Redland Victoria-Point and Surfers Paradise will meet in the TPIL Lawyers QAFL Grand Final to be played at Brighton Homes Arena next Saturday afternoon. RVP put an end to Morningside’s title defence while minor premiers Palm Beach-Currumbin succumbed to the rampaging Demons in the weekend’s Preliminary Finals.
The Sharks capitalised on their home ground advantage at Totally Workwear Park to hold off the Panthers who had their noses in front in the second term before RVP broke away after half-time to at one stage lead by almost five goals. Morningside kicked four of the last five goals of the match to close the margin but the Sharks had done enough to win 17.11.(113) to 16.8.(104) and another shot at a premiership.
The difference again was spearhead and Ray Hughson Medallist Matt Hammelmann who broke through the century barrier with seven goals including three in the final term to see his team home. His tally for the season now stands at 104.
There was little between the two teams in the first half with Morningside displaying the form that saw them defeat RVP in last year’s decider. A lively second quarter where Hammelmann’s second gave the Sharks a 13-point lead but then the Panthers hit back with the next three including two from goal sneak Keegan Downie.
Following Matthew Waters major in time-on the visitors led by nine points then it was Redland’s turn to kick three in succession to reverse the margin to nine in their favour. However, Panthers forward Darcy Cameron-Reeves brought it back to under a goal at the main break.
The turning point arriving in the third quarter when RVP kicked three goals while holding Morningside to only one then booted three of the first four goals in the final quarter to open that match winning five-goal lead.
Besides Hammelmann’s effort up forward (that made it 16 goals in two meetings this season), Clay Cameron kicked three and two each to Dylan Smith (25 disposals) and Matthew Hambleton as they had better efficiency scoring inside forward 50.
It all started with the Shark’s midfield which had +11 differential in clearances and applied the pressure with +24 in tackles. Craig ‘Tiny’ Malone was outstanding in the ruck once again with 76 hit outs, 18 disposals and seven clearances, Charlton Offermans (22 and nine, plus six tackles), Jake Chapman (18 disposals) while Scott Miller was a tackling machine with 11. Adrian Williams was his usual dependable self in defence taking nine marks and a kicking efficiency of 83%. And speaking of marks Darryl McDowell-White was spectacular in the air and worth checking the highlights.
Morningside put up a brave defence of the premiership and actually led a few of the statistical categories.
Preston Cockatoo-Collins and Matthew Waters kicking four goals apiece and besides the Cameron-Reeves, Downie brace, Garrett McDonagh also grabbed two goals among his 28 possessions including eight marks.
Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds led their stats with 30 disposals eight clearances, six tackles and added a goal for good measure. Max Nelson (22), Tommy Horne (21), Tristan Hobley, Tom Bennetts and Taylem Watson also among the Panthers best.
No doubt inspirational playmaker Jack Rolls was sorely missed with his nagging calf injury and like his teammates will be a force again in 2026.
On the Gold Coast at Stalagmite Oval, Surfers Paradise turned over minor premiers Palm Beach-Currumbin in a powerful display to run out comfortable winners by 34 points 17.15.(117) to 12.11.(83).
The Demons stunned the home crowd with ten goals in the first half then continued on after the break with another seven to break the century while the Lions only managed in two in the third quarter and were left trailing by over 60 points heading into the last change.
The Surfers midfielders and forward line ran riot with Mitch Patten booting a game high five goals from just 10 possessions. The little dynamo Lucas Snowball kicked three, forward Oscar Wood and the busy Axel Moore (21 disposals) both had two goals. It was mentioned in the preview that the Demons had various avenues to scoring and in this vital clash it was eight individual goalkickers.
Powerful playmaker and State rep Cam Ellis-Yolmen was at his damaging best (25 disposals and eight clearances), Zai Millane had 23 in just his second game back from injury. Hugh Greenwood (21 and nine clearances), second placegetter in Sunday evening’s JA Grogan Medal Ben Woodburn (21 and five) and on the backline Michael Luxton continued his tackling prowess joining Greenwood with seven.
Meanwhile at the other end, the Surfers defence did their job in restricting PBC key forwards Levi Casboult to only two goals and Corey Beaman just one after the pair had combined for 16 majors in their two previous meetings this season. Matthew Hollier and Tyler Cornish stepped in with two goals each as the Lions did at least match their opponents with various goalkickers.
The absence of ruckman Dylan Adkins through suspension may have been a factor as Casboult had extra work to share those duties with youngster Jonah Harris but the combination did have the better of Zac Smith in the hit outs.
Nelson Beikoff-Smart led the way with 29 possessions, Tom Simpson (28 and 10 clearances), Liam O’Brien and Harry Benson (both 21 and six) as the usual potent midfield had to lower their colours to their opposition.
The Lions had been battling rivals RVP for most of the season for the minor premiership honours and despite a week one finals victory over Aspley, PBC could not repeat the dose against the rampant Demons.
Some consolation for the Lions as Casboult was rewarded for his outstanding season claiming the prestigious J.A. Grogan Medal for the competition’s best at a glittering QAFL function at the Gabba on Sunday evening. Teammate Harry Benson was judged by the QAFL coaches as the Most Valuable Player in winning the Syd Guildford Trophy.
Therefore, next week sees a repeat of the week one qualifying final where RVP stormed home to overrun Surfers in the second half at Totally Workwear Park. In fact, the only two losses suffered by the Demon’s in their past 11 matches have been against RVP who will be aiming for third time lucky after being runners-up the last two years.
The TPIL Lawyers Grand Final will be played at a neutral venue - Brighton Homes Arena (Michael Voss Oval) on Saturday at 2-20pm and is a Brisbane v Gold Coast match-up.