QAFL colts’ x-factor players; how round 5 unfolded
Who were the x-factor players of the QAFL colts competition? All is revealed here, including the best players from an intriguing round 5 of matches.
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Aspley has stretched its unbeaten start to the season to five matches as the QAFL colts ladder starts to take shape.
After five rounds Aspley, courtesy of its hard fought local derby win over Wilston Grange, had banked 20 competition points.
QAFL COLTS BEST TRAINERS REVEALED
QAFL COLTS BEST MORALE BOOSTING PLAYERS
Then came Morningside and Sherwood (both 16), while Wilston Grange (fourth), Maroochydore (fifth) and Palm Beach Currumbin (sixth) round off the leading sides - all on three wins.
Broadbeach remained in touch with three wins, while Noosa’s second win of the season on Saturday elevated them to eight points ahead of Surfers Paradise, Mt Gravatt and Redland Victoria Point (all four points).
Labrador was yet to register a win.
This week’s story below we feature the x-factor players, but first let us peer back at how round 5 unfolded.
Aspley 7.4.46 defeated Wilston Grange 3.11.29
The Gorillas rued not kicking straight, but winning is becoming a habit for this Hornets group who were unbeaten this season.
Best players
Aspley: Cambell Harrop, Duncan Lewis, Francis Quinn, Lachlan O’Dwyer, Thomas Levi, Jake Howson
Wilston Grange: Oliver Spence, Marcus Zipf, Ryan Lewis, Grady Turner, Bailey Morgan, Aidan Young
Maroochydore 8.10.58 defeated Palm Beach Currumbin 1.4.10
The premiers would have been most pleased with its percentage boosting offensive play
Best players
Maroochydore: William Ashley, Noah Rodoreda, Sam Barbuto, Maximus Prendergast, Jayden Banks, Racer Bellchambers
PBC: Rory Withers, Harry Best, Michael Fitzgerald, Coby Collins, Finn Booth, Jake Simons
Morningside 17.19.121 defeated Redland Victoria Point 0.6
The Panthers’ Thomas Johnstone bagged four goals and Cooper Short three as Morningside’s revival gathered momentum in a clash with his eastern suburbs neighbours.
Best players
Morningside: Thomas Johnston, Joseph Wilson, Cooper Short, Josh Thomsen, Oscar Barry, Frasier Lay
Redland Victoria Point: Baelin Phillips, Ethan Shalhoub, Sam Cowley, Bailey Burrows.
Noosa 14.8.92 defeated Mt Gravatt 5.3.33
Noosa’s Jai Mure was rewarded for his effort and at times high class play over the last one and a half seasons with a five goal effort from the mid field against the Vultures in what was Noosa’s second win of the season.
Best players
Noosa: Jai Mure was his team’s best but you could put the entire side here alongside of him because coach Ben Archard said “it was a complete team performance’’. But for the record Rory McKenzie, Makhai Maaka, Jack Caspers, Ethan Slaney and Will Raffin were also mentioned in dispatches as being very good.
Mt Gravatt: Luke Kirkman, Cailen Campbell, Maximillian Flego, Hayden Anthony, Lachlan Lavigne
Sherwood 21.12.138 defeated Labrador 5.2.32
Troydan Ross booted four goals while Jack Harrison, Reece Thompson and Cooper Stone three each as the Magpies enhanced its percentage against the ever trying Labrador.
Best players:
Sherwood: Troydan Ross, Cooper Stone, Alex Peacock, Reece Thompson, Ashwyn Smith, Jack Harrison
Labrador: Jesse Ince, Leo Johnston, Lenny Beech, Riley Stevens, Tyler Hamilton, Brock Whitecross
Broadbeach 11.7.73 defeated Surfers Paradise 9.7.61
The Jack Horton-inspired Cats trailed by one point entering the final term and found a way to shrug off their arch rivals. There was not a struck match in the contest as the Demons pushed hard all the way, with Horton’s contribution for the Cats giving his side drive and run from half back.
Best players: Jack Horton in a good team performance.
Surfers Paradise: James Carrigan, Jay Redford, Beau Smith, Lachlan Morrisey
X-FACTOR PLAYERS OF THE QAFL COLTS
Sammy Leone and Calen Harrop forward (Aspley)
Watch for these elite mid fielders or forwards to impact matches. Both boys were footy smart, can play tough on the inside and deliver the goods by kick or hand.
Originally a Sandgate Hawks junior, Harrop has been slightly in the shadow of Cambell Harrop but is making his own mark this season after gathering valuable experience as an under-17 eligible player in 2023. “We haven’t seen the best of him yet but once he hits his straos he is capable of anything,’’ praised coach Brett Atkins. Both Harrop and Leone were contributing greatly to Aspley’s rollicking start to the season.
Charlie Corrigan (Mt Gravatt)
With even more experience under his belt for this season, Corrigan is the type who can turn a game on its head. He finished the 2023 season like a train where he was one of the Vultures best across the second half of the competition, displaying silky ball skills and an ability to take pack marks. He is difficult to play against.
Piewa Laka (Mt Gravatt)
A small forward, Laka has speed to burn but has clean hands with ground ball skills. He is exciting to watch.
Jem Nolan (Labrador)
Nolan has a great ability to read the play and knows when to be attacking off the centre half back line. He is a tremendous user of the footy and rarely wastes the ball. Nolan has plenty of run in him and was strong and reliable in the air.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH IN SEASON 2024
Byron Rigby and Ethan Shalhoub (Redland-Victoria Point)
The Sharks were lucky to have these two midfield maestros, great possession gathering types who can deliver on a dime for their teammates. Both had their moments last season and in 2024 were players teammates look toward to add some polish to the team’s performance. Shalhoub also plays across the half forward line.
James Hunter (Maroochydore)
Hunter normally plays down back, but then in round 4 he was put up forward and kicked six goals. And then in round 5 Hunter kicked a beautiful left foot goal from 40m out on the run -a all this from a right footer.
Frasier Lay (Morningside)
A forward who plays a mix of forward and midfield, Lay gained valuable experience last season when he was blooded in the Panthers senior squad. A former Lions under-16 player, Lay is a key figure for the Panthers this season. “We are excited to see his best games this season,’’ said Panthers coach Justin Lawrence.
Jack Thompson and Bailey Morgan (Wilston Grange)
Both boys have come through the junior ranks playing alongside each other. Thompson is a lethal mid fielder while Bailey Morgan an ace forward. The Gorillas were around the mark last season but if they were to push into a consistent top three side this season, Thompson and Morgan will surely lead the way.
Lachlan Walsh, Kai Odewahn and Jack Redford (Surfers Paradise)
The Demons were fortunate to have this terrific trio. Walsh is a tremendous ruck talent with untapped potential while Odewahn can swing a match with his nifty footy sense as a small forward. Down back the super fit Jack Redford brings a competition edge.
Jai Mure, Riley McKay and Harry Caspers (Noosa)
Jai Mure was a mid field elite who lost nothing in comparison with any player in the competition in his position. He’s an x-factor, can swing forward and hit the scoreboard after finding his own footy.
Small forward Caspers has that sixth sense which can help him find a goal - after he has produced a moment winning tackle or won possession with his pressure.
Back man Riley McKay is yet another product of St Teresa’s Catholic College.
Ryan Davis (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Davis brings drive and speed from the half back line which sets up PBC and gets the side going forward.
Jack Slater (Sherwood)
Some footy players have it and some don’t - well Slater has that x-factor lethal kick that can swing a tight contest. He is also aggressive at that ball, an imposing figure in the midfield.
Micka Dawson (Broadbeach)
Watch this bloke go. He is a tremendous talent with those reflex skills that he can pull out of the bag when his teammates need them most.
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