Redland-Victoria Point and Surfers Paradise have finalised preparations for the TPIL Lawyers QAFL Grand Final to be played at Brighton Homes Arena(Michael Voss Oval) on Saturday afternoon. In last weekend’s Preliminary Finals, RVP put an end to Morningside’s title defence while minor premiers Palm Beach-Currumbin succumbed to the rampaging Demons.
This is Redland-Victoria Point’s third successive grand final appearance after two numbing losses so they will be hoping this is third time lucky!
In 2023 the Sharks were never in the hunt as Aspley took control early and strolled away with the premiership by seven goals. 2024 was a lot closer with the final margin just five points, but the victors Morningside were up by 20 points at three-quarter time before Redland kicked a couple of late goals then missed with two behinds to agonisingly fall short.
Surfers Paradise won their solitary QAFL flag in 2019 and again over last week’s opposition PBC. However, like their Saturday’s opponents the Demons have to reverse recent history against RVP who have won their four previous meetings.
The first week of TPIL LAWYERS QAFL finals saw the extraordinary finish at Totally Workwear Park where the home team (RVP) came back to win over a deflated Surfers Paradise 13.11.(89) to 11.14.(80).
The Demons came into this clash playing their best football of the season and this continued in the first half where they completely dominated their more fancied rivals and at one stage led by 40 points.
The scene was set for a thrilling last quarter with a week off and Preliminary Final berth on the line. Ray Hughson Medallist Matt Hammelmann kicked his fourth for the match then a further two late goals to the Sharks secured a remarkable victory.
They also have met twice this season with RVP winning both - albeit in round three (at Surfers) where the margin was only five points on one of those wet weekends. Then in round 14 at home the Sharks were too good again by 40 points.
Then there is last year’s elimination final at Totally Workwear Park where RVP prevailed by 16 points on their way to the Grand Final where they fell short against Morningside. Surfers finished sixth in 2024 and inaccuracy cost them early in that match but got within two points in the last quarter before the Sharks again kicked two late goals. A different finals system this season with the Demons achieving their aim of top four, received the double chance and now these two teams meet again in the Grand Final.
A major difference between last year’s final and the contests this year is Matt Hammelmann. He did not play that final and from the 38 goals RVP has kicked against the Demons this year he has managed 16 of them including nine in the round 14 clash.
Conversely from their four past clashes Surfers have only once managed players kicking more than two goals and that was the recent Qualifying Final where Joe Kennedy and Mitch Patten booted three each. However, the Demons are a team as shown in their two matches since they can find various scoring avenues through their talented midfield. Key midfielders include Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Ben Woodburn (second in J.A Grogan Medal) Matt Doran, Lucas Snowball, Hugh Greenwood, Axel Moore and besides Kennedy and Patten up forward there is Oscar Wood and Laurence King.
The Surfers defence may have learnt a few lessons from the Qualifying Final as their tackling has been ferocious since led by Michael Luxton, Alby Jones, Hamish Anderson and William Broadbent who had the job on Hammelmann last time.
Another key factor for the Demons to consider is Sharks ruckman Craig Malone who individually dominated the hit outs last time 53 to 17 (with the help of Jarrod Huddy) over former Gold Coast Sun Zac Smith who will be working out strategies to try and nullify his opponent’s influence.
So often Malone provides first use to a more than useful RVP midfiled with some of their playmakers to watch out for include Ethan Petterwood, Jake Chapman and Mitch Stallard. While Clay Cameron, Dylan Smith and Charlton Offermans joined Hammelman in the Queensland State win over Tassie earlier this year. Joshua Brown and Matthew Hambleton are always prevalent around the goals to assist Hammelmann and as he displayed last week look for the aerial heroics of Darryl McDowell-White while Adrian Williams, Matthew Thomson and Luke O’Sullivan control the backline. The Sharks do have a selection dilemma though with another key player Campbell Aston, who missed the last week through injury. He would be a most valuable asset if fit.
Now the scene is set for the best two teams in the TPIL Lawyers QAFL competition to decide this year’s premiership. The coaching staff led by Phil Carse (Redland Victoria-Point) and Sam Dwyer (Surfers Paradise) would have spent the week working out the strategies and the plans to find the pathway to success.
In the Sharks case reverse the results from the last two Grand Final appearances and maintain that winning form over Surfers. Dwyer has taken the Demons to the final Saturday in his first year after replacing Matty Lappin who successfully coached Southport two weeks ago to victory in the BOND UNIVERSITY QAFLW competition. How can the Demons nullify Hammelmann, Malone and co. to finally turn recent results in their favour?
All will be revealed at Brighton Homes Arena (Michael Voss Oval) 2-20pm Saturday.
