Photo: Shot from the Boundary
1. Never count the Sharks out
Two minutes left. Game on the line. Enter, guess who, Matt Hammelmann, who runs back to the forward 50 with the game on the line and ‘soccers’ (how topical) it through for a goal. But the Panthers got the centre clearance and got it to Panthers' mid/forward Kai Purslow on the siren with a chance to win the game. He took a great contested mark but unfortunately sliced it to the right side of the goal posts. However, Purslow wouldn’t have been in the position if the Sharks didn’t go into frenzy mode in that last quarter, kicking five goals to Morningside’s one, and completing a comeback of the ages. Hammelmann had another great game, kicking four goals (including two in the final quarter), but it was Clay Cameron who really stood up with three goals of his own. Campbell Aston also was spectacular racking it up in the midfield and adding a goal as well. After this important win, the Sharks are now only a game outside the top four.
2. Palm Beach Currumbin Stun the Demons
No Tom Simpson, no worries. Coming into this game there were a lot of question marks around the Lions and if they could compete with the best of the best, especially without their star midfielder Simpson. But compete they did, handing Surfers Paradise their first loss of the season, with a margin of 84 points. While there were a few standout performers, the best thing about this win was it was a team performance. Only four players had under ten disposals for the Lions compared to Surfers Paradise who had 11. The forward line provided a great team performance, with six multiple goal scorers, including Cory Beaman, Levi Casboult and Michael Climi with three goals each. Ty Fitzgerald, Harrison Gray and Liam O’Brien also bobbed up with two goals each of their own in a clinical display in the Lions forward line. Tom Hickey dominated in the ruck against another ex-AFL ruck in Zac Smith leading the Lions in touches with 23 and also grabbing 31 hitouts. Down back Jack Excell was EXCELL-ent, grabbing 23 touches and 6 marks.
3. Ky Nicholls the Hero in the Battle of the Tigers
Game on the line, the Labrador Tigers were down by 14 points coming into the last quarter. Liam Odea and Jake Goldsmith kicked two goals to get the margin back to three points. Enter Ky Nicholls, who with the game on the line intercepted an errant handball in their forward line and snapped in on the run on his right foot in what turned out to be the game winner. Some standout players for Labrador included Rhys Nicholls who racked up 31 touches alongside midfield partner Liam Odea who racked up 29 touches alongside three inside 50’s, three centre clearances and a goal. Aiden Fyfe was handy up forward as usual with two goals. Riley Coombes and William Manshanden also got two goals a piece and contributed nicely in the forward line. Josh Young was a stalwart down back, grabbing two intercept marks two spoils. What a win!
4. The Cats have leather poisoning
Seven players. That’s how many players got over 25 touches for the Broadbeach Cats. What a game from Max Hudson who controlled the game from the backline with a huge 37 touches and a game high 10 intercept marks. Aiden Hare had 36 touches alongside seven tackles and a goal. His midfield partner in crime and captain Liam Nelson had 31 touches and five tackles as well as six inside 50’s and one goal. He could have had the game of a lifetime but still was elite all game long, dominating the Vultures midfield. Co-captain Blake Erickson had 30 touches, six clearances, five tackles and seven inside 50’s. He also chipped in with a goal of his own. Up forward Charlie Martin snagged four and Ethan Weidemann had three of his own as well. Overall, a great team performance from the Cats which puts them in seventh position.
5. Aspley Stay in Touch with the Top Eight
In a must win game for Aspley, they delivered in a 32-point win over Coorparoo. They led all day in a great display over their cross-town rivals. A few players stood up for the Hornets including Sinclair Burmeister who kicked three goals and Thomas Levi who had 30 disposals, six clearances and six inside 50’s and was elite all game long. Andrew Jeffery was also handy, chipping in with 29 touches and a goal. Harry Grills was immense down back, controlling the play and setting up his teammates with 27 touches. He also had huge defensive efforts as well with 12 tackles, bruising the Vultures forward line. Lachlan Sherwood and Ky Mckenzie chipped in with two goals and Daine Macdonald almost kicked a bag, with two goals and three behinds. A 19-year-old Lions academy product Jethro Grills was impressive on debut with an inaccurate one goal and three behinds, alongside 15 touches.
6. Maroochydore keep their spot in the top four
Maroochydore were impressive in a 52-point win over the Gorillas at home on Saturday, keeping their spot in the top four. The Gorillas kept it competitive in the first quarter before a six goal to three second quarter saw the Roos pull away with a 37-point lead at half time. Ex-Richmond Tiger Noah Cumberland was huge with four goals and three behinds as well as four tackles and 14 touches, providing huge pressure in the forward line. Aaron Wilson once again continues his good season with four goals and Elliot Cavallaro stepped up nicely with three goals and 16 touches. Hugo Papst and Koby Young also chipped in with three goals and two goals respectively. William O’Dwyer was elite down back with 20 touches and two incept marks, contributing nicely alongside Sam Mckenzie who had 17 touches of his own. Finally, in the midfield, Sam McLachlan and Benjamin Thomas flexed their muscles with 34 touches and 29 touches respectively, proving themselves a force in the midfield all game long.