronger and more accurate team in front of goal in the third term. The home side kicked 4.4 from eight scoring shots while the Demons were wasteful, kicking 1.5.
Mt Gravatt held a slender eight-point lead heading into the final term; one that produced a gallant effort from the rampaging Surfers Paradise. Both teams traded goals late in the game before Jonah Licht marked for Mt Gravatt to kick the goal that would put his team in front by two-points.
Minutes later it was his opposing captain Fraser that would have a shot on goal to try and win the game but was unsuccessful.
Licht finished with three goals for the winners and teammate Dylan Smith kicked four to take his tally to eight for the season. Byron Finch (three goals), Jayme Rekers and Tom Smith (two goals each – both kicking goals in the last quarter) led the way for Surfers Paradise.
WILSTON GRANGE 15.21.111 defeated SHERWOOD 4.5.29
After succumbing to a post-siren defeat at the hands of Morningside in the opening round; Wilston Grange responded with back-to-back wins over Noosa and Sherwood respectively to surge to second place on the QAFL ladder.
Sherwood was determined to respond from its opening round loss to Mt Gravatt and after a slow start at Hickey Park, closed the gap to 14-points at the half-time break.
The Gorillas had a tale of two terms in the second half with inaccurate kicking in the third term, 2.9 before flexing their muscles in the final term with 8.1. Unfortunately for the Pies, it was a tough battle in the second half, registering just 0.2.
Five players kicked multiple goals for the Gorillas with recruit Lachlan Rook (three goals) keeping his eyes locked on a potential call up to the injury-hit Southport in the VFL. Will Martyn was outstanding, and Dan Lanthois flexed his muscles with some outstanding passages of play as he looks to grow within the team in just his second season.
The Pies showed some promising signs up forward with Pat McCarthy and Sterling Mitchell kicking goals. The potential in that forward line is strong and it will take time for this team to grow and develop across the season. Expect this group to cause a lot of headaches in the back half of the season.
MORNINGSIDE 13.11.89 defeated NOOSA 10.17.77
The Panthers continued their undefeated start to the season with a hard-fought win on the road at Noosa. With scores leveled at three-quarter-time, they kicked 4.4 to 2.4 in the final term to secure a season-lifting win.
It’s been a tough start to the season for Noosa with three losses to start the season. After challenging Redland Victoria Point for a half in Round 1 and challenging for much of the contest against Wilston Grange on Good Friday, it slipped away in the final term in a match that was there for the taking. The first term (2.6) and third term (3.5) proved costly. But the ability and talent is there, it just needs to sustain it for longer.
Jai Fitzpatrick was outstanding for the home team alongside Aaron Laskey; while for Morningside, Round 1 hero Keegan Downie kicked four goals to take his season tally to nine while Kelly Castle lifted in the crucial stages to kicked three goals.
Morningside sit in fourth position and one of three teams that are still undefeated. Noosa are one of four teams yet to secure a victory and face cross-town rivals Maroochydore this weekend in a battle of both teams hoping to secure its first wins of the season.
BROADBEACH 15.12.102 defeated MAROOCHYDORE 11.8.74
The Cats secured their first win of the season with an impressive 28-point win at home against Maroochydore. After a tight opening term, they kicked away to a 28-point lead at half-time. Both teams hit the scoreboard hard with the Cats adding 6.5 to the Roos with 4.1.
Maroochydore stormed out of the blocks in the third term with a tremendous fighting display and effort in front of goals. It kicked 6.3 to cut the margin to just three-points and setting the stage for a grand-stand finish in a game it was expected to challenge in.
Broadbeach stormed home in the final term with four unanswered goals and held its opponents’ goal-less to win by 28-points.
Jye Lockett kicked three goals for the winners who had a dozen goal scorers while Sam Banks-Smith was outstanding. Lukas Kangur and Mitch Scholard kicked three goals each for the Roos while Daniel Fleming impressed.
REDLAND VICTORIA POINT 13.14.92 defeated LABRADOR 6.6.42
The Sharks continued their impressive start to the 2023 season with a strong 50-point victory on the road to Labrador.
After a tight opener with little more than a kick separating the two teams at the first change; Redland Victoria Point kicked 6.2 to 1.0 in the second stanza to lead by 40-points heading into the major break. Both teams fought hard in the second half, but it was the visitors too strong and led the arm-wrestle to kick 4.8 to 3.4 and secure victory.
Caleb Franks dominated the midfield with an impressive display; former Brisbane Lion Reuben Williams kicked two goals on debut, Adrian Williams was outstanding across the backline and Matt Hammelmann kicked four goals.
It was a tough day at home for the Tigers who missed some key personnel due to VFL commitments. Harry Law continued his impressive start to the season with three goals while Lachlan Henderson kicked two goals in a best on ground effort for his team.
ASPLEY 14.10.94 defeated PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN 6.16.52
Aspley secured its first four points of the season with a hard-fought seven-goal win on the road to PBC. After leading by seven-points at quarter-time, the margin expanded to 20 at the long-break.
Poor kicking cost the Lions in the third term with 1.6 as the Hornets added 4.2 to push the lead out to 40-points at the last change. Kicking on goal was a key difference again in the final term with Aspley kicking 3.1 to 2.5 to run away victors.
Liam Dawson was outstanding in the backline for the Hornets while Nick Dodge stepped up with four goals. Nick Crowley kicked three goals and was best afield for the Lions alongside Zac Harrison and Jack Granville in a promising display.
