With QFA North teams in the home stretch of the season, we thought it’s time to take a look at where they have been, and what is ahead of them in 2015. Check it out, club by club, below.
Mayne
The past
It hasn’t been a perfect year to day for Mayne, but it’s been bloody close. Sitting on top of the table at 9-1, they have set themselves up for tilt at back-to-back flags. The one loss came at the hands of Maroochydore in round 7, but apart from that it’s been blemish free. The loss has shown that they wont have it all their way this year, if they don’t come to play each week, they will be beaten.
The future
Looking ahead, they have a big game against Noosa this weekend at home, and travel to Maroochydore in round 15, which are both danger games. They should get the job done in the rest of their matches, but stranger things have happened. A bye in round 19 means they will hit the finals nice and fresh.
Faulkner and Housego have combined for 86 goals already this season. To stop Mayne, you have to limit their scoring power.
Maroochydore
The past
The team that beat the streak. It was a massive win in round 7, and one they will take a lot of confidence from, but if anything’s been proven so far in 2015, it’s that Maroochydore have to have their eyes on more than one team. Noosa have knocked them off twice in close ones, and Caloundra pipped them by five-points in round 11.
The future
With a couple of byes to come, it’s a pretty good road to the finals for the Roos. They will look to prove their win over Mayne was no fluke in round 15, and then try to get one back over Noosa the following week. Their last two games against Aspley and Moreton Bay should send them finals bound full of steam.
Josh Norman has been huge this year. From his 11 games, he has kicked 22 goals and been named in the best nine times. Their premiership hopes will rely heavily on his ability to impose himself on the game.
Noosa
The past
Solid. That’s how you would describe Noosa so far this year. It was never going to be easy facing Mayne in round 1, but they accounted for themselves well. Their only other loss came in round 8 against Mayne again. Their two wins over Maroochydore have been pivotal in keeping the race for second spot on the ladder wide open, and they have beaten the teams they should quite comfortably.
The future
The next step for the will be closing the gap on Mayne, which they will get the opportunity to do this weekend. They will have a couple of eight-point games against Caloundra and Maroochydore in rounds 15 and 16, which are must wins if they want that second spot. A bye in the last round will help the legs before their finals campaign.
Cain Tickner is their leading goal kicker with 18 this year, but you just get the feeling they need that one big target to stand up a kick a bag if they want to raise the cup.
Caloundra
The past
Caloundra are in a rich vein of form at the moment. Their last month has been the best of the year, and because of it, has been thrown into the premiership discussion. No doubt it was a slow start of the year, with losses to Moreton Bay, Mayne, Maroochydore and Noosa, but their win over the Roos in round 11 was a 119-point turnaround from the first time they met.
The future
They face Mayne twice in the run home, which isn’t going to be easy, but if they can take a scalp like Noosa in round 15, they are still a chance to push higher up the ladder.
It’s been a pretty even workload for Panthers in 2015. Quienten Ross has been the target up forward, with 30 next to his name for the year, and Jimmy Cupper has been very consistent.
Moreton Bay
The past
After a difficult 2014, this year couldn’t have started on a better foot for the Lions, knocking off the more fancied Caloundra in round 1 to the tune of 20-points. A tough couple of weeks followed, with big losses to Noosa and Mayne, before a heartbreaking one-point loss to Maroochydore. Wins over the two teams below them have made fifth spot on the ladder theirs.
The future
They have three very winnable games ahead of them in the next three weeks, facing Caloundra, Nambour & Hinterland, and Aspley, which could set the rest of their season up. After getting so close to the Roos in round 5, they will look to go one better in the final home and away game of the season.
Jacob Huisman has been excellent this year, as has Lincoln Simmons.
Aspley
The past
It’s been a tough season so far for Aspley. They got reasonably close to Caloundra and Noosa in round 5 and 6, but had to wait until round 11 for their first win of 2015, which came after a six-point win over Nambour & Hinterland.
The future
They have the bye this week followed by a tough stretch of games, coming against Noosa, Mayne and Maroochydore in the space of four weeks. Their round 15 games against Moreton Bay at home will be a focus for them, and a game they are a decent shot at taking.
Cameron Colvin has been the go to man up forward this year for the Hornets, the only player in double digits, with 19 for the year to date.
Nambour & Hinterland
The past
2015 hasn’t been the season Nambour & Hinterland had hoped it would be so far this year, but they still have five games to turn it around. The closest they have been to that elusive win was six points against Aspley in round 11.
The future
It’s not the easiest run home by any stretch of the means, but they do face Moreton Bay twice. If they can at least half that and win one, it will be a fantastic reward for effort this year.
Lanze Magin and Nathan Spring have worked extremely hard all year. The more they get the ball in their hands, the better.
By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles
