QAFL colts Squad of the Month
QAFL colts Squad of the Month: Who has made our best team list so far this season after six rounds of local footy? All is revealed here.
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The QAFL colts season is hotting up, with unbeaten teams Palm Beach Currumbin and Maroochydore leading the way from third placed Sherwood.
Broadbeach, Wilston Grange and Noosa were also in the hunt, but being just one third of the way through the season, there is plenty of water to go under the bridge.
So who have been the outstanding colts players this season?
The powerhouse Palm Beach Currumbin have had some wonderful performers, with Luke Cahill the leading forward who is very good in the air and at ground level.
At half forward Tai Hayes has displayed hard running play coupled with smooth skills, while inside midfielder Zach Nussey has led from the front with his in and under work.
Down back Matt Walkerden, a key defender, has been having a very good start to the season, while versatile midfielder Tom Mason can play all over the ground.
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Maroochydore colts have been spearheaded by Caleb Silva, a centreman with hard running and a penetrating kick, along with crafty backman Sam Barbuto.
The silky skills of midfielder Hudson Vivian and the contribution of key forward/ruck Will Jones has also helped immensely.
At either end of the field Deklen Faulkner (forward) and Jack Ellen (back) have starred, with Faulkner a leading target and Ellen impressing with a never-say-die attitude. He is a great contested ball winner.
In Brisbane’s west, Sherwood’s colts season has been pushed along by Henry Spry who is averaging 20 touches a game across the half back line, while Oliver Cruice was also having a big season for Sherwood inside midfield, and has been a weapon around the stoppages. He is among the best ball winners in colts.
Broadbeach were well in the mix after a grand start to the season by midfielder Ryder Forbes, forward Taz Webb and defender Jack Bowen.
Bowen has been displaying silky skills and great section marking with and without the ball, while Webb has been tenacious with his skills and ability to run all day.
In the midfield, Forbes is a true utility who has reinvented himself as an on the ball magnet.
Forbes has great poise and skill and has a bright future.
Aspley’s colts have benefited from full forward Jonah Clarke kicking multiple goals regularly, the efforts of wingman Zac Grills and the performances from Cooper Thomas who has been a rock down back in defence.
The Hornets have also enjoyed the skills of midfielder Tom Grills with his clean, classy, electric play.
Labrador’s half back flanker Dean Robinson has been hard at the footy all season for his team and wins a place in our team of the month, along with back pocket Jett Dickinson who has been skilful in rebounding possession back up the field
To get the best players from the opening six weeks into the squad, we swing tall Sherwood defender Owen Cappling into the fray at centre half forward.
This season Cappling has been dominating any kicks inside the defensive 50m area, while also rebounding his team with long kicks.
Morningside Panthers’ defenders Andrew Horridge and Max Jeffrey have been exceptional, with Horridge’s ball reader and usage noteworthy, and Jeffrey’s classic defence causing grief to opponents.
At the other end of the field, Jamie Linnell has been creative and elusive as a small forward for Morningside, while Jayden Lloyd has displayed key marking forward coupled with great running endurance.
Morningside’s midfielders Fin Raymond and Lachlan Wilson were always in BOF contention, with Raymond a tackling machine and Wilson clearly a fantastic football mind.
Surfers Paradise are going well, having pushed unbeaten Maroochydore to the brink and defeated Premiers Labrador.
And among their very best performers has been vice-captain Cody Nieass.
He not only plays midfield as a ruck rover, but he often switches into the ruicruck to give Surfers extra drive.
Nieass has been a real workhorse and is leading by example, giving his all and enhancing his reputation within the club.
Surfers’ two defenders, Christian Milde and Jake Tye, have also been spot on. The boys have been in great form which sees them consistently taking marks and winning multiple one on one contests to create drive from the back half.
Noosa have had a couple of wins, with captain Jesh Morgan’s hard midfield running and fierce competitive nature leading his team.
Around him Cooper Ogden has been a powerful inside midfielder with good skills while Tallis Buntain has made a habit of intercepting defenders and setting up play from defence while play centre half back.
Key forward Jonah Lenten has been elusive and working hard both up and back, while tall key forward Elijah Wood has shown an ability to win games off his own boot.
Redland-Victoria Point’s best this season has been Riley Harris who is courageous and skilled in the midfield. Harris is one of the finest ball winners in the competition.
Wilston Grange’s best so far this season has been co-captain Jordan Keramidopoulos across the midfield and forward line.
COLTS TEAM OF THE MONTH SQUAD
Forward: Luke Cahill (Palm Beach Currumbin), Deklen Faulkner (Maroochydore), Jonah Lenten (Noosa), Jonah Clarke (Aspley), Taz Webb (Broadbeach), Elijah Wood (Noosa)
Half forward: Tai Hayes (Palm Beach Currumbin), Jamie Linnell (Morningside), Jayden Lloyd (Morningside), Jordan Keramidopoulos (Wilson Grange)
Centre half forward: Jonah Lenten (Noosa), Owen Cappling (Sherwood)
Wing: Zac Grills (Aspley), Lachlan Wilson (Morningside)
Ruck: Will Jones (Maroochydore)
Centre: Jess Morgan (Noosa), Oliver Cruice (Sherwood), Zach Nussey (Palm Beach Currumbin), Cody Nieass (Surfers), Ryder Forbes (Broadbeach), Caleb Silva (Maroochydore), Tom Mason (Palm Beach Currumbin), Riley Harris (Redland) Tom Grills (Aspley), Hudson Vivian (Maroochydore), Cooper Ogden (Noosa)
Half back flank: Sam Barbuto (Maroochydore), Henry Spry (Sherwood),
Centre half back: Dean Robinson (Labrador), Tallis Buntain (Noosa).
Defnders/Backmen: Matt Walkerden (Palm Beach Currumbin), Cooper Thomas (Aspley), Jack Bowen (Broadbeach), Jack Ellen (Maroochydore), Christian Milde (Surfers), Jake Tye (Surfers), Jett Dickinson (Labrador), Andrew Horridge (Morningside), Max Jeffrey (Morningside).
Points table: 1. Palm Beach Currumbin 24, 2. Maroochydore 24, 3. Sherwood 20, 4. Broadbeach 16, 5. Wilston Grange 16, 6. Noosa 14, 7. Aspley 8, 8. Morningside 8, 9. Surfers Paradise 6, 10. Mt Gravatt 4, 11. Labrador 4, 12. Redland-Victoria Point 0.
In QAFL seniors, Mt Gravatt ruckman Craig Malone has been one of the players of the season after establishing himself as the No.1 in his position for hit outs.
Around him Joel Leahy’s work rate and skills in the mid field have been first class.
Aiding Leahy has been Bailey Tome whose work rate and tackling pressure belies his age of 17, while Austin Brent has given his all in the backline. Brent has been enormous in putting pressure on opposition inside 50s,
Labrador pair Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Andrew Boston have been elite over the last month, while Palm Beach Currumbin’s last four weeks has been spearheaded by midfield men Tyler Cornish and Thomas Thynne and Ashton Cassidy.
Half forward Cameron O’Leary has also been strong.
The Maroochydore side has had some ripping performers, including Lachlan Robinson as a half forward or wingman.
His run and carry has caught the eye, and he has been transitioning the footy really well.
On ball midfielder Josh Govan has been a contested ball winner this month, a strong tackler and excellent at extracting footy from the contests.
Also shining for Maroochydore has been Jackson Bury (back pocket) whose elite skills from his team’s defensive end gains many metres for his team.
Then there has been elusive, smart half forward and midfielder Sam McLachlan.
He has been smart, elusive and a goal kicking forward who has been difficult to match up on. His long kicks have also hurt opponents.
Hamish McGovan (on ball/midfield) and Ben Thomas (small forward) have also been excellent.
Thomas has been sharp and clean around the contest, and Govan strong and tough in contact who has spread the ball well to the forward line.
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