By Terry Wilson
QFA DIVISION 2
Weekend program
Elimination final: Coomera v Coolangatta at Coomera Sports Park, 2pm Saturday.
Qualifying final: Bond University v Beenleigh at Bond Uni, Saturday 2pm.
Reserve grade
Elimination final: Coomera v Moreton Bay at Coomera Sports Park, 11.30am Saturday.
Qualifying final: Kenmore v Alexandra Hills at Bond Uni, 11.30am Saturday.
IT will be mothballs for one Gold Coast club after Coomera Magpies take on the Coolangatta Blues in the QFA Division 2 elimination final at Coomera Sports Park on Saturday.
It has been tight between the two “Cs” this season, with honours shared at one apiece after Coomera won by 17 points in Round 7 and the Blues reversed that result with victory by a convincing 51 points in the return bout at Corpsure Oval.
The two games were played in contrasting fashion, according to Coomera president, Rob Templeton, which makes this weekend’s showdown all the more intriguing.
“They touched us up the last time we played them down there but we beat them at home before that,” Templeton told aflq.com.au.
A key for the Magpies in the match should be captain Max Triffett, who was in the club’s premiership side in 2013 and who has been in great touch this season with 13 times listed in the weekly best players.
For the Blues, Josh Westerberg will be a key inside 50 after booting a team-high 38 goals this year, and Trey Westbury, 13 times in the best players, as their guns.
Coolangatta managed to scrape into the finals bracket after a last round win over Victoria Point, who finished one game behind the Blues, and they now have a point to prove now their position in finals has been cemented.
In the Division 2 qualifying final, Bond University are playing Beenleigh on the Gold Coast, for the right to play minor premiers Park Ridge in the second semi-final next weekend.
The results between Bond and Beenleigh have been shared this season.
Bond won the first by 19 points then the Buffaloes reserved that result with victory by 49 points in Round 10.
Both sides, who finished second and third respectively in the division, have been among the competition’s most lethal teams on the scoreboard as two of just three teams to kick over 1700 points across the home and away season.
Much of Bullsharks’ prowess on the scoreboard has come via Ben Merrett, who lead the team for goals scored with 56 majors, including eight hauls of four or more.
QFA DIVISION 3
Weekend program
Preliminary final: Carrara v Kedron at Nielsens Road, 2pm Saturday.
Reserve grade: Redcliffe v Ipswich at Nielsens Road, 11.45am Saturday.
KEDRON have to reverse a two-loss season run if they are to beat Carrara and earn a place in the QFA Division 3 grand final.
Carrara won R5 at E.K. Anderson Oval by 17 points, then in R13 the Saints won by 48 points at Nielsens Road.
Despite this record, the Lions were most impressive last weekend when they beat Wynnum at Wynnum and they appear to be running on strongly at the business end of the season.
In their final win over the Vikings last week, Kedron stormed home in the final term with six majors to see out the game and progress in the finals.
The win was their third in a row meaning the matchup against Carrara, who lost their first game in over a month last week, suggesting this weekend’s must-win final is anyone’s taking.
A key for the Saints should be leading goalkicker Ash Templar who has booted 88 goals, although he was relatively quiet when the Saints lost to Ipswich last weekend in the second semi-final at Limestone Park.
Templar has averaged over five goals per game this season but returned just two last week as the Eagles downed the Saints, however a six goal haul in the two team’s last encounters highlights his nous for finding the goals against this week’s opponents.
