Wet weather again wreaked havoc on the weekend in both the men’s and women’s competitions with results producing some major surprises, almost a drought breaking win and ladder positions far from settled.
Surfers Paradise provided a major upset by defeating ladder leaders Palm Beach Currumbin at Kallibr Homes Oval 13.8.(86) to 10.7.(67).
In a fiery contest at times the Demons started with more intensity and purpose to kick five goals to one in the opening term. Frustration and some ill-discipline crept into the Lions play as they were put under pressure and restricted to only two goals at the main break and trailed by 35 points.
At one point the Lions Tom Simpson was involved in one of several scuffles and had his number 4 jumper torn so had to change to a new number 10 after half-time and were without key playmaker Thomas Thynne due to injury.
Despite Harry Benson’s 35 disposals, the normally reliable Lions midfield was swamped early by their Demon opponents. Matt Doran had 26 disposals and 14 tackles, Hugh Greenwood carried on valiantly after copping a knock to an eye, Ben Woodburn, Lucas Snowball and Laurence King all played their part to set up the victory. The around the ground ruckwork of Zac Smith, with Oscar Wood and Mitchell Patten did damage up forward with two goals apiece.
The heavens opened as it did over most of south-east Queensland in the third quarter making conditions more difficult, but PBC finally turned their attention to the ball and a change came over the contest. They kicked seven goals in the third term as their key forwards finally got their hands on the ball. Corey Beaman grabbed two, Levi Casboult and Sam Cilimi helped trim the margin to seven points at the final change.
As the rain teemed down Surfers grabbed an all important first goal of the final term as Patten pounced on a loose ball to score his second. The scoreboard did not change for the next 15 minutes until Beaman grabbed one back to keep PBC within range.
Then the ill-discipline for the Lions returned as Zac Smith went forward to take a mark then converted to restore a two-goal advantage. Before the ball had a chance to return to the centre the umpires spotted an incident and awarded another shot at goal to the little powerhouse in Snowball. He duly slotted it through to snuff out the hopes of any Lions comeback.
It was a vital win for Surfers without one of their key playmakers in Cam Ellis-Yolmen as they remain in the top four and kept Aspley in fifth spot after their hard-fought win over Wilston Grange.
In a high-quality match despite the poor weather the Hornets were able to keep the persistent Gorillas at bay to hold on for a valuable 14-point victory 12.13.(85) to 11.5.(71).
There was a sensation in the first quarter at the nine-minute mark as Aspley spearhead Connor Stackelberg was lining up for his second goal, a lightning bolt struck near the ground and the umpires sensibly halted play for 30 minutes to allow the storm to pass. Stackelberg returned to make no mistake as both sides traded goals, but the visitors gained the ascendancy in the latter stages of the term to kick three of the last four majors to lead by 18-points when the quarter finally ended.
Wilston Grange outscored their opponents five goals to two over the next two quarters to trail by only four points at the last change to set up an exciting final term.
The Gorillas battled hard to try and wrest the lead away from the visitors but as the rain teemed down at the start of the last quarter, the Hornets were not giving it up easily. Stackelberg kicked his fourth following a free kick and the ever-dangerous Ryan Banks-Smith then extended the margin to 17 points.
Wilston Grange again bounced back through a great snap by Tyler Belloni then approaching time-on Ned Rosenbrock had his home supporters cheering when his fortuitous shot at goal luckily bounced over a defender to slide through and had his side back within four points.
A few minutes later following some desperate wet weather footy from both teams, Aspley ruckman Will Wolbers, who toiled in the conditions with 57 hit outs was awarded a ruck free kick in front of goal to the frustration of his opponent Matthew Pearce (34 hit outs and 21 disposals). Wolbers calmly kicked the goal and following a couple more behinds the Hornets were home but both teams deserve credit for their efforts in the torrential rain.
A crucial win for Aspley which joined Surfers on 36 points but are separated by over 40 percent. Both sides are now two games clear of Sunshine Coast neighbours Maroochydore and Noosa on 28 while Wilston Grange remain in tenth on 22 points.
On the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore placed their finals chances in jeopardy following a fourth successive loss. This time at the hands of a resurgent Broadbeach by 29 points after a seesawing battle with an extraordinary 24 of the total 30 goals scored at the netball courts end and the scores level at three-quarter time.
The Roos began brightly enough leading by three goals at the first break, but the Cats turned that deficit into a four-goal lead at half-time when they kicked eight goals to one in the second term.
For the fourth successive match Maroochydore were in the contest heading into the final term - failing by under a goal in the previous two - but again were unable to close it out when it mattered.
Broadbeach bombarded the forward 50 at the netball end in the last quarter with 12 scoring shots – kicking 5.7 while the Roos were held to 1.2 - the Cats running away to win 17.14.(116) to 13.9.(87) and keeping their finals hopes alive leaping above Wilston Grange into ninth and only two points behind eighth (Labrador 26).
Key forward Jye Lockett’s five majors led the charge with support from Harrison McKenzie (four), Joel Fillipone (three) and ruckman Riley Bowman back to his dominant best with 59 hit outs and 20 possessions (nine contested) including a crucial 60-metre roost at the end of the third term to level the scores.
Benjamin Thomas collected 22 disposals for Maroochydore with Caylen Murray and Josh Wagner among their best while five players including Elliot Cavallaro and Aaron Wilson kicked two goals apiece.
Redland Victoria Point remain in second spot on the ladder on percentage but join PBC on 50 points following a comfortable seven goal victory at home over Labrador 17.7.(109) to 10.7.(67). An even first term with nine goals kicked between both teams, before the Sharks put their foot down to outscore their opponents 12 goals to six for the remainder of the match.
Matt Hammelmann was back with four goals, but he was overshadowed by Josh Brown’s five majors amongst his 25 disposals while midfielder Campbell Aston was superb amassing 30 disposals and 14 tackles, Jake Chapman (27 and seven clearances) and Scott Miller (26 and nine clearances).
Bailey Brown the star performer for Labrador with 36 disposals, five clearances and seven tackles, Luke Coombes (28 and six clearances), Harry Sullivan and Rhys Nicholls (27 apiece) while Zak Marshall was the only multiple goalkicker with two.
The Tigers missing an opportunity to jump above the Sunshine Coast teams on the ladder to stay in the battle for the top eight and have a vital clash against Sherwood next week.
The biggest upset of the round almost occurred under the lights at Giffin Park where Mt Gravatt came oh so close to breaking through for their first win of the season.
In a match again affected by the stormy weather, the young Vultures led for the first three quarters holding a handy eight -point lead at the final change in atrocious conditions.
However, they only added a behind in the final term as the experience and strength of the Kings finally wore down their gallant opponents.
Lachlan McClare kicked a goal to level the scores at the 17-minute mark before Jack Wratten took a mark and converted. Then the experienced Matt Suckling cleverly slid a goal through in the wet conditions to break the hearts of the Vultures to prevail in the end by 11 points 7.11.(53) to 6.6.(42).
Fletcher Clare the standout for Mt Gravatt with 27 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals with Kaeden Corboy, Brady Rowles and Ethan Harder listed among the best in their heartbreaking loss.
Morningside, Noosa and Sherwood will be glad they had the weekend off in missing the stormy weather but return this week with important finals bearing assignments. There will only be five matches again in round 17 with three teams having the weekend off. RVP, Coorparoo and the bye arguably arriving at the wrong time for Maroochydore as they will have to wait another week to battle for their top eight position.
