We are back to six matches this week and Maroochydore hosting the defending premiers Morningside is the only one this round that has two teams inside the eight playing against each other. The other fixtures have teams inside against outside, but with only two rounds remaining and byes playing a part, the race for a finals berth is still wide open.
MAROOCHYDORE (7TH) V MORNINGSIDE (4th) 2PM MULTI SPORTS COMPLEX
Maroochydore broke a run of narrow losses in recent matches to record a valuable away win over Wilston Grange last week and in the process kept their finals hopes alive. A bigger test arrives on Saturday with Morningside who will be coming off a below par effort against new ladder leaders Redland-Victoria Point.
The defending premiers gave up third spot (to Surfers Paradise) and most likely top two with that loss and now find themselves under pressure from beneath. The one saving grace is that Aspley who is currently fifth has a bye this week and no matter what happens will stay there heading into next week’s final round.
Therefore, the Panthers aim is to lock in that top four and the double chance by defeating Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. The last time they met was only recently in round 13 at Jack Esplen Oval. It took until the final quarter before Morningside shook off their opponents and despite some inaccuracy the final margin was 26 points.
That should provide the Roos with some encouragement playing on their own turf as they actually led in that contest at half-time and perhaps learnt a few lessons after the break. There is enough incentive here being involved in the log jam from sixth to 11th with the range only eight points (two wins). Grabbing a victory over the defending premiers would assure finals representation and draw them one win closer to Aspley.
SURFERS PARADISE (3RD) V WILSTON GRANGE (10TH) 2PM SIR BRUCE SMALL PARK (KALLIBR HOMES OVAL)
The last three weeks has seen Surfers probably play their best football of the season. Since their round 15 bye, crucial victories have been over premiership and finals aspirants Palm Beach Currumbin, Noosa and Aspley, with the latter two wins away. Now the Demons return home and not only to shore up a top four position, but a home victory would deny Wilston Grange any chance of a finals berth.
The Gorillas have made a brave run at the finals but looks like they may fall agonisingly close after finishing top four last year.
A win on Saturday would put them above Labrador (if the Tigers lose) with a better percentage. They would need to rely on other results not only this round but next weeks as well because due to an untimely bye in round 20 this is Wilston Grange’s elimination final – it is their last regular season match.
The look of disappointment was palpable last Saturday evening at Hickey Park when falling short of Maroochydore as most knew what the cost of that narrow loss meant. One thing is for certain the Gorillas will give it everything they have in probably their final game for the season. This will a be another stern pre-finals test for the Demons and one not to be taken too lightly.
COORPAROO (12TH) V LABRADOR (8TH) 2PM GIFFIN PARK
Labrador had the bye last week and no doubt would have been nervously looking at the website to see where they were placed after the weekend’s results. Well, they remained in the eight with both Noosa and Wilston Grange doing them a favour in coming unstuck with their respective defeats.
Like other teams around them the simple equation for Labrador this week is just get the four points to virtually assure a finals place. At different stages it has been an unsettling year for the Tigers with byes in rounds 12 and 18 but had crucial victories over Broadbeach in the make-up fixture (on the Queensland state game weekend) and Sherwood prior to last week’s bye. The home win over Aspley in the first half of the season is also proving valuable.
Coorparoo’s chances of finals are gone but showed what they can achieve in upsetting finals plans when they did that against Sherwood in round 15. The King’s faced the rejuvenated Broadbeach last week and this is an opportunity to atone against another Gold Coast team in front of their home fans in their last game at Giffin Park for the year.
BROADBEACH (6TH) V SHERWOOD (11TH) 2PM NEPTUNE HOMES OVAL
What a magnificent run Broadbeach is having. They have won seven out of their past eight matches and have a second consecutive game at home to keep that momentum going. A win over Sherwood would go a long way ensuring a remarkable finals berth after looking longshots early on.
The Magpies kept their faint top eight hopes alive with a hard-fought victory over Noosa at home last week. As mentioned previously a costly loss to Coorparoo a few weeks ago did not help and no doubt will be treating this like a final. These two only met recently in round 13 and the Cats were largely in control for most of the match. Sherwood would like nothing more than avenging that loss and putting a hurdle in front of the Cats.
The top two teams appear on paper to be favourites to maintain those positions heading into Saturday. REDLAND VICTORIA POINT (1ST) reclaimed the top position last week and travel to Dittmer Park (Southside Toyota Oval) to take on lowly MT. GRAVATT. It will also provide an opportunity for spearhead Matt Hammelmann to overtake Aspley’s Connor Stackelberg in the Ray Hughson Medal with the Hornet’s having this weekend off.
A different story on the Gold Coast with PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN (2nd) experiencing a couple of difficult weeks. PBC will be playing with heavy hearts and plenty of motivation when they take the field on Saturday against NOOSA (9TH). A victory on home turf at Stalagmite (Salk) Oval would secure a top two finish no matter what happens next week. Which by the way is a pre-finals beauty against RVP.
Noosa Tigers face a similar situation to last week where it was a must win to keep their finals aspirations alive. They fell short but have another opportunity if they can capitalise on an unsettled Lions outfit and if results go their way, Noosa could join their Sunshine Coast counterparts in the final eight.
As mentioned, Aspley have the weekend off and appears they will remain in fifth whatever the result of this weekends matches. They will be taking the opportunity to prepare for the finals and there is a still a chance of a top four finish depending on results and a likely win in next week’s final round.
