Page 84 - AFL Queensland 2014 in Review

Jamie Hackett worked hard in the QAFL’s forward line, but the VAFA defenders found time and space.
Matt Trewhella was sensational for the Queenslanders in the match, playing in defence and up forward, kicking two goals for the game, while Matt Logan and Paul Shelton were solid through the ground.
In a congested second term, the Queenslanders stemmed the tide of VAFA scoring but couldn’t convert their own chances.
It took until time on in the second quarter for the QAFL to kick their first goal, through Jamie Hackett, giving them some reward for effort.
The QAFL was outnumbered in its forward 50, struggling to take a clean mark in attack.
The advantage of having trained together showed, as the VAFA linked up well from the get go, with strong transition from defence to attack.
Handley was a focal point in the VAFA’s attack, with eight goals for the day.
The VAFA played the third in the same vein as the first, kicking seven goals to one, to blow the margin out ahead of three-quarter time.
A low point for the visitors was the early exit of Murphy Ambrose from the game, after he dislocated his finger late in the third term.
Roach claimed the best on ground medal for the VAFA, while Trewhella was awarded the Zane Taylor Medal as the QAFL’s best player.
NORTH QUEENSLAND V SOUTH QUEENSLAND
North Queensland snagged a nail-biting win over their southern counterparts, in their first match up.
In what was their first match as a representative team it was a fantastic start for them.
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They held the lead for most of the day, inching ahead at every break, but South Queensland were biting on their heels the whole afternoon.
The Northerners got off to a perfect start, kicking the first two goals of the match, before South Queensland hit back.
Anthony Corrie’s experience was instrumental for the South Queensland team early, with the forward leading the way.
North Queensland’s speedy transition helped them find space across the ground, and an early lead.
Their conversion tidied up after the first break and gave them some breathing space.
South Queensland started the second perfectly, with a goal in the opening minute, but North Queensland still had more opportunities, and that conversion gave them the upper hand.
Turnovers cost both sides in the midfield, and the South Queensland team stepped up as the quarter went on.
South Queensland’s Andrew Sponneck was instrumental in the back line, giving his side a strong presence in defence.
Jesse Dixon was prominent for North Queensland through the match.
Holding a 12-point lead going into the final quarter, North Queensland held off a strong last quarter charge from the southerners.
South Queensland kicked four goals to three in that fourth quarter, but they couldn’t edge in front, despite that strong end to the match.
The win was a significant one for North Queensland, coming together only the week of the game, unable to train together in the lead-up given the scope of the region.