Photo: Highflyer Photography
Following last Saturdays thrilling set of fixtures, Round 11 promises again to have an influence on ladder positions and finals aspirations.
MORNINGSIDE (3rd) V PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN (1st) JACK ESPLEN OVAL
The second meeting of the season for these highly rated sides and the defending premiers looking to avenge the Round Five 38-point defeat at Stalagmite Oval.
On that occasion the Panthers kept PBC scoreless in the first quarter, before the Lions slammed on 13 goals to five over the next two terms to cruise to victory. And that was keeping prominent forward Levi Casboult to only a single goal for the match. Finn Hay and Corey Beaman did the damage that day with seven goals between them while Matthew Waters was the main contributor for the away team with four goals.
The midfield battle will be another highlight with the Lions' Harry Benson, Tom Simpson, Rhys King and AJ Dawson in tremendous form while Tristan Hobley, Nakia Cockatoo, Jack Rolls, Tom Bennetts and Cam Lovig been providing plenty of drive for the Panthers. There is also a whisper that Brock Aston will be back in Panthers gear for the first time since 2021. While on the forward line Darcy Cameron-Reeves and Preston Cockatoo-Collins have been dangerous in front of goal and were instrumental in the dying minutes last week in gaining the points over Wilston Grange.
PBC got close but missed out on playing Morningside in last years Grand Final and will be keen to keep the reigning premiers at bay and complete the double in this home and away season. Whilst after a slow start, the Panthers have enjoyed a rapid rise up the ladder in recent weeks and look to continue that momentum.
LABRADOR (7th) V REDLAND VICTORIA POINT (2nd) COOKE-MURPHY OVAL
Three weeks ago, Labrador defeated ladder leader Aspley at home and after four consecutive wins the Tigers are out to knock off another highly ranked rival.
In Round Eight, except for the second quarter where Aspley kicked six goals, Labrador restricted the Hornets to only five for the other three periods. That same team defence will need to be on song as the Sharks have enjoyed the return of powerhouse forward Matt Hammelmann who has booted 15 goals in their last two games (either side of a bye).
The Tigers will also need to restrict the influence of gun ruckman Craig Malone who can dominate hit outs and be so damaging with his clearances.
Labrador, justifiably, may now have big aspirations for the top four this season and despite having a run of injuries and less than a settled side they have winning form. Cooke-Murphy oval is not an easy place for visiting teams and the Sharks face an interesting test here.
SURFERS PARADISE (4th) V BROADBEACH (12th) SIR BRUCE SMALL PARK (KALLIBR HOMES OVAL)
One of the great Gold Coast rivalries will be on display at Benowa on Saturday.
Surfers tested ladder leaders Palm Beach Currumbin last week and are back home against a rested and a rejuvenated Broadbeach who return off the bye.
It has been well documented how disruptive the first half of the season was for the Cats. The break under new coach Lewis Chiodo was timely for a reset in order to build on their solitary win so far this season and potentially trouble teams above them.
This is one of those contests where ladder positions do not seem to matter. Therefore, the Demons who will be assisted by easing Hugh Greenwood back in to the team, will not want to take this one lightly if they intend to keep their current top four position.
In the remaining matches in TPIL LAWYERS QAFL Round 11, an interesting contest looms between SHERWOOD (9th) and WILSTON GRANGE (10th).
It will be the third home game in four weeks for Sherwood and they will be looking to capitalise on that advantage at Powenyenna Oval. The Magpies had lost to a couple of finals aspirants before regaining form in Round Ten against Mt Gravatt.
Except for the final five minutes last week, Wilston Grange were right in the contest against the reigning premiers Morningside at Hickey Park so they should take plenty of positives from the narrow loss.
The Gorillas sit one game behind Saturday’s opponents and will be keen to even up the ledger in their first meeting of the season.
COORPAROO (11th) will be hoping they learned some lessons in the loss to Redland-Victoria Point last week when they host ASPLEY (5th) at Giffin Park. The Kings were in touch with the Sharks till half-time before their opposition and Matt Hammelmann took over in the second half. The home team defence will be facing a similar predicament this week having to cope with the competitions leading goalkicker for the Hornets in Connor Stackelberg.
Following a couple of away matches MAROOCHYDORE (8th) will be looking forward to being back home at the Multi Sports Complex when they host MT GRAVATT. The improving Roos have incentive - they can leapfrog their Sunshine Coast rivals NOOSA (6th) on the ladder with the Tigers having the weekend off.
Meanwhile the Vultures are hoping for an improved performance of their own after a disappointing loss last week – the road trip might be the right tonic.