Redland-Victoria Point champion full forward Matt Hammelmann is close to closing in on another century of goals in a TPIL Lawyers QAFL season, after achieving this feat last season. At Round 16, he has 92 goals to his name.
Incredibly, he has already surpassed another major milestone - in Round 13 Hammelmann kicked seven majors, with his fifth that day taking him to 500 QAFL goals, becoming only the eighth player in history to do so.
He joins other goal kicking greats listed below:
# | First Name | Surname | Club | Total |
1 | Kent | Abey | Morningside | 787 |
2 | Owen | Backwell | Western Dist | 767 |
3 | Korey | Fulton | Broadbeach / Lab | 680 |
4 | Ray | Hughson | Western Districts | 680 |
5 | Steve | Taylor | Wilston Grange | 589 |
6 | Barry | Spring | Mayne | 585 |
7 | Dale | Woodhall | Mayne | 537 |
8 | Matt | Hammelmann | Redland VP. | 509 |
“I was not aware until I received a call from AFL Queensland,” Hammelmann said during the week.
“It is an honour to join the other great players, especially Kent Abey who was at Morningside when I started there as a junior.”
It is a remarkable achievement to reach 500 goals in only 97 QAFL matches averaging over five (goals) per game.
In fact his records include:
• Making his senior debut as an 18 year old for Morningside in 2014 where he indicated his future talent with four goals.
• Six times kicking 10 or more goals in a match with his largest haul being 14 in 2022.
• 45 times kicking between 5-9 goals and has also kicked further 244 goals in NEAFL and VFL matches.
Hammelmann's career has been interrupted at certain stages playing in other competitions, including the NEAFL, VFL and AFL.
In 2015, he was the fourth selection for the Brisbane Lions (75th overall) in the rookie draft.
Under then coach Justin Leppitsch, he made his debut the following year in Round 14 in a 42-point loss to Richmond and ended up playing 12 senior matches.
“I came into (AFL) raw and skinny at 90 kilos,” admitted Hammelmann who found his position and tenure at the club change with new draftees and similar types of players at the time.
“I started forward then moved back with the likes of Daniel McStay, Josh Schache, Jono Freeman there, then Eric Hipwood was drafted.”
Some may see it as unfortunate timing with the young forward delisted after Chris Fagan's first year at the Lions in 2017, but he still follows their fortunes and is naturally delighted with their recent success.
Then followed stints with Aspley in the various formats of NEAFL and VFL, where he won the Jim “Frosty” Miller leading goal kicking award in 2021.
After COVID Hammelmann was looking to settle down in his football career and make a more permanent home. That's when he saw an opportunity with Redland-Victoria Point.
“A lot of mates from my junior footy had moved there and I followed them over with the obvious aim of winning a premiership,“ he said with club achieving immediate success.
RVP reached the preliminary final in his first year in 2022, then grand final appearances the last three years, finally tasting success over Surfers Paradise in 2025.
“It was such a relief after being so close especially against Aspley (former club) in 2023,” he said.
“The coaching staff and the players had put in so much work and it was a reward for all that effort."
This has obviously been on display especially when century seasons have been so rare in the AFL competition recently.
The star forward naturally crediting his teammates delivery and plenty of scoring opportunities in recent years:
2022 – 93 (goals)
2023 – 106
2024 – 71
2025 – 113
2026 – 85 after Round 13.
“The main playing group has been together so long now we create connection and predictability which helps knowing where we all are and getting plenty of space,” explained Hammelmann adding the new rules such as the 'six six six' and the 'lassoo' (last kick out of bounds between the arcs) has also helped.
“The (AFL's) plan is keep the space clear and keep the ball in motion. No doubt the 'lassoo' rule has added another two or three goals per game.”
The sharp shooter has maintained a “pretty simple” set shot routine over career focusing on a short run-up and modelled his style on Jonathan Brown and Nick Riewoldt.
He has been fortunate with injury too, only missing a couple of games through concussion last year.
So on the verge of another century this season how is he approaching the remainder of the season?
“It is beyond expectations to be close at this stage, but would like to get it done earlier as there is more pressure during finals,” said Hammelmann who like the 'old days' has experienced the sensation of fans running onto the ground when a player booted his 100th goal.
“Last year in the Preliminary final (against Morningside) a few of the division three team ran onto the ground so that was something.”
There is plenty of time for Hammelmann to attain the 'ton' again this year and one can only guess which round that will be, but rest assured the end goal is a back-to-back flags for the Sharks.
“The premiership hunger is still there and new faces such as Cooper Pell and Jimmy Madden (ex-Brisbane Lion) and (ruckman) Craig Malone stringing a few games together has helped,” he said.
“Plan for the rest of the season is to finish in the top four which makes a big difference and hope we can take it from there.”
A four-point win, with seven goals, over Sherwood on the weekend in Round 15 sees the Sharks in fifth spot on the ladder, with four games (and a bye) remaining in the home and away season.