QAFL colts top flight defenders as Hornets snare round 10 thriller
The QAFL colts top flight defenders of the season can be revealed after an entertaining round 10 of action which featured a cross river Brisbane derby won by just two points.
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What a cross river Brisbane derby it was as Aspley got home over Morningside by just two points.
In what is likely to be a dress rehearsal for the finals later in the year, the Hornets retained its unbeaten start across 10 rounds with a two point win, 5.15.45 to 6.7.43.
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While Aspley generated 20 scoring shots to 13, it took until the final siren before victory was confirmed after the Panthers pushed hard in the final term to turn a 14 point deficit into a two point thriller.
Other results:
Broadbeach 11.6.72 to Redland Victoria Point 5.10.40
Wilston Grange 13.12.90 to Labrador 2.2.14
Surfers Paradise 17.13.115 to Mt Gravatt 3.7.25
Sherwood 10.7.67 to Maroochydore 5.7.37
Elsewhere Jack Redford and Lachlan Morrissey both kicked three goals each for Surfers Paradise in its percentage boosting performance, while Sherwood also had a semi-final type win over the Roos.
Wilston Grange also retained second position, with Blair Humphreys kicking four majors.
And Broadbeach fended off an improving Sharks who matched the Cats for generating chances - it is just Broadbeach kicked straighter.
But it was the Aspley-Morningside side which drew the most eyes.
“Our first quarter set up the game,’’ reflected Aspley coach Brett Atkins.
“Our defensive structure was great. It was a windy day but we just did not take out opportunities in front of the big sticks.
“In the second half we started showboating a little bit despite knowing Morningside were always going to comeback.’’
Ahead of round 11, we look at the competition’s top flight defenders this season.
Morningside coach Justin Lawrence said his group was disappointed with the first half performance, but saw light at the end of the tunnel for the way the Panthers rallied in the final two terms.
“The second half was definitely enough to guve is brlief that a four quarter effort from our best team can beat anyone.’’
Frasier Lay played strongly in his first game as captain, so did youngster Ben Morison.
Takoda Boltong (Maroochydore)
His run off the half back line has been amazing and he rarely loses as one-on-one contest. He is a great player to have in the side.
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Will Cooke (Noosa)
Cooke is a genuine athlete who reads the game well and also the ball in the air. He is an intercept marker king who drives a lot of rebounds for Noosa.
Ethan Slaney (Noosa)
Slaney is a freakish talent, an intercept defender who reads the ball well. He takes spectacular marks for fun and is a great talent. He has also tasted senior football in two outstandings this season.
Beau Smith (Noosa)
Smith is a genuine role-player defender who shuts down the opposition’s best forwards, tall or small.
Oliver Dell, Baelin Philips (Redland-Victoria Point)
Dell was a big bodied defender who does the job each week, while Philips had elite skills and was so reliable down back.
Lucas Kera, Tom Bowers and Aston Wilson (Wilston Grange)
Kera was the type who read a game well and someone who takes a lot of intercept marks. Bowers was a classic lockdown defender while Wilson bounced along with run and carry, a footballer with very good hands.
QAFL COLTS
Josh Horton (Broadbeach)
An extremely versatile player, Horton was particularly effective playing off the half back line where he is never far away from best afield votes.
Jack Slater (Sherwood)
A good size for a mid fielder, Slater has a sure kick but it was his aggression at the contest which got him into this company.
Cooper Whitecross (Labrador)
Solid as a rock is solid in the last night of defence, Whitecross is great in the air and it is a challenge for his opponent to beat his judgement of the flight of the ball.
Clancy Burns, Rory O’Brien and Frank Quinn (Aspley)
Burns was an awkward type who was strong in the air, a player who, one-on-one, is very hard to beat.
O’Brien was a youngster who was continuing to grow and become a major strength in the back half line while Quinn was a great runner gaining his confidence with intercept marking lookout.
Cooper Joseph (Morningside)
Joseph was going like a steam engine until he fractured his thumb in round 8.
He had played every game to that stage of the season and opposition teams were averaging just 32 against the Panthers.
Joseph also showed his versatility in the match he was injured in, moving forward to kick two goals - always a nice reward for a hard working down back.
Elijah Sutton (Mt Gravatt)
The Vultures fullback, Sutton has a racking left foot who can clear the ball out of congestion with ease. He is the type of backman who is rarely beaten one-on-one.
Jacob Salerno (Surfers Paradise)
A really strong presence down back for the Demons, Salerno has tremendous disposal skills as well. He is a little undersized in terms of height for a key position player, but makes up for that with his strength.
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