Who will finish where? That is the question several teams will be wondering as we enter the final round of the regular season. The headline act has the top two playing each other with number one spot up for grabs, while places down the bottom part of the eight are up for decision.
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN (2ND) V REDLAND VICTORIA POINT (1ST) 2PM STALAGMITE (SALK OVAL)
No doubt the match of the day with number one position, bragging and hosting rights on the line. As they have a better percentage, quite simply if PBC win they will take over the mantle despite being four points behind. Yes, their form has been scratchy and besides those consecutive losses before a bye, it’s been well-documented how difficult the last couple of weeks has been for the club.
The nail-biting win over Noosa the previous round at home would have lifted spirits immensely and now the real finals preparation starts a week early on with RVP.
There are so many match-ups to watch out for especially in the ruck division and midfield. The Sharks Craig Malone leads his main opponent Dylan Adkins in the hit outs, but both provide plenty of drive for their playmakers.
Some of those to watch out for include Campbell Aston, Scott Miller, Ethan Petterwood, Dylan Smith and Jake Chapman for RVP, while PBC’s potent midfield consists of the likes of Tom Simpson, Rhys King (who kicked the winning goal last week) skipper AJ Dawson and Harry Benson who is second on the competition list with 477 disposals (Ben Woodburn - Surfers Paradise leads with 510).
Naturally one of the highlights will be at either ends of the ground with the full forwards in action. The Sharks Matt Hammelmann leads on the Ray Hughson medal with 85 after kicking a bag of 11 last week. There are other dangerous forwards in Josh Brown, Clay Cameron and Darryl McDowell-White when fit and firing.
The Lions have Levi Casboult who has been relatively quiet the last few games. Two last week and five goals in two matches before the bye, but no doubt has a team-first attitude, and the four points will be the sole aim this week. Corey Beaman and Sam Cilmi are other scoring avenues whilst the enigmatic Blair Rubock returns this week - and as we saw last week their midfield loves getting among the goals too. Potentially a tough day for both defensive units who will have to be on their game.
PBC and RVP did meet way back in round four which resulted in a huge 75-point victory to the Sharks at home with Hammelmann booting seven. Expect a much closer contest on Saturday which will be the Lions third home game in succession either side of their recent bye.
In the first week of the finals, the loser of this match will play Surfers Paradise who will remain in third no matter their result while first will host the team that finishes fourth.
BROADBEACH (8TH) V LABRADOR (7TH) 2PM NEPTUNE HOMES OVAL
This is the match which could end up having serious implications for these two sides depending on the weekend’s results. Without going into the numerous permutations, Broadbeach could jump up to sixth or miss out altogether in tenth. Labrador are assured of a finals berth - it is just what number? Sixth, seventh or eighth?
Both teams were of course scheduled to play each other in the ‘cyclone’ round one but decided to hold the game over to the State representative/competition bye weekend where the Tigers secured a valuable 41-point victory. That result probably went a long way to playing finals this year with a stunning nine-goal burst in the third quarter proving the match winner.
Outside of that defeat the Cats have made a sensational run to the finals winning seven out of their previous eight but hit a hurdle last week when losing at home to Sherwood. Simple equation – a win on Saturday and they are in.
Two clubs hoping that Broadbeach do come unstuck and have big wins themselves - albeit sitting one game out and with an inferior percentage of about 16% - are SHERWOOD (9th) and NOOSA (10Th). Naturally if the Cats win the finalists will be settled with just the order to be sorted.
Sherwood’s task is not easy though as they must travel to Jack Esplen Oval. Any chance of sneaking in they need to defeat by a significant margin a wounded MORNINGSIDE (4th) outfit who lost to Maroochydore last week.
Depending on results the Panthers can stay where they are with a win and secure a double chance. That would mean a fixture with the top team next week or slip to fifth if they lose and Aspley win as expected.
Noosa’s (10th) prospects are slightly brighter as they have a home fixture (2pm Noosa Oval) against Coorparoo (12th) but again require a huge winning margin and Broadbeach to lose easily. If the Sunshine Coast Tigers reproduce that quality effort displayed at Palm Beach last week, they will go a long way to achieving the first part of the equation.
Standing in their way will be the Kings who already know how to upset finals aspirations (see Sherwood round 15). It was a disappointing result last round against Labrador at their final home game at Giffin Park, especially after news broke that loyal servant and 2022 club premiership player Matt Suckling was hanging up the boots.
He was also a dual Hawthorn AFL premiership player (178 games) and as usual acquitted himself well collecting a team-high 31 disposals and was sent off with an appropriate guard of honour.
It is Coorparoo’s first season back in TPIL Lawyers QAFL and will be looking at building on this foundation in 2026.
SURFERS PARADISE (3RD) V MAROOCHYDORE (6TH) 2PM SIR BRUCE SMALL PARK (KALLIBR HOMES OVAL)
Two sides that are assured of finals action with Surfers certain in the knowledge they will achieve their season aim of a double chance by finishing third win, lose or draw. The question is how will they approach this contest in preparation of a date with either PBC or RVP the following week? The Demon’s form has been impeccable over the past month so is that something they wish to tamper with?
Maroochydore can finish fifth (less likely) or with a loss and pending the result of Broadbeach/Labrador drop one spot to seventh. The Roos are on the same number of wins as 2024 (nine) but their form appears better than that with a few close matches culminating in the memorable win over Morningside last week.
If Surfers are slightly off the Sunshine Coast visitors may take the advantage.
MT GRAVATT (13TH) V ASPLEY (5TH) 2PM DITTMER PARK (SOUTHSIDE TOYOTA OVAL)
Following their weekend off, Aspley kept their top four hopes alive after Morningside’s defeat. Another loss by the Panthers to Sherwood on Saturday and a win here will see the Hornets get their wish and slip into fourth. A side note will be full-forward Connor Stackelberg who was overtaken in the Ray Hughson Medal by the Sharks Hammelmann and now trails by six. The previous occasion the Hornets and Vultures met was in round 13 and Stackelberg kicked the ‘Buddy Franklin’ bag of 13!
Unfortunately for WILSTON GRANGE (12th) they will have to wait until 2026 to redeem themselves as they are the side to incur a bye in the final round. (All sides will complete the season with two byes). Like the other clubs just missing out on the eight, the Gorillas will be rueing some missed opportunities ending the season on six wins and a draw. They will also be disappointed to slip down from a top four finish in 2024, but you can expect this club to do everything possible over the summer to bounce back next year.
There has been plenty of wet weather around this week, which has been a factor throughout the year especially with the cyclone back in March. However, the sun is now out and the smell of finals is in the air. Let us hope we can finish the regular season under brighter skies and look forward to drier grounds in coming weeks to bring out the best that QAFL and QAFLW has to offer.