Image by Brooke Sleep Media.
By Abby Collins.
Wilston Grange beat Surfers Paradise on their own oval in a physically testing match up.
Both teams donned their Indigenous jerseys with immense pride for the second week of Indigenous Round.
The first half had fans on the edge of their seats, as the two powerhouse teams were neck and neck, leaving everyone guessing who would emerge victorious.
In a display of sheer dominance and tactical efforts, the Gorillas stole the show in the last half of the premiership quarter, leaving the Demons in their wake.
Wilston Grange’s relentless pressure and well-executed game plan left Surfers scrambling, forcing them into disorganised defensive play for much of the game.
Rhys Mathieson had a tough time getting his hands on the ball thanks to the determined tagging efforts of Michel Luxton.
The Gorillas found themselves down a man when Mathieson had to leave the field due to injury early in the game.
Rhys’ absence was felt by his teammates who had to step up and fill the space left by one of their biggest ball carriers this season.
Mathieson showed his unwavering support for the boys as he yelled from the fence line.
Surfers Paradise’s key player, Benjamin Woodburn, found himself heavily marked and roughed up by opponents at every turn.
The young Dee is the definition of someone who puts their body on the line, despite being tagged he never backed down from a contest, throwing himself at the ball time and time again.
Woodburn’s frustration grew as his attempts to break free were thwarted time and time again.
The half time siren sounded with a mere four-point margin, setting the stage for the epic second-half showdown.
Surfers Paradise trailed 4.8 (32) to 5.6 (36), but the game was far from over.
Emerging from the sheds for the third quarter, Wilston Grange refused to be deterred by the absence of one of their key ball carriers.
Mitchell Patten brought Surfers back to a one-point margin halfway through the quarter, a hopeful sight for all the Dee’s fans crowding the ground.
This goal brought in a second wind for the Gorillas as they aimed to drive the margin apart again, landing two goals to Mitch Patten’s one. Jack Raines and Bailey Gordon had Gorilla supporters breathing easier again with their match defining goals.
The fourth quarter belonged to Wilston Grange, as they played keep-away from the Demon’s, whose skills seemed to have deserted them in contrast to their previous heroics against Palm Beach Currumbin.
Wilston Grange nailed six goals in the final quarter alone, comfortably landing back-to-back-to-back in the last six minutes of play.
Throughout the game, Gorillas season newcomer, Jacquin Mifsud proved his worth by slotting 5 of their 15 goals, alongside a handful of behinds.
Coach Brent Moloney’s trust in his new recruit paid dividends, as the Gorillas beat the Demons on their home field, securing a crucial victory that has propelled them back above their weekend rivals on the season ladder.
Moloney’s men will be basking in the glory of this hard-fought triumph, as they continue their quest for points when they take on Maroochydore on their home grounds next Saturday.
Surfers Paradise 2.4 4.8 6.14 9.15 (69)
Wilston Grange 2.2 5.6 10.7 15.10 (100)
Goals
Surfers Paradise Hall 2, Patten 2, Rekers 2, Jewell, Luxton
Wilston Grange Mifsud 5, Fidler 2, Gordon 2, Raines 2, Farry, Pearce, Rosenbrock, Thompson
Best Players
Surfers Paradise Not submitted
Wilston Grange Jacquin Mifsud, Hugh Fidler, Kailem Baker, Billy Richardson, Daniel Lanthois, Daniel Farry
Labrador v Broadbeach
Labrador 3.2 6.5 12.6 14.9 (93)
Broadbeach 4.3 7.3 9.3 11.6 (72)
Goals
Labrador Goldsmith 4, Bristow 3, Fyfe 2, Krok 2, Derrington, Pearce, Simpson
Broadbeach Hull 3, Hitchcock 2, Mackenzie 2, Bowman, Dawson, Gray, ONeill
Best Players
Labrador Matthew Hoy, Jake Goldsmith, Jesh Morgan, Jack Turner, Christian Webster, Tom Simpson
Broadbeach Riley Bowman, Jake Wood, Joel Filippone, Blake Erickson, Jai Murray, Ben O’Brien
Maroochydore v Redland Victoria Point
Maroochydore 0.5 2.7 4.9 7.11 (53)
Redland Victoria Point 4.5 5.9 10.9 15.11 (101)
Goals
Maroochydore Wilson 3, Scholard 2, Faulkner, Robinson
Redland Victoria Point Hammelmann 6, Johnson 4, Brown, Cameron, Finch, Hausfeld, Smith
Best Players
Maroochydore Lachlan Robinson, Joshua Govan, Lukas Kangur, Joshua Wagner, Liam Adams
Redland Victoria Point William Johnson, Tyler Hausfeld, Mitch Stallard, Matt Hammelmann, Dylan Smith, Jake Chapman
Morningside v Noosa
Morningside 6.6 9.9 17.12 21.15 (141)
Noosa 6.2 12.5 14.6 15.10 (100)
Goals
Morningside Milford 3, Purslow 3, Waters 3, Downie 2, Godwin 2, Cockatoo, Griffiths, Hodge, Lovig, Mcdonagh, McLeod, Niland-Rowe, Swann
Noosa Freeman 5, Conn 2, O’Dwyer 2, Airey-Bamback, Fitzpatrick, Johnston, Pettigrove, Rich, Tarling
Best players
Morningside Nakia Cockatoo, Tommy Horne, Garrett Mcdonagh, Cam Lovig, Matthew Waters, Brad Hodge
Noosa Nathan Horbury, Rhys Free, Jonathan Freeman, Mitchell Conn, Riley O’Dwyer, Cooper Ogden
Aspley v Mt Gravatt
Aspley 4.2 16.13 24.18 30.27 (207)
Mt Gravatt 1.1 1.1 3.1 3.1 (19)
Goals
Aspley Stackelberg 14, Dodge 7, Harker 2, Payne 2, Henderson’ Herring, Koger, Leahy, Mckenzie
Mt Gravatt Xavier Smith 2, Jackson Griffiths
Best Players
Aspley Connor Stackelberg, Nicholas Dodge, Matthew Payne, Daine Macdonald, Josh Coombes, Joel Leahy
Mt Gravatt Jackson Griffiths, Jarryd Karo, Cody Finlay, Xavier Smith, Thomas Hurst
Palm Beach Currumbin v Sherwood
Palm Beac0h Currumbin 3.4 9.6 13.7 19.8 (122)
Sherwood 1.3 3.5 7.6 11.7 (73)
Goals
Palm Beach Currumbin Rubock 6, Beaman 3, Hayes 3, O’brien 2, Cilmi, Croad, Dawson, Hollier, Patterson
Sherwood Gillett 3, Giles 2, Hude 2, Austin, Collins, Greene, Mitchell
Best Players
Palm Beach Currumbin Tai Hayes, Blair Rubock, Cory Beaman, Tom Hickey, Ethan Sekac, Jed Harrison
Sherwood Not submitted
