PALM BEACH (1ST) 56pts 14W 3L 1D V ASPLEY (4TH) 44pts 11W 7L
SATURDAY 2-10PM STALAGMITE OVAL PBC
Palm Beach-Currumbin ended the regular season on top of the ladder with a confidence boosting win over Redland Victoria Point last weekend. Their form had been scratchy at times including those consecutive losses before a late season bye and it’s been well-documented club has experienced a difficult time off the field.
The weekend’s victory showed that the Lions appear to be back to their free-flowing best including that amazing stat from the game with PBC having 63 inside 50’s while restricting their opposition to 28!
With their spirits lifted immensely they can now focus on the finals and it begins with Aspley. The Hornets snuck into the four as a result of Morningside’s loss to Sherwood and had been around the fringes all season after finishing on top in 2024 but going out in straight sets.
The double chance provides an opportunity to rectify the disappointment of last year. The teams did avoid each other in the 2024 finals series but have met twice this season with the Lions victorious both times.
In round nine at Graham Road, PBC won by 41 points and in round 14 at this venue the Lions were too good after half-time to draw away by 55 points.
PBC’s midfield is one of the main reasons for their top billing - Tom Simpson (suspended), Rhys King, skipper AJ Dawson, Thomas Thynne, Harry Benson who has been high on the competition disposals list all year and on Saturday Nelson Beikoff-Smart got in the act collecting 33 disposals.
Aspley’s midfield is nothing to be sneezed at either, with Tom Templeton, Coen Harker, Cody Stackelberg, Ryan Banks-Smith all being fed by the wonderful ruckwork of Will Wolbers who is third on the list of hit outs with 612. Both teams are equal third with clearances.
Like last week’s clash with RVP, the full-forward match-up will be a highlight. The Lions have Levi Casboult who had been relatively quiet the last few games but bounced back with a bag of seven on Saturday to finish third in the Ray Hughson Medal with 80 goals.
Just ahead of him on 84 is his Aspley counterpart Connor Stackelberg, who was leading for several weeks until overtaken late by the Shark’s Matt Hammelmann. In the two meetings so far this season Casboult leads six goals to three.
The winner goes straight to a Preliminary Final while the loser has a chance to bounce back next week.
REDLAND VICTORIA POINT (2nd) 58pts 14W 3 L 1D v SURFERS PARADISE (3rd) 52pts 13W 5L
SATURDAY 2-10PM TOTALLY WORKWEAR PARK
A repeat of last year’s elimination final 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 kicked two late goals. A different finals system this season with the Demons achieving their aim of top four and now these two meet again, but this time with a double chance.
They also have met twice this season with RVP winning both albeit in round three 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.
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 goals RVP has kicked against the Demons this year he has managed half of them including nine in the latter meeting.
Conversely from these past three meetings Surfers have not had an individual player to kick more than two goals.
Another factor to consider is Sharks ruckman Craig Malone who sits just below Wolbers on the list of hit outs but his influence remains the same.
Some playmakers to watch out for include Campbell Aston, Scott Miller, Ethan Petterwood, Jake Chapman and Mitch Stallard was back to his best in a losing side on the weekend. While Clay Cameron, Dylan Smith and Charlton Offermans (VFL) joined Hammelman in the Queensland State win over Tassie earlier this year.
The Demons had Ben Woodburn who leads the competition disposal list with 535 and Zane Taylor Medallist Cam Ellis-Yolmen in that state win and he kicked the sealer in last week’s victory over Maroochydore. Other key playmakers have been Matt Doran, Lucas Snowball, Hugh Greenwood (rested) and sometimes Southport VFL player Joe Kennedy. Former GC Sun Zac Smith will be required to nullify the influence of Malone in the ruck and has proved valuable when moved forward.
Surfers finished the season strongly with three good wins (including over PBC) and knew they would end up third so Saturday was good warm-up, but RVP at home is always a challenge.
A Preliminary Final awaits the winner, while the loser has a chance to bounce back next week.
MORNINGSIDE (5th) 42pts 10W 7L 1D v BROADBEACH (8th) 32pts 8W 10L
SATURDAY 2-10PM JACK ESPLEN OVAL
Morningside slipped to fifth following their loss at home to Sherwood on Saturday. Doubt it was by design to fall into an elimination final but it means a big day for the club with a host of finals scheduled including the Bond University QAFLW Preliminary Final to follow this match.
A different scenario to last year where they finished second (14wins) won the semi final then the Grand Final so they come into this series as the defending premier but also on the back of two consecutive losses.
In a strange twist their opponents Broadbeach have a negative win/loss record, also coming off two successive losses (both at home) and were goalless in the final quarter last weekend. Prior to those defeats the Cats made a sensational run to the finals following a disastrous first half of the season. A change of coach and attitude appeared to be the catalyst and seven victories from their next eight games ensued. However, in their only meeting in round three on the Gold Coast, the Cats only win at that time was over Morningside in a low scoring affair by just four points.
Broadbeach need to return to the form from a few weeks ago and back to running out four quarters of football if they are to challenge Morningside. One factor maybe the possible return of key ruckman Riley Bowman who has been required recently for Southport duty in the absence of the injured Brayden Crossley.
The Panthers normally hard to beat at home have struggled at times with consistency hence less wins this year, but if there is one team who know how to lift for this time of the year it is Morningside.
The winner stays alive and will play the loser of the PBC v Aspley final.
LABRADOR (6th) 38pts 9W 8L 1D v MAROOCHYDORE (7th) 36pts 9W 9L
SATURDAY 2-10PM COOKE-MURPHY OVAL
Two teams that just missed out on finals in 2024 are the benefactors of a new system and a final eight to be extending their seasons.
Both were assured of finals action heading into last weekend and both had satisfactory preparations. The Tigers defeated Broadbeach for the second time this season and Maroochydore after a sluggish middle two quarters charged late at Surfers and were within ten points during the final term before the Demons steadied.
Throughout this season Labrador have been unsettled with injuries and players required elsewhere but rallied with two away wins in their final two regular season contests following losses to the big guns RVP and Morningside (both away) and a lucky home draw with Wilston Grange.
Maroochydore are on the same number of wins as 2024 (nine) but their form appears better than that with a few close matches culminating in the memorable win over Morningside two weeks ago and possibly should have finished higher. For the second successive week they must make the long trip down from the Sunshine Coast and Cooke-Murphy is never an easy place to taste victory.
However, the Roos did defeat the Tigers in their only meeting this year in round six on the Sunny Coast. The home team kicked three goals to one in the final term to get home by 13 points.
Since that loss Labrador have only lost once at home (Rd11 v RVP) and usually thrive in front of their enthusiastic supporters.
The winner will play the loser of the RVP v Surfers final.