Sunday will see a double header take place at Morningside AFC for the first weekend of the Finals Series for the u18 Div 1 Shield competition.
The First game is the Knockout Final between the Aspley Hornets and the Southport Sharks. These two teams have played each other 4 times this year with Aspley having won 3 of those games. They have played each other twice in the last month and each side came away with a convincing win when playing on their home turf. This game is being played at a neutral venue so game is up for grabs for whoever takes it.
Aspley will be hoping ball winners Alex McTaggart and James Kelly are on song and Nicholas Jackson and Cameron Perkins have their kicking boots on straight. If these four players are giving a chance they can cause a lot of damage in ensuing the Sharks don’t get to the Preliminary Final. Southport likewise will be relying heavily on noted goal kicker Blair Mortimer to ensure he gets a bag full if they are any hope of winning this match. Blair will be hoping his teammates are able to get the ball down to him quick and fast with Mitchell Fisk and Jason Kish having a great season to date.
Will the sharks take the big bite out the hornet’s finals campaign or will they get stung we will find out Sunday at 12.30pm.
The 2nd Semi Final is being contested by arch rivals Morningside Panthers and Mt Gravatt Vultures. These two teams have had a great rivalry this year with Morningside taking out the competition minor Premiership. The Panthers have only lost 2 games this year with one of those defeats having come via the vultures. These two teams have played each other 3 times this year with both teams having a win each and a draw between the two teams in round 7. All games have been close encounters and this final we can expect similar.
Morningside will be hoping to get several goals from Matthew Surrier which they know will get them in a position to win the game. The ball winners for Morningside (Tom Trowse, Bo Hall, and Josh Mazoletti) will be hoping to give Surrier plenty of opportunities. The other thing Morningside will need to do is stop League leading Goal Kicker Matthew Fellow-Smith from getting the ball. Fellow –Smith (41 Goals) and his partner in crime Kurtis Norton-Neale (31 goals) have been dangerous in front of the big sticks this season. These two forwards will be hoping that their ball winners Jordan Plumridge and Jacob Raines getting lots of quick possessions into the forward line which will make their job a little easier. This game is a toss of the coin but with Morningside playing at home could it get them over the line?
Will the panthers claw another satisfying victory or will the vultures fly into the Grand Final? find out Sunday 2.30pm.
First Semi Final
Sunday August 12th at Morningside AFC (Jack Esplen Oval) 12.30pm
Aspley v Southport
Announcement of Best and Fairest Award 2012 and Leading Goal Kicker 2012 2.30pm
Second Semi Final
Sunday August 12th at Morningside AFC (Jack Esplen Oval) 3.00pm
Morningside V Mt Gravatt
Live scores updated on the AFLQ Website throughout the day.
