By Abby Collins
Surfers Paradise defeated the previously unbeaten Palm Beach Currumbin in a remarkable upset at Kallibr Homes Oval, with the final buzzer ending play with a score of 12.7 (79) 11.12 (78) in favour of the Demons.
The Demons, fielding a team heavily comprising Reserve players, defied the odds and showcased their resilience and grit against the formidable Lions side.
The first half of the game belonged to Palm Beach Currumbin, but the Demons had a nothing-to-lose attitude that saw them winning in the second half of the game.
The first quarter, dominated by Palm Beach Currumbin, saw the Lions keeping the ball comfortably in their forward 50 for most of play, showcasing their offensive prowess that had taken down every team before them.
Blair Rubock’s return to the starting line-up proved instrumental, with his goal scoring exploits keeping the Lions in control early in the game.
Palm Beach Currumbin’s intimidating forward line showed their ability to comfortably control the ball.
Surfers Paradise went full force into every contest, never backing down, establishing themselves as no easy rival.
The Demons further ramped up their efforts with each quarter, but the defensive power of the Lions proved too much for the reserve heavy team in the second quarter. The margin widened from seven to 20 by time half time.
A chase down tackle from Jalen Curtis ignited the home crowd and his teammates as he managed to stop the momentum of the Lions, proving that it was possible.
A wild Elijah Reardon flew up the back of another player, landing a spectacular mark from a pair of shoulders for Surfers Paradise, demonstrating the young gun’s desire to win at any cost.
Something changed for the Demons during the break. The midfield increased efforts gave the Dees more control over the ball, opening up more scoring opportunities.
Taking full advantage, the Demons landed six goals, while their defensive line crack down limited the Lions to just two goals in the premiership quarter.
With fire in their eyes, Jalen Curtis, Jayme Rekers, Benjamin Woodburn and Mitchell Patten perfected their forward 50 entries, capitalising off their team’s midfield control and possession.
The Jewell brothers, Myles, and Samuel, verified themselves true hell raisers on the field, as they expertly added to the scoreboard off their own boots, or by creating opportunities for their teammates.
The final quarter had fans on the edge of their seats, this was now anyone’s game. The table leaders started to look uncomfortable as they scrambled after the ball, taking every chance they could to get points on the board.
With each team only landing two goals in the final quarter, the defensive force of both sides successfully imitated concrete walls.
Palm Beach Currumbin found itself gaining minor points from missed opportunities, while Surfers Paradise applied relentless pressure, forcing Lion’s mistakes.
The final Buzzer rang out with surfers on top by a single point, the energy from the coaching box reverberated across the grounds.
“It’s an incredible victory,” Matthew Lappin, Surfers Paradise Coach, said.
“It’s one we are very proud of. The boy’s ability to execute under pressure really showed today.
“We didn’t have the best of our players, but the guys we brought up put such a huge amount of effort in.”
“It was such a gutsy victory over one of the best teams in the competition. Hopefully this propels us forward for the next hard month.
“This could be the greatest win in our club history, to win this game with this team.”
In a true underdog story, Surfers Paradise defied the odds and showcased their resilience, delivering a thrilling upset that will go down in the club’s history.
Surfers Paradise 2.1 4.3 10.4 12.7 (79)
Palm Beach Currumbin 3.2 7.5 9.8 11.12 (78)
Goals
Surfers Paradise Jewell 2, Rekers 2, Woodburn 2, Anderson, Djurovitch, Luxton, Patten, Selvey, Snowball
Palm Beach Currumbin Robuck 3, Beaman 2, Croad 2, O’Brien 2, Farrell, Hayes
Best Players
Surfers Paradise Benjamin Woodburn, Cameron Topping, Michael Luxton, Connor Matheson, Hamish Anderson, Matt Doran
Palm Beach Currumbin Jed Harrison, Ethan Sekac, Ted O’Brien, Tai Hayes, Jonathan Croad, Tom Hickey
Other Games
Noosa v Labrador
Noosa 6.0 8.1 13.6 16.8 (104)
Labrador 3.3 6.6 7.10 9.17 (71)
Goals
Noosa Rich 8, Freeman 4, Bowes, Conn, McCarthy, Rogers
Labrador Fyfe 2, Bristow, Foon, Krok, Simpson, Sullivan, Webster
Best players
Noosa Daniel Rich, Mitchell Conn, Kooper Airey-Bamback, Jonathan Freeman, Curtis McCarthy, Riley O’Dwyer
Labrador Tom Simpson, Tom Miller, Jesh Morgan, Darcy McEldrew, Matt Lee, Aiden Fyfe
Redland Victoria Point v Aspley
Redland Victoria Point 2.5 3.7 7.11 9.15 (69)
Aspley 3.1 6.8 9.10 13.11 (89)
Goals
Redland Victoria Point Hammelmann 4, Cameron 3, Brown, Finch
Aspley Stackelberg 3, Batchelor 2, Coombes 2, Lonergan 2, Crawley, Harker, Herring, Leahy
Best Players
Redland Victoria Point Matthew Thomson, Matthew Hambleton, Adrian Williams, Clay Cameron, Luke O’Sullivan, William Johnson
Aspley Josh Coombes, Matthew Payne, Cody Stackelberg, Mitchell Crawley, Luke Saunders, Brandon Batchelor
Broadbeach v Morningside
Broadbeach 3.3 7.3 10.6 11.7 (73)
Morningside 3.5 7.7 11.9 17.13 (115)
Goals
Broadbeach Reeves 4, Hull 2, Dawson, Hill, Hitchcock, Mackenzie, ONeill
Morningside Downie 5, Cockatoo 3, Milford 3, Castle, Dadds, Griffiths, Hodge, Pendlebury, Purslow
Best Players
Broadbeach Kasey Nicholas, Jake Wood, Harrison Mackenzie, Justin Bishop, Corey Hitchcock, Blake Erickson
Morningside Nakia Cockatoo, Kelly Castle, Max Nelson, Keegan Downie, Tommy Horne, Cam Lovig
Mt Gravatt v Maroochydore
Mt Gravatt 0.0 3.1 7.2 10.3 (63)
Maroochydore 7.6 10.13 12.20 18.24 (132)
Goals
Mt Gravatt Blood 5, Corrigan 2, Ferris, Hardess, Milne, Smith
Maroochydore Scholard 6, Wilson 3, Laing 2, McLachlan 2, Faulkner, Holt, Stewart, Stone, Vivian
Best Players
Mt Gravatt Thomas Hurst, Jack Paterson, Austin Brent, Patrick Neate, Robert Blood, Michael Gordon
Maroochydore Joshua Govan, Mitchel Scholard, Liam Jacka, Aaron Wilson, Zac Stone, Deklen Faulkner
Sherwood v Wilston Grange
Sherwood 2.3 4.7 6.8 8.10 (58)
Wilston Grange 3.2 5.5 10.6 12.10 (82)
Goals
Sherwood Waistcoat 3, Chol 2, Austin, Cruice, Davidson
Wilston Grange Farry 3, Ellis, Fidler, Gordon, Lanthois, Mathieson, Mcgregro, Mifsud, Osborne, Pearce
Best Players
Sherwood Will Fletcher, Joshua Campbell, Oliver Cruice, Ethan Harris, Luke Mitchell, Dan Edwards
Wilston Grange Daniel Weetra, Rhys Mathieson, Daniel Farry, Jacquin Mifsud, Jack Thompson, Hugh Fidler
