Bonding on the day off
Because of the torrential rain and wild weather that hit South East Queensland on Saturday, most games were washed out, including Bond University’s QFA South against Springwood. That didn’t mean the Sharks kicked their feet up and called it a day. Never one to miss an opportunity, the team sweated it out at the gym, making sure they ticked the legs over. No rest for the wicked.
You’re not seeing things…
If anyone drove past Lemke Road on the weekend, you wouldn’t blame them for thinking they had got lost and ended up at Sommerset Damn… but not for the reason you would expect. Yes, the water ran straight off the hill, submerging the ground, but it was what was happening on the ground that was most surprising. Two enthusiastic punters seized the opportunity, whipped out the canoe, and went for a paddle down the wing. You can’t make this stuff up.
Like father like son
Friday night was a big event for Queensland footy as a whole, but I don’t think one family in particular will be forgetting it any time soon. The Fraser family had two very good reasons to get down to Yeronga, with Dad Ian playing in the Masters Exhibition, and son Harrison playing for Queensland against the WAAFL. When we spoke to Harrison before the game, it was pretty clear what a special night for him it would be.
“He’s pretty much my best friend as well as my dad, I’ve had a really good relationship with him, he has helped me through my footy my whole life,” he said.
The smile on Ian’s face was ear to ear during the Queensland game.
Fletch
The shining light for Queensland on Friday night was a bloke by the name of Fletcher McIvor. Whether it was beating his opponent one-on-one, laying the bump of the night, tackling, using it well by foot, or running away from the contest with the ball in hand, he was sublime, and deservingly walked away the Zane Taylor medal for best on ground around his neck. He’s been very good for Wilston Grange and Aspley this year, but we might just look back on this game in the future and think that this is where he really took off.
Allies
When the Allies (made up of the best players for the NAB AFL Division Two Under 18 Championships) played their first game of the Division One carnival on Saturday, a few of our Queensland boys showed they can well and truly mix it with the best. Jack Rolls was named in the best, Jack Bowes won a stack of it, and Connor Ballenden (still a bottom age player) made eyebrows raise right around the ground by taking a really strong grab and finished it off with a goal. Doing their draft chances no harm every time they run out.
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
