Image: Craig Slaney Photography
Headlining Round Seven in TPIL Lawyers QAFL: Can Noosa win successive games against prime opposition? Traditional rivals Broadbeach and Labrador line up against each other and can Redland-Victoria Point bounce back following consecutive losses?
NOOSA (6th) v SURFERS PARADISE (2nd) **1pm** Rococo Oval
Noosa recorded one of their most significant wins in defeating the reigning premiers away at Redland-Victoria Point last week. That result was off the back off a bye so they will still be fresh for this clash and these successive fixtures against last seasons grand finalists would have been earmarked for some time.
The question is can Noosa back up such a performance which is what they would have to do in a finals-like scenario. The Noosa Tigers were on the fringe last year and naturally like many sides looking to take that extra step into September. The midfield containing Billy Shanks and Lucas Jellyman-Turner together with key playmakers such as Mav Pettigrove and Sam Willoughby have been instrumental. Missing this week will be key midfielder Sam Tilley (151 disposals this season) who was selected for Brisbane Lions VFL duties on Friday so he will be sorely missed.
Surfers Paradise could not have wished for a better start to the season and coach Sam Dwyer has his charges in a ferocious mood. Quality victories over some of last year’s finalists and convincing wins against lesser opposition have the Demons unbeaten so far. Moderate success at Noosa means top place on the ladder with Maroochydore having the bye and not much separating the top two in percentage.
Noosa and Surfers last met at this venue in round 17 last year and it was a healthy 81-point victory to the visitors with Lucas Snowball running riot with six goals and usual midfield suspects Ben Woodburn, new skipper Matt Doran and Samuel Jewell getting plenty of the ball. VFL commitments have also impacted the Demons selection committee this week so the task to trek up the Bruce Highway on Saturday may have become a little more challenging for the premiership favourites.
REDLAND VICTORIA-POINT (7th) v ASPLEY (9th) 2pm Totally Workwear Park
The reigning premiers have been jolted back to reality the last two weeks with losses to Palm Beach-Currumbin and Noosa despite the efforts of leading full-forward Matt Hammelmann who heads the Ray Hughson Medal with 40 goals. At least they are at home for the second consecutive week (weather pending!) but again VFL commitments will have an impact on the strength of the Sharks line-up. But we do know that key chess pieces Craig Malone and Adrian Williams will return.
Despite the well-documented pre-season roster changes and mixed results so far, Aspley find themselves in the same position as the previous round - only one win outside the eight and four points behind this weekend's opponent.
Last week the Hornets found Morningside too strong and faded away after quarter-time to the tune of 64 points. This is another tough test, but it was this same fixture last year (but out at Everleigh Sports Precinct) and with no Hammelmann for the Sharks, that Aspley defeated the eventual premiers.
Certainly a different Hornets team this week led by Ryan Bastinac and Jordan Taylor who will be out to repeat last year's result but face a strengthened Sharks outfit on the “double-rebound” and unfamiliar territory in the bottom half of the eight.
BROADBEACH (8th) v LABRADOR (5th) 2pm Neptune Homes Oval
These traditional rivals have a quick turnaround from round one at Cooke-Murphy Oval where the Cats under new coach David Pfeiffer were unable to hang on in the dying minutes and had victory snatched away from them thanks to a late Tigers goal to Cade Gregory.
Broadbeach had the bye last week, but before that had a run of three good wins over Noosa, Sherwood and Aspley, before Surfers took care of them in round five. So the bye might have arrived at the right time to reset and the Cats have proved in the past they perform well off a break such as beating the Demons away last season.
Labrador again find themselves on the verge of the top four but are finding it difficult to break through that wall, suffering losses to those above while winning against teams around them and below. The Tigers are coming off two easy victories, but will know what to expect in Cats territory. These clashes always have some added spice and with four valuable points on the line this should be no different.
In the remaining matches, an interesting affair looms at Southside Toyota Oval (Dittmer Park) where Mt Gravatt host Wilston Grange. The Vultures recorded their drought breaking win at home in round one against Sherwood in a thriller and have the opportunity to record a second success here.
Wilston Grange are desperate to get back on the winners list and off the bottom of the ladder. They were many places higher on the ladder last season and with the continued development of the club’s youth, are no doubt playing the long game – but the occasional ‘sugar-hit’ would be beneficial. The young Gorillas will go searching hard here for their first win in what should be an exciting clash.
Morningside had a tough start to the season playing the other prelim finalists from last year, but came away with a win over PBC then successive defeats to Surfers and RVP. Since then the Panthers are in a winning vein of form and have climbed back into the top four. At Jack Esplen Oval they host Coorparoo who have only one win so far, but in such a competitive season cannot afford to drop a game such as this. Conversely, the Kings are always capable of a surprise will be out push the Panthers in an effort to close the gap on those above them.
Sherwood, who surprisingly are also yet to breakthrough for four points, have a task that does not get any easier when they host Palm Beach-Currumbin at Powenyenna Oval. This will be the Magpies fourth home game of the season and they will be disappointed not to have tasted success in front of their loyal fans to date. Sherwood have been on the back foot since that opening loss to Mt Gravatt and will need a supreme team effort to upset the Lions who have a quality midfield and forward structure and currently sit third on the ladder.
Maroochydore sitting proudly on top of the ladder have the bye this week following a superb first six rounds and while their momentum will be broken, it will be a timely break to reset with some big matches coming up starting with PBC next week away. I'm sure some of the Roos coaching group (and a few of their supporters) will be interested spectators and forward scouting when they drive up the road on Saturday to watch neighbours Noosa take on the highly rated Demons.