The Australia Post Queensland Young Scorpions have paid a high price tonight for a win that has put them into the division two grand final of the NAB AFL Australian U16 Championships.
Wednesday, 7 July, 2010
The Australia Post Young Scorpions survived a physical battering from the South Pacific tonight to qualify for the division two grand final of the NAB AFL Australian U16 Championships.
The Queenslanders hung on in cold, wet and slippery conditions at Blacktown Stadium in Sydney to beat a South Pacific side coached by Mt.Gravatt QAFL club David Lake by 15 points – 7-15 (57) to 6-6 (42).
Coming on top of a 70-point win over NSW/ACT on Sunday, it was enough to get the defending champions into the divisional decider against Tasmania on Saturday. But it came at a price.
Tyrone Brimble from Mt.Gravatt and rookie search player Nathan Newcastle have been ruled out of the final game due to serious injuries incurred in the second quarter of the bruising encounter tonight.
Brimble suffered a very bad compound fracture of the finger that will require surgery tomorrow (Thursday). And Newcastle will have scans in the morning for a suspected cracked fibula.
AFLQ State Talent Manager Bob Batty said several other players were “very sore” and would be assessed at the team recovery session. He declined to reveal details.
Also facing an MRI in the morning that will determine his availability for the grand final is Morningside’s Brian Coleman-Broom, who missed tonight’s game with a hamstring injury suffered on Sunday against NSW/ACT.
If Coleman-Broom is ruled out that would leave the Queenslanders with a bare minimum of 22 players – and possibly less if tonight’s casualty list grows any further.
It could be that coach Ray Windsor, in his first season at the Young Scorpions helm, is forced to send an SOS for reinforcements.
It was a torrid encounter tonight, and after leading 4-3 to 1-1 at quarter-time and holding the South Pacific side goalless in the second term Queensland saw the underdogs pull within four points in the third term.
Queensland, down to one player on the bench in the final quarter, were held goalless during that term but hung on bravely against a bigger and stronger side better suited to the wet conditions.
South Pacific stationed two players loose in defence throughout to stifle the Queensland flow, and although the Young Scorpions had much more of the play it didn’t show on the scoreboard.
They had 80 more possessions and dominated inside 50 entries 47-29 but from 11 set shots on goal from 30m or closer they kicked 3-8 in what could have been costly.
“Full credit to the South Pacific side – they really threw everything at us and at times we didn’t handle it as well as we might have,” said Batty.
“But full credit to our boys, too – they found a way to win when things were stacked against them. There were a lot of very sore boys at the end of the game.”
Deputy vice-captain Jock Oates, from Morningside, was judged Queensland’s best player after a sterling performance at fullback and centre half back.
Aspley midfielder/forward and captain Peter Ives, who kicked two goals with clubmate and full forward Shaun Crook to share the goal-kicking honors for the victors, was judged second-best.
Springwood half forward Alex Sexton continued his outstanding carnival with another busy display at half forward, with an occasional rule through the midfield, while wingman Tom Davidson, from Broadbeach, was also busy.
Swingman Michael Wyld, from Coorparoo, was effective at both ends of the field, while midfielder and vice-captain Tom Overington, from Sandgate, had 30 possessions for the second game in a row.
Earlier, Tasmania beat the World XVIII by 89 points to remain unbeaten after two games and qualify for what shapes as a hard-fought decider against Queensland.
Full details
Queensland 4-3 5-8 7-9 7-15 (57)
South Pacific 1-1 1-3 5-4 6-6 (42)
Goals: Queensland: James Ives 2, Shaun Crook 2, Brody Haberfield 1, Michael Wyld 1, Ryan Johnson 1. South Pacific: Larry Nao 3, John Ikupu 1, Slim Collins 1, Tuaefe Kafoa 1.
Best: Queensland: Jock Oates, James Ives, Alex Sexton, Tom Davidson, Michael Wyld, Tom Overington. South Pacific: Theo Gavuri, Greg Aki, Wingti Pena, Dylan Wolfgramm, Liam Ackland, Slim Collins.
Tasmania 5.3 8.12 12.17 15.18 (108)
World XVIII 1.0 2.0 2.0 3.1 (19)
Goals: Tasmania: Cody Weedon 5, Brennon Kendall 2, Kyle Clark 1, Joby Reynolds 1, Jimmy Craik 1, Jesse Lonergan 1, Samuel O’Byrne 1, Sam Siggins 1, Jarrod Hibberd 1, Bryden Goninon 1. World XVIII: Peter Ajang 1, Prince Nematswerani 1, Sean O’Kennedy 1
Best: Tasmania: Jarrod Hibberd, Jesse Lonergan, Matthew Ling, Cody Weedon, Samuel O’Byrne, Bryce Walsh, Chae Evans. World: Joseph Lo Buluk, Kane Clark, Sean O’Kennedy, Mathias Biron, Alex McPhee, Jono Elliott, Lucas Devincenzi
NSW/ACT 2.3 8.3 11.7 15.8 (98)
NT 4.2 5.4 8.7 9.9 (63)
Goals: NSW/ACT: Jackson Dwyer 4, Harrison Butchart 4, Lonnie Hampton 2, Daniel Robinson 2, Lachlan Harper 1, Zachary Hopper 1, Joe Redfern 1. NT: Sam Autio 3, Matthew Cubis 2, Matthew Duffy 2, Braedon McLean 1, Jake Neade 1.
Best: NSW/ACT: Jackson Dwyer, Daniel Robinson, Craig Moller, Harrison Butchart, Lonnie Hampton, Angus Locke. NT: Matthew Cubis, Sam Autio, Jed Anderson, Matthew Duffy, Michael Dunn, Jack Long.
