Photo by Highflyer Photography
WILSTON GRANGE have recorded one of their biggest wins in recent times when they toppled one of the premiership favourites REDLAND VICTORIA POINT by 22 points at Hickey Park on Saturday.
Following an evenly matched first quarter where the Gorillas held a six-point lead, the home side produced one of their best displays of the year to slam on nine goals to one in the second term to go into half-time leading by 56 points.
Jake Fazldeen began the scoring blitz with two goals in the first eight minutes with Fergus McFadyen (including a spectacular goal square mark) and Darby Breeden adding a couple more. Then it was time for skipper Jacquin Mifsud to make his presence felt kicking three goals within the space of six minutes to break the game open and leave their opponents shell-shocked.
It was then a matter of holding off the Sharks who were always going to come out with more intensity after the break and claw their way back into the contest. RVP full forward Matt Hammelmann did drag his side closer, but despite the Grange only finding the big sticks twice in the second half, they held on to clinch a well-deserved victory 14.11.(95) to 11.7.(73)
Mifsud ended the day with five goals and Fazldeen three among seven individual goal scorers. Ruckman Matthew Pearce created plenty of drive with his 45 hit outs, 11 clearances and 17 contested possessions together with Jackson Mills (28 and 11 clearances) and Tahj Abberley (28 and 10).
Hammelmann ended up with four goals for the Sharks and Cooper Pell three while Matthew Owen and Ethan Petterwood led the disposals with 28 and 24 respectively.
It was an historic result for Wilston Grange and keeps them in contention for the bottom half of the eight.
Another match with finals implications was at Jack Esplen Oval where MORNINGSIDE despite some inaccuracy eventually broke away from a determined MAROOCHYDORE to prevail by 26 points -10.20.(80) to 7.12.(54).
The defending premiers trailed by five points at the main break but then outscored their opponents 7.11 to 2.4 in the second half and the victory consolidates their third position on the ladder and are now only one win behind Redland Victoria Point.
Preston Cockatoo-Collins amongst the goals again with two along with Tommy Horne. Jack Rolls, Max Nelson and Tristan Hobley doing the damage in the midfield while Brock Aston responded from being omitted from the Southport VFL side to be a valuable contributor. Luke Hodge's son, Cooper Hodge, made his senior debut for the Panthers.
Maroochydore will rue the opportunity to record a win over a top four opponent, but this match illustrates that they are not too far away. The Roos remain in finals conversations lying in sixth place on the ladder and two games clear.
Key forwards Aaron Wilson and Koby Young grabbed two goals apiece with Bailey Hahn, Jonty McIvor and Benjamin Thomas among their best.
BROADBEACH continued their post bye resurgence by defeating SHERWOOD away at Powenyenna Oval 13.12.(90) to 11.5.(71).
The Cats were largely in control throughout the day holding sway at every change before the Magpies rallied in the last term with five goals to three to close the margin to 19 points at the final siren.
Joel Fillippone kicked four goals for the Cats while Jarrod Cameron kept the home team in the contest with five.
Broadbeach are now only one game outside the eight and sets up a blockbuster with the stand alone QAFL fixture next week against LABRADOR (9TH) which suffered a crushing 101-point loss at SURFERS PARADISE.
The Tigers were completely outplayed by a dominant Demons outfit who had ten individual goal kickers including six to Oscar Wood and Cam Ellis-Yolmen back into the team with three in the 141 to 40 percentage booster.
The inside 50 stats were staggering with Surfers plus eight differential (51 to 43) but took 22 marks to only five in the forward zone.
Maybe Labrador were still thinking about the bye or the big game next week because they were never in the hunt allowing 10 goals in the first half and another 12 in the second.
In the remaining matches of TPIL Lawyers QAFL Round 13, NOOSA were hoping to test front runners PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN at home, but it never eventuated as the Lions recorded a 100-point victory 22.15.(147) to the disappointing Tigers 7.5.(47).
Star forward Levi Casboult kicked his biggest haul of the season with 12 as the Lions ran amok in the midfield.
PBC are now four points clear of RVP on top of the ladder and boast a percentage of 200.
As expected, ASPLEY returned to the winners list with a resounding win over MT GRAVATT. The highlight being full-forward Connor Stackelberg’s 13 goals to send him back to the top of the Ray Hughson Medal tally with 60 for the season. Levi Casboult moves to second with 54 and Matt Hammelmann 52 as the top three all broke through the half-century mark with their efforts on the weekend.
COORPAROO had the weekend off but in effect have a two-week break now with next week’s competition bye. There will be more on the state games in Tasmania later in the week but a reminder that due to Cyclone Alfred at the start of the season, LABRADOR will host BROADBEACH in that blockbuster at Cooke-Murphy Oval on Saturday at 2pm.