Image: TJ Yelds
Lions and Sharks face each other in the TPIL Lawyers QAFL Round Five match of the day. All matches are on Saturday starting at 2pm.
PALM BEACH-CURRUMBIN (5th) v REDLAND-VICTORIA POINT (2nd) 2pm Stalagmite/Salk Oval
These two powerhouse clubs face each other once again to establish early season bragging rights. The Lions are coming off a bye so will be fresh for the visiting reigning premier following a week one loss to Morningside, a big win over the Vultures then a hard-fought victory at Labrador.
Redland-Victoria Point have also recovered with three successive victories since losing the opening round at home against Surfers Paradise. The common factor in those wins being gun forward Matt Hammelmann who has booted 25 goals in his last three matches.
They met twice last year with a win apiece at both their respective home grounds. The most recent clash in round 20 on the Gold Coast turned out to be classic despite the margin being 31 points in favour of PBC. It became a shootout between Hammelmann kicking eight goals and Lions goliath and JA Grogan Medallist, Levi Casboult responding with seven.
Combined with two of the best midfields in the competition, this clash deserves top-billing and if unable to be there in person, I’m sure there will be many views on the AFLQ YouTube channel.
BROADBEACH (4th) v SURFERS PARADISE (3rd) 2pm Neptune Homes Oval
This time last year you would have pencilled this one in as a win for Surfers. How times change! A new look Cats outfit on and off the field have them in the top four to start 2026.
A feature of their opening three matches being close finishes and if not for the narrow loss to Labrador in week one, the Cats would be unbeaten and should prepare them well for this contest.
Surfers Paradise have taken all before them so far this season defeating two of the other three preliminary finalists from 2025 in the first two weeks of the season. A bye followed, then a workmanlike effort in taming Labrador at home last week. Hugh Greenwood returns to enhance an already classy engine room containing Zac Smith, Ben Woodburn and skipper Matt Doran, though David Swallow, Oleg Markov and Cam Ellis-Yolmen rotate out this week. Conversely, the Cats have been fairly stable with personnel with Alan O’Neill, Liam Nelson and Mitchell Carroll in good form. Youngsters Max Hudson and Cooper Hynes continuing to build their reputations at the level each week!
The last time these two traditional rivals met was round 11 last season at Benowa when Surfers was coming off a bye and Broadbeach started their resurgence by surprising the home team by 56 points. That loss will be fresh in the minds of many Demons players looking to reverse that result, while the Cats will want to continue their winning form in front of a huge parochial, long weekend, home crowd.
COORPAROO (9th) v MAROOCHYDORE (1st) 2pm Giffin Park
COORPAROO broke through for their first win of the season last week away to Sherwood. Following a bye in round two, the Kings were looking forward to celebrating their first home game in round three but were stunned by a vastly improved Aspley. No doubt they will be better prepared for an unbeaten Maroochydore who are in sparkling form.
In a tremendous Anzac Day clash, the Roos broke away from their Sunshine Coast rivals Noosa last week with a six-goal burst in the final term. They will be keen to continue that form against teams that were around them last year before meeting the power clubs in the weeks to come.
Maroochydore's scoring power illustrated with three of their players, Koby Young, Aaron Wilson and Hugo Papst sitting in the top four goalkickers after four rounds with a combined total of 38 between the trio. The King's defence has plenty of homework in front of them.
WILSTON GRANGE (13TH) v LABRADOR (8th) 2pm Hickey Park
Wilston Grange won eight matches last season and at times were pressing for a finals berth. The Gorillas were off to a delayed start with the round one bye then had to wait till after Easter before they met Maroochydore in an entertaining match at this venue where despite the loss the home team still managed over 100 points.
A poor loss away to Noosa, then last week overwhelmed by Morningside, the Grange are loaded with young talent and biding their time – the persistence will pay off.
Labrador have managed to compete well and beat the teams around them but in a familiar tale seem to struggle against the stronger clubs with losses to PBC and Surfers last week as examples.
Following those consecutive losses, the Tigers will also want to return to winning form to stay within reach of the top four.
In the remaining matches Aspley (10th) host Mt Gravatt (11th) at Automall Aspley Oval. Both teams sitting on one win and an opportunity to improve that record and start making steps up the ladder.
Morningside (7th) are at home (Jack Esplen Oval) against a winless Sherwood (12th).
The Panther's two losses have been at the hands of the top teams Surfers and RVP so they will be keen to notch another in the win column here, while the Magpies so far are experiencing a frustrating season and will be desperate for an upset.
Noosa sitting at two wins and two losses and around mid-table have the bye this week, but will be preparing for an important clash away to the Sharks in round six.