Palm Beach-Currumbin has ended the regular season on top of the ladder while despite another loss at home Broadbeach will be playing finals after finishing eighth with next week’s first week of finals matches listed below.
The headline act was on the Gold Coast where top spot was up for grabs with second hosting first and what an entertaining contest it turned out to be. Palm Beach-Currumbin clinching top spot in the 17.17.(119) to 14.4.(88) win over Redland Victoria Point on the Gold Coast with the spearheads Levi Casboult (PBC) and Matt Hammelmann (RVP) at opposite ends putting on a display with 15 goals between them.
Nine goals were kicked in the opening term with Casboult booting three of PBC’s five goals and Hammelmann two as the Lions took a nine-point lead at the first change. The next two quarters belonged to Palm Beach outscoring their rivals 6.9 to 3.3 (including a goalless second term) and establishing a match-winning lead of 33 (points) at three-quarter time.
Then the floodgates opened up in the last quarter with 13 goals kicked between these leading teams. PBC scored the first two and the lead ballooned out to 46 points then RVP stormed back with the next four and closed the gap to 23 points.
The Lions responded with three more including Casboult’s seventh before the Sharks finished the game with three goals of their own. Fittingly Hammelmann kicked the final major to break the deadlock with his opponent at the other end to finish with a game high eight goals and claim the Ray Hughson Medal (see below).
One amazing stat from the game was that PBC had 63 inside 50’s while RVP kicked their score from just 28 entries!!
For PBC Nelson Beikoff-Smart collected 33 disposals, Tom Simpson (28) and Thomas Thynne and Harry Benson 27 apiece and eight clearances as well for the latter. Another key forward Corey Beaman scored three goals.
Mitch Stallard led the way for the Sharks with 28 possessions, Charlton Offermans (24 & eight clearances) and Jake Chapman (23) while Cooper Pell was their only other multiple goalkicker with two. Craig Malone dominated the ruckwork again with 44 hit outs.
Surfers Paradise were already confirmed in third spot heading into Saturday but maintained their winning form despite a late charge from fellow finalists Maroochydore to hold on by 17 points on the Gold Coast - 12.15. (87) to 10.10. (70)
Like the above match it was an even first term with a narrow two-point margin before the Demons appeared to take control over the next two quarters kicking 8.9 to 4.5 and leading by five goals at the last change.
The Roos though had other ideas looking to go into their final’s series on a winning note as they kicked the first three goals of the last quarter (from six scoring shots) in the opening ten minutes and the margin had closed to 10 points.
It stayed under two goals as play switched from one end to the other over the next twenty minutes until Cam Ellis-Yolmen finally saw the home side safe when he kicked a goal late in the term.
No player from either side kicked more than two goals while Hugh Greenwood led the disposals for the Dees with 27 and the Roos Benjamin Thomas (30).
Morningside dropped out of the top four with a surprise loss at home to the late charging Sherwood by 38 points 15.10.(100) to 9.8.(62).
Scores were level at half-time, the Panthers scored the opening goal after the break, but then the Magpies simply took control with a nine-goal second half while the defending premiers struggled with just another two for the match. The visitors ending up with almost 90 more disposals and 18 marks to eight inside attacking 50. Key forward Dylan Nelson guiding them home with three goals while Tom Fry, Elijah Glass and Will Fletcher chipped in with two each.
It was a strong finish to the season by Sherwood winning their last three matches and would be lining up next week if not for that narrow loss to Coorparoo at home in round 15. What would be hurting the most is that they beat Broadbeach two weeks ago and the Cats are the side that has kept them out on percentage. That should provide the perfect motivation to take the next step in 2026.
Morningside will launch their premiership defence from fifth and still have the benefit of a home final next week. Their opponents will be Broadbeach who suffered consecutive home defeats after going down to Labrador by 27 points 10.11.(71) to 15.8.(98).
The Tigers completed the double over their Gold Coast rivals coming from behind early and still trailed by seven points at three-quarter time. The final term showed how dangerous Labrador can be with a six-goal burst while keeping the Cats goalless. William Manshanden the star of the final term booting three of his team majors while Zak Marshall also scored three for the match.
Morningside’s loss provided Aspley with the double chance and filling fourth spot following an expected comfortable victory over lowly Mt Gravatt. A disappointing end to the season for the Vultures without a win but had their competitive moments and no doubt every effort will be made to strengthen their list over the summer to breakthrough next year.
The main interest in the match was how many goals full-forward Connor Stackelberg could manage after a bag of 13 in their previous meeting. On this occasion he kicked five which meant after a ding-dong battle for season goal-kicking honors with Matt Hamelmann, the Hornets spearhead has fallen short following Saturday’s events on the Gold Coast.
The Sharks Hammelmann claimed the Ray Hughson Medal with 93 goals for the season over Stackelberg (84) and the Lion’s Levi Casboult (80). A brilliant forward line display by the trio with more to come of course during the finals.
They cleared out from their nearest competitors with Jacquin Mifsud (Wilston Grange), Jye Lockett (Broadbeach) and Mitch Patten (Surfers Paradise) finishing on 40 apiece.
The last match for review which in the end had no bearing on the top eight turned out to be a thriller.
Noosa still had faint hopes of a finals miracle but needed a healthy win over Coorparoo on the Sunshine Coast to complete the first part of the equation. The Tigers went into half-time with a 13-point lead and would have hoped to consolidate after the break.
Not for the first time this season Coorparoo were out to upset opposition plans and the Kings hit back with seven goals in the third quarter to go into the final term now leading by 18 points.
The margin remained about the same with two goals each in the first eight minutes. Then the Noosa Tigers found their mojo kicking the next four majors including two by full-forward Angus Byrne to hit the front heading into time-on.
Coorparoo levelled the scores through Josh Ferguson following a spectacular Kyah Moncur mark on the wing. With the game in the balance the Kings Lachlan McClare was awarded a push in the back free kick on the siren. Only needing a minor score to assure victory he calmly kicked a behind and the visitors had clinched the win.
The official scores were 15.15.(105) to 16.7.(103).
It was another day out for the forwards though as Coorparoo’s Jack Wratten ended his season on a high with nine goals, while Byrne finished with six for the Tigers and skipper Jono Freeman with five.
Noosa should still be pleased with their season winning four more games than last year and spending several weeks in the eight while Coorparoo would be encouraged finishing on a high in their first year back in the big time.
Next week’s finals match ups have:
Palm Beach Currumbin (1st) v Aspley (4th)
Redland Victoria Point (2nd) v Surfers Paradise (3rd)
Morningside (5th) v Broadbeach (8th)
Labrador (6th) v Maroochydore (7th)
