Page 78 - AFL Queensland 2014 in Review

The NEAFL underwent significant change in 2014 moving from a 19 team two-conference format to a 14 team consolidated competition.
Queensland clubs formerly in the NEAFL; Broadbeach, Labrador, Morningside, and Mt Gravatt, elected to remain with the revamped QAFL 10 team state league.
Aspley, Redland and Southport joined the new NEAFL competition, each listing an elite group of 35 players and up to 14 rookies. Those not selected in their senior team filtered back to the QAFL in an alignment model (Aspley aligned to Sandgate, Wilston Grange and UQ; Redland to Morningside, Mt Gravatt and Western Magpies; and Southport to Palm Beach Currumbin, Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Labrador).
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Image: Ben Southall Photography
The concentration of the state’s best talent into these three clubs was instantly successful with Aspley, Redland, and Southport occupying positions in the top six for most of the season before Southport’s crippling injury toll saw them eventually slip to eighth.
Our local AFL clubs also found the going a lot tougher than in previous seasons, due partly to the strengthening of Aspley, Redland, and Southport. The Brisbane Lions (9th) had a larger than normal influx of draftees which lowered their average player age significantly. The Gold Coast SUNS (14th) encountered a horror run with injury across the whole club, often leaving them with 12 to 14 listed players for their reserves team in the NEAFL.
NEAFL football returned to the Gabba for the first time in three years, with the Lions playing games against Sydney, NT Thunder, and Aspley. The Lions also hosted the Sydney Swans in Mackay on ANZAC Day for the northern city’s second game in as many years.
Aspley qualified for the Foxtel Cup by beating Belconnen in round 1 of the NEAFL. They fell to eventual winners Williamstown by 45 points at the MCG on May 20.
The NEAFL played for the first time as a combined representative team against Western Australia on May 24th at Blacktown (85-point loss) and Tasmania in Hobart on June 21st (41-point loss). Redland midfielder Phil Carse was judged the NEAFL’s best player for the game against Tasmania.
A three week, knockout finals series was played with all teams entitled to hosting in the first two weeks, whilst the AFL clubs agreed to forego home ground/state advantage in a Grand Final. In week one NT Thunder held off a gallant Ainslie (53 – 36) in Darwin, whilst Aspley were too good for Redland (87 – 64) at Graham Road.
Week two saw both games at Blacktown with Aspley having their first ever win over an interstate AFL club beating UWS Giants by 45 points on Saturday Sept 7th. The following day Sydney Swans produced a stunning second half to knock out NT Thunder by 62 points.