Palm Beach-Currumbin and Redland Victoria-Point justified their top two positions by winning their Qualifying Finals although the Sharks had an amazing comeback in doing so. Morningside and Labrador survived to play another week with victories in their respective elimination finals while the season is over for Broadbeach and Maroochydore.
That was the summary of the first week of TPIL LAWYERS QAFL finals with the highlight being the extraordinary finish at Totally Workwear Park where the home team (RVP) came back to win over a deflated Surfers Paradise 13.11.(89) to 11.14.(80).
The Demons came into this clash playing their best football of the season and this continued in the first half where they completely dominated their more fancied rivals.
An opening term lead of 14 points was quickly trimmed back to eight but then the Surfers midfield of Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Ben Woodburn and forwards Joe Kennedy and Mitch Patten took over as the visitors booted the next five goals of the second quarter to go into the main break full of confidence with a 39-point margin. This included a brilliant running goal by Patten and a huge mark and conversion by Kennedy to bring up his third major by half-time.
Whatever Sharks coach Phil Carse said during the break worked as his side suddenly found space and a pathway to spearhead Matt Hammelman who kicked two early goals in the third term as he closed on his century and the scoreboard lit up with updates and the home crowd came to life.
Other goals to Joshua Brown, Matty Owen, Dylan Smith and Clay Cameron after laying a strong tackle brought RVP to within 12 points. Surfers had countered early through Patten then moments he looked certain to score when he chased a ball into an open goal square but it annoyingly bounced away from him through for a behind.
Another minor score followed before Demons skipper Harrison Fraser appeared to steady the ship when he converted his set shot opportunity and the lead was back to three goals. However, the Sharks went into three-quarter time with momentum when Cooper Anderson goaled after receiving a controversial 50-metre penalty following a mark then was crunched in a tackle as the Surfers players disputed if the ball had travelled the required distance.
The scene was set for a thrilling last quarter with a week off and Preliminary Final berth on the line. Hammelmann got the ball rolling after a poor defensive kick from the Demons went out on the full and he was deemed to be held when the ball came back in.
It was his fourth for the match and 97th for the season but it would be his last as teammates Matthew Hambleton then Myles Callaghan with an opportunist goal later in the term put the Sharks in front and secured the remarkable victory. Surfers were held goalless and left frustrated scoring three successive behinds including Joe Kennedy’s quick kick into an open goal and Ellis-Yolmen’s snap which went the wrong side of the goal post.
RVP now have the week off and a home Preliminary Final while Surfers must recover quickly from that defeat and prepare for a home elimination final against traditional rivals Labrador.
Palm Beach Currumbin eventually had a less stressful path to their next assignment in two weeks when they comfortably accounted for Aspley at Stalagmite Oval by 58 points 16.17.(113) to 8.7.(55).
It was an inaccurate and slow start by the Lions as they kicked 1.7 in the first quarter while the Hornets responded with four goals straight including the last two goals of the term. The minor premiers turned it on with the aid of a breeze in the second slamming on a more accurate 8.3 while Aspley only managed two behinds and the home side led by 38 points at half-time.
A tighter contest in the third with the Hornets trying to mount a challenge but scored just two goals to one and the task still ahead of the visitors at the final change. PBC were not about to give up the lead and continued their assault at the scoring end with a further six goals in the last quarter to put the result beyond doubt.
Lions spearhead Levi Casboult added to his seasons tally (81) with four goals, Jack Stringer three as the goals were shared around with ten individual goalkickers. Their gun midfield was led by Harry Benson and Thomas Thynne with 28 disposals each while AJ Dawson was allowed plenty of room with 19 of his 21 possessions uncontested.
At the other end Connor Stackelberg was held to just two majors and Nick Dodge also had two while ruckman Will Wolbers was one of the Hornets best with Liam Dawson (24 disposals), Cody Stackelberg and Jordan Hayden.
Aspley will back up next week to host the defending premiers Morningside following the Panthers hard-fought win over Broadbeach at Jack Esplen Oval 13.12.(90) to 10.8.(68). The home team took until the final quarter to shake off the determined Cats when in the space of 15 minutes they kicked five consecutive goals.
It was an entertaining start with Morningside kicking the first three goals of the match before Broadbeach found their mojo and replied with the next five. This included a spectacular mark converted by Maddox Iverach and forward Jye Lockett slotting home his second at the end of the quarter to give his side a nine-point lead.
Over the next two terms there was never more than a straight kick separating the sides with numerous lead changes although the Cats were slightly off target scoring 3.7 to the Panthers 5.6.
Broadbeach kicked the opening goal of the final quarter with Iverach’s second to grab the lead back by four points before the Panthers started their run. At the 12-minute mark Cam Lovig kicked a beauty from the 50-metre arc then Keegan Downie imposed himself on the contest with two snap goals from close range.
As the match slipped away from the Cats, Morningside’s Brad Hodge (30 disposals) in his 100th game was the benefactor of a 50-metre penalty from defence, playing on quickly, his long kick was picked off the pack in the goal square by Matthew Waters who was there to toe-poke it through. Waters followed Downie’s lead with successive majors when he sealed the deal with a booming kick from outside the forward arc.
Next week will see a rematch of last year’s semi final when Morningside travel to Graham Road and Aspley will be out to reverse that result. Broadbeach made a terrific run at the finals but were unable to continue their winning form at the end of an unsettled season and will be aiming for a solid start to 2026.
In the other eliminator Labrador were never really troubled at Cooke-Murphy Oval as they ended Maroochydore’s season by 35 points 12.16.(88) to 8.5.(53). The Tigers again proving hard to beat on home turf kicking five goals in the opening term then another seven over the next two quarters to lead by 51 points at the last change.
Despite a goalless last quarter and three goals to the Roos, Labrador had done enough to progress to next week and a cut-throat clash with fierce rivals Surfers Paradise down the road at Benowa.
Maroochydore maybe slightly disappointed with their exit but have acquitted themselves well again this season having mixed it with the ‘big boys’ including a recent gutsy win over Morningside.
So, Palm Beach-Currumbin and Redland Victoria-Point have next weekend off with next Saturday’s semi-final line up:
Aspley v Morningside 2pm at Graham Road (winner plays RVP)
Surfers Paradise v Labrador 2-15pm Sir Bruce Small Park (Kalibr Homes Oval) - the winner in another Gold Coast derby with PBC.
