Week two of the QFAW Division 1 finals promises football fans two exciting match ups. With week one unfolding largely as predicted, the top four sides of the season remain in the race for the title.
Sandgate and Moreton Bay go head-to-head for the first spot in the Grand Final, while Sherwood will host Morningside to determine who keeps their premiership hopes alive for another week.
Sandgate will go into the Qualifying Final full of confidence, after finishing the home and away season undefeated and earning a home final. After being elevated to Division 1 last season, Coach Ben Long must be commended for the way he has developed his group to become premiership favourites in just their second season at this level.
Sandgate have been led by Febulous Kanth and Mackenzie Sleep, who have both put together impressive seasons in the midfield and across half forward booting 23 goals between them.
Moreton Bay are certainly no strangers to finals football, having played in the 2022 Grand Final and being crowned as premiers in 2023, however will find themselves heading into Saturday with a tough challenge ahead of them.
Emily Watson has been one of the standouts for the Lions this season, comfortably leading the competition’s goal kicking tally having registered 27 majors in season 2024. Watson has stepped up to be Moreton Bay’s key forward target, replacing the void left by sharpshooter Ellen Hopkins who was recruited to Maroochydore (QAFLW).
A kick after the siren by Sandgate’s Ushanti MacGregor saw the Hawks scrape home by a single point last time they met Moreton Bay, in what was one of the matches of the season.
Whilst the undefeated Hawks will start favourties, Moreton Bay having the finals experience behind them, will be confident they can upset the home side and book their spot in the third consecutive Grand Final.
On Brisbane’s south side, Sherwood will host Morningside in what’s shaped up to be a blockbuster Elimination Final at Powenyenna Oval.
The two sides have met on two occasions this season, with the ledger sitting one win a piece with not much separating the two all season.
Morningside started slowly against Broadbeach in their Elimination Final, registering just one scoring shot to Broadbeach’s seven by half time. A strong second half however saw them claw back the margin and eventually run out seven-point victors.
Sherwood’s Elimination Final took a different route, as they jumped out of the blocks leading Surfers Paradise 25 points to one at half time. It was a margin too great for the Demons to chase down, with the Magpies running out 15-point victors.
With the fast-starting Sherwood facing the fast-finishing Morningside, both playing to keep their season alive, we are poised to witness a classic finals match between two classy outfits.
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