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SURFERS PARADISE (4th) v PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN (1st) 2PM SIR BRUCE SMALL PARK (KALLIBR HOMES OVAL) ***Commentary Match***
Surfers Paradise sat out the bye last week and following the weekend’s results they remain on the precipice of the top four. The Demons will be fully aware that any losses in the run home will put that place in jeopardy with a bunch of teams below them looking to take advantage of any slip-ups.
These two only met recently though in Round 10 and Surfers almost pulled off an upset. The Demons led at half-time, but a nine-goal burst by PBC in the third quarter proved the difference despite a rally in the final term that brought them within eight points.
The Lions have demonstrated throughout the season they can produce scoring bursts when required as Wilston Grange suffered a similar nine-goal onslaught in the second term last week. Levi Casboult is the obvious target up forward but their midfield containing Harry Benson, Tom Simpson and Rhys King among others have been in devastating form. Combined with a solid defence it illustrates the key reasons why PBC have only tasted defeat once this season and sit comfortably on top of the ladder.
The Lions appear to be entrenched in the top two and any thought of taking their foot off the pedal would be dangerous, as the incentive is there to stay above their nearest rival RVP.
Surfers Paradise recently copped a costly lesson when hosting then lowly Broadbeach which had come off a bye. They redeemed that loss with a big win over rivals Labrador before being outclassed by Redland Victoria Point in Round 14.
The Demons have their own potential match winners with Zac Smith in the ruck, Ben Woodburn and Hugh Greenwood.
Unfortunately, the 2025 Zane Taylor medallist from the state game victory over Tassie, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, looks set to miss this week’s encounter.
It is Ladies Day at Kallibr Homes Oval and it is always a well-attended fundraiser. Saturday should be no exception and to mark the occasion Surfers will wear the themed jumper with a ‘Pink V’.
REDLAND VICTORIA POINT (2ND) V LABRADOR (8TH) 2PM TOTALLY WORKWEAR PARK
RVP would still be smarting from the Round 13 loss to Wilston Grange which provided just their second defeat for the season and placed them one game behind PBC on the ladder.
Despite resting some key players last week including spearhead Matt Hammelmann, they were able to scramble over Aspley which had inflicted their initial loss in Round Seven and prior to that had disposed of Surfers Paradise.
Labrador only hosted the Sharks in Round 11 and were jumped in first the quarter when they were held goalless while the visitors set up the win with seven goals. However, the Tigers outscored the Sharks 13 goals to 10 over the next three quarters, so that would provide some encouragement despite the 28-point final margin.
A bye followed but the Tigers have struggled since. There was a thrashing at the hands of Gold Coast rival Surfers Paradise, a thrilling draw at home with Wilston Grange then last week a 46-point away loss to third placed Morningside but could have been closer with a little more accuracy.
If Labrador wish to be in September, these are the tests they need to pass and there is plenty of incentive with several teams willing to take their place.
WILSTON GRANGE (9TH) V ASPLEY (5TH) 2PM HICKEY PARK
A local derby that Aspley have owned in recent years, but Wilston Grange like a number around them are desperate for finals football. It was only a month ago the Gorillas stamped themselves as a genuine contender when they upset highly ranked Redland Victoria Point in a memorable win at home.
As an added bonus, this will be the Gorillas third home game in four weeks and would have regarded last weeks second quarter demolition by Palm Beach Currumbin as an aberration. They have shown considerable improvement as the season has progressed and especially since these two sides met in Round Two.
On that occasion Aspley demolished the Grange and are naturally looking for a similar effort to climb into the top four especially if Surfers stumble at home.
It is interesting to note that since that big away win over RVP in Round seven, the Hornets have suffered five losses including PBC (twice), Morningside and RVP took revenge last week. The other loss was away to Labrador while two of their three wins were against the bottom two on the ladder. No doubt Aspley are aiming for some more consistency that took them to the preliminary final last year.
An interesting contest looms on the Sunshine Coast where MAROOCHYDORE (6th) host BROADBEACH (10th) at the Multi Sports Complex. Over the past two rounds the Roos have suffered frustrating narrow losses to close ladder rivals Noosa and Sherwood.
Maroochydore would be thinking they could be in fourth place with nine wins instead they are only two wins ahead of the Cats.
Now they face a rejuvenated Broadbeach side from the first half of the season that still aspire to playing finals and are treating every match like sudden death.
A reminder there are only five matches this round in TPIL Lawyers QAFL as Morningside, Noosa and Sherwood all have the bye with the latter pair sweating on their finals chances depending on the weekend’s results.