By Ant Wingard
Noosa v Maroochydore
September 15, 2:30pm
Leyshon Park, Yeronga.
The stage is set for Noosa to earn redemption against the same club that spolit their premiership hopes in 2017 as they face a Maroochydore, who were forced to qualify on the longer road.
The script ahead of the game follows an eerily similar path to one season ago.
Last season, the two sides faced off in the second week of finals and it was the Tigers who prevailed. Maroochydore were forced to take the longer route, but forged victories over Caloundra in the Preliminary Final to earn their place in the Grand Final.
Of course, it was the Roos who went on to win the premiership in 2017, but after the same results happened in the finals again this year, the mood in the competition suggests the game this weekend, will be a much tighter affair.
Their Semi Final matchup a fortnight ago highlights just how competitive games between the two side can be.
Noosa raced out to an unprecedented lead in the first half and led by as much as 46-point over the minor premier Roos.
But much like they have done throughout the season, Maroochydore didn’t waiver and dominated much of the season half; eventually falling just 11 points short of a miraculous comeback.
Their matchup this week presents itself in much the same manner. Given the sheer firepower the Roos possess across the field, a strong start by Noosa must be required if the Tigers have a genuine chance of dethroning their rivals.
Similarly, Maroochydore have made a knack of scoring well in the second half – a quality even evident in their win over Caloundra last week, but the side remained somewhat elusive on the scoreboard in the opening two stanzas.
For all of the talk about the important premiership quarter in the third term, the opening half looms as the catalyst for either side’s premiership hopes.
Obviously with bragging rights to be top dogs on the Sunshine Coast at stake here, the pressure is going to be on as these two powerhouses go toe to toe.
The score this season is 2-1 to Noosa, whose last premiership came in 2011.
And they took a psychological jump on their great rivals with a high-scoring win over their rivals, the defending champions, in the Second Semi-Final.
Coach Sam Faure reported the all-clear with the Tigers playing list, saying they are going into the decider as strong as they can be and also pointed toward the team’s culture as a driving factor toward a potential premiership win.
“We can win because we have a strong bond. We’re all determined to finish the year off on a good note and we’re all in to win the premiership, Faure told aflq.com.au.
“I don’t regard the semi-final win as an upset, it was two quality teams having a good hit-out.”
Maroochydore won the flag last year, their first premiership since they won four in a row in the old Brisbane Australian Football League from 1993 to 1996.
After suffering defeat against Noosa in their last contest, Roos head coach Andrew Cazdow felt his side now has what it takes to topple the Tigers.
“I thought we were underdone going in to the finals but the past two weeks have made us cherry ripe.” He said.
“Playing at Yeronga is very similar to Maroochydore and I think we have probably improved 20 per cent from last year with our current squad.”
The Grand Final between Noosa and Maroochydore will be also be live streamed here.
Reserves
In much the same as the QFA Division 1 HART Sport Cup, the QFA Division 1 Reserve competition will pit the two best sides against one another in hopes of premiership glory.
Both Maroochydore and Noosa have the opportunity to do the double as both their senior and reserve grade sides run out on Leyshon Park for the big dance.
Little has separated the Tigers and Roos from one another this season but it’s the former who could take the most confidence heading into the Grand Final this weekend.
The two sides have both produced wins over the other throughout the home and away fixture, but it was Noosa who prevailed in their finals matchup and booked their early ticket to the Grand Final.
Maroochydore pair Hayden Smoothy and Blake Davis finished first and second respectively in the competition goal kicking, but neither were able to produce a big impact on the scoreboard when the two teams met a fortnight ago.
The duo combined for just four goals – well below their usual lofty production as the Tigers ran away 12 point victors. Any chance of the Roos overcoming their loss two weeks ago could lean on the pair’s ability to hit the scoreboard inside 50.
Noosa veteran Troy Duke has been a solid contributor for the Tigers this year and it’d be of no surprise if the 37-year-old stood tall in the Grand Final and paved the way for back-to-back reserve premierships.
Colts
Maroochydore’s monopoly on community football in Queensland’s south east will continue on Grand Final day as the Roos field sides in all three levels of senior football.
In the Colts, the Roos have a chance to claim back to back premierships against Southport after pipping Aspley by just two points in a thrilling Grand Final one year ago.
The Sharks though, appear formidable opponents for the Roos, and stand firmly in the Sunshine Coast club’s way of consecutive premiership hopes.
The two sides have already met three times this season, but it was perhaps their most recent – a Qualifying final a fortnight ago – that was perhaps most telling.
Southport led all-comers in the Colts Maroon competition, claiming the minor premiership in a year the Sharks lost just three games.
In the final though, it was the Roos who usurped the Sharks to the tune of 50 points.
The margin was the biggest between the two sides all season and shook the Sharks’ season.
Having spent most of the season with the Roos’ reserve grade side, Noah Cumberland brings a wealth of experience to the Maroochydore side and could play a significant role in the game.
Dillon Lewis booted just one major for Southport in their matchup two weeks ago but could hold the key to a Sharks victory after booting 47 goals in the home and away season – the most of any player in the competition.
QFA Division 1 Reserves
Noosa v Maroochydore
In much the same as the QFA Division 1 HART Sport Cup, the QFA Division 1 Reserve competition will pit the two best sides against one another in hopes of premiership glory.
Both Maroochydore and Noosa have the opportunity to do the double as both their senior and reserve grade sides run out on Leyshon Park for the big dance.
Little has separated the Tigers and Roos from one another this season but it’s the former who could take the most confidence heading into the Grand Final this weekend.
The two sides have both produced wins over the other throughout the home and away fixture, but it was Noosa who prevailed in their finals matchup and booked their early ticket to the Grand Final.
Maroochydore pair Hayden Smoothy and Blake Davis finished first and second respectively in the competition goal kicking, but neither were able to produce a big impact on the scoreboard when the two teams met a fortnight ago.
The duo combined for just four goals – well below their usual lofty production as the Tigers ran away 12 point victors. Any chance of the Roos overcoming their loss two weeks ago could lean on the pair’s ability to hit the scoreboard inside 50.
Noosa veteran Troy Duke has been a solid contributor for the Tigers this year and it’d be of no surprise if the 37-year-old stood tall in the Grand Final and paved the way for back-to-back reserve premierships.
QFA Colts Maroon
Maroochydore v Southport
Maroochydore’s monopoly on community football in Queensland’s south east will continue on Grand Final day as the Roos field sides in all three levels of senior football.
In the Colts, the Roos have a chance to claim back to back premierships against Southport after pipping Aspley by just two points in a thrilling Grand Final one year ago.
The Sharks though, appear formidable opponents for the Roos, and stand firmly in the Sunshine Coast club’s way of consecutive premiership hopes.
The two sides have already met three times this season, but it was perhaps their most recent – a Qualifying final a fortnight ago – that was perhaps most telling.
Southport led all-comers in the Colts Maroon competition, claiming the minor premiership in a year the Sharks lost just three games.
In the final though, it was the Roos who usurped the Sharks to the tune of 50 points.
The margin was the biggest between the two sides all season and shook the Sharks’ season.
Having spent most of the season with the Roos’ reserve grade side, Noah Cumberland brings a wealth of experience to the Maroochydore side and could play a significant role in the game.
Dillon Lewis booted just one major for Southport in their matchup two weeks ago but could hold the key to a Sharks victory after booting 47 goals in the home and away season – the most of any player in the competition.
