QAFL’s colts, seniors squads of the month revealed
Who have been the best QAFL colts and senior players over the last month? We reveal two squads of the month for June here.
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The business end of the season can now be glanced on the horizon as Redland-Victoria Point and Broadbeach establish themselves at the top of the seniors table, while in colts Palm Beach Currumbin make the running marginally ahead of Maroochydore.
So who have been the best players in those teams, and all the other sides over the last month.
Below is our monthly check in to see who have been the best contributors to their side in the last four weeks.
Colts
At Wilston Grange, the McFadyen name was up in lights again, this time young Fergus McFadyen got the job done through the midfield and across the forward line.
“He continues to impress with his goal sense and his elite foot skills,’’ said Gorillas’ colts coach Matt Trewhella.
Also in the midfield Duncan McCabe’s “attack on the ball and inside grunt work has seen him grow into an explosive midfielder with the ability to break a game open’’, Trewhella praised.
Also for Wilston Grange, Carter Simpson continued to play above his weight both on the ground and in the air.
“He has an ability to spark in any position on the ground when needed,’’ the coach added.
Getting the dirty work done for the Gorillas over the last month has been Lachlan Zakaras who can set his teammates up under pressure.
Across at Sherwood, one of the babies of the colts, Edwin Nyembo, continues to impress with his speed and is averaging three goals a game from his explosive play across the half forward line.
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Magpies have also had Zack Bidgood shine in the back line with “electric intercepting and generating rebound attack’’ according to coach Ben Jaenke-Cain. He has been Best on Ground for three successive weeks.
Lions Academy player Tristen Meekin has featured an “insane work rate’’ with plenty of line breaking damage possessions while midfielder Jaydon Macaulay has displayed “absolute class’’.
“He has a complete game and is generating out ball movement from stoppage and through the middle third,’’ Ben Jaenke-Cain said.
The young Redland-Victoria Point side has been spearheaded by midfielder Korey Dry over the last month, with his work rate and consistent, strong tackling complementing an “ability to sneak down forward and kick goals’’.
Sharks coach Brian Zutt said forward-midfielder Zach Borrelli had also displayed he was a smart footballer “with a strong mark and a big booming kick’’.
“He is extremely dangerous around goals,’’ the coach said.
Aspley Demons midfielder Tom Grills just keeps on keeping on while centre half forward Mat Bowart never takes a backward step. “He has great versatility playing multiple positions across the ground,’’ said Aspley coach Steve Grummitt.
Midfielder Rhiley Owens has also displayed his class after returning to Aspley following 12 months off.
On the Gold Coast, the Surfers Demons have had an awesome foursome this month, with Josh Mackay enormous in the ruck. “He is playing a pivotal role giving the Demons first use of the ball in the midfield,’’ said coach Alistair Mitchell.
On the wing Jake Selvey has been demonstrating hard running and great overhead marking while centreman Ben Woodburn has always been around the action and an inside mid tackling machine.
Jordan Williams has also been “a dynamic runner off the half back flanker,’’ Mitchell said.
Over at Broadbeach, Harry Gwynne has been a tower of strength in the ruck while forward Taz Kerr has shone along with Tain Dawson.
On the wing Mav Wells has played strongly for Broadbeach while down back Jack Bowen has stood out.
And at Palm Beach Currumbin, opponents had their hands full with four outstanding players during June.
According to coach Andrew Hayes, Bailey Butcher “applied terrific pressure around the contest’’ after stepping up to play a mid role while Charlie Elliot “has been a prolific ball winner over the past month with silky skills.’’
Macklin Johnson’s strong forward work has been getting reward on the scoreboard for his hard work while Carden Skalij, at inside mid, has been terrific around the stoppages.
From the Panthers den at Esplen Oval, an array of colts players have held up nicely over the last month of footy.
The defenders brigade of Jake Edwards, Tanner Griffiths and Andrew Horridge have done well, with Edwards a noted reliable defender who thrives on the big jobs and Griffiths a young leader who can break lines. Horridge has been a real clean up merchant at the defensive end.
At the forward end of the field, Panthers’ Will Cocklehas been consistently improving and learning, Chase Collins has led by example and effort, while Jamie Linnell has been aggressive, applying pressure that has led to opportunities.
And across the midfield Monty Doorey, Lachlan Wilson and Fin Raymond have shone for Morningside. Doorey has been aggressive as he learns his craft in the ruck, while around him Wilson has been an impressive leader with exceptional work ethic and Raymond an elite midfield runner who is developing weekly.
Colts squad of the month
Forwards: Taz Kerr (Broadbeach), Tain Dawson (Broadbeach), Will Cockle (Morningside), Chase Collins (Morningside), Jamie Linnell (Morningside)
Half forwards: Edwin Nyembo (Sherwood), Fergus McFadyen (Wilston Grange), Macklin Johnson (PBC), Zach Borrelli (Redland-Victoria Point), Mat Bowart (Aspley)
Wing: Jake Selvey (Surfers), Mav Wells (Broadbeach)
Ruck: Josh Mackay (Surfers), Harry Gwynne (Broadbeach), Monty Doorey (Morningside).
Centreman, mid: Bailey Butcher (PBC), Jaydon Macaulay (Sherwood), Duncan McCabe (Wilston Grange), Ben Woodburn (Surfers), Tom Grills (Aspley), Charlie Elliott (PBC), Carter Simpson (Wilston Grange), Carden Skalij (PBC), Korey Dry (Redland-Victoria Point), Rhiley Owens (Aspley), Lachlan Zakaras (Wilston Grange), Lachlan Wilson (Morningside), Fin Raymond (Morningside)
Half back line: Zack Bidgood (Sherwood), Jordan Williams (Surfers), Tristen Meekin (Sherwood)
Defenders/Backmen: Jack Bowe (Broadbeach), Jake Edwards (Morningside), Tanner Griffiths (Morningside), Andrew Horridge (Morningside)
Seniors
In the seniors, Palm Beach Currumbin’s Ben McInney has been a hard running intercept marker, Corey Beaman has been a marking option or intercept specialist back and forward while Tyler Cornish has been great in the midfield with over head ball.
Thomas Thynne has also been a line breaking, hard running midfielder for PBC while Liam Jones has been an intercept king playing back.
Up the other end of the coast, Surfers’ foursome Jack Taylor (full back), Danny Charlesworth (centre half back), half back Alby Jones and of course ruckman Matt Green have been fantastic.
Northern Gold Coast neighbours Broadbeach have again set the standard in the competition - alongside Redland-Victoria Point, and that man Lucas “Jelly Man’’ Turner has been at it again for Broadbeach.
Turner has excelled across the half back flank where he has been a high possessive defender and a great user of the ball.
The deputy Mayor of Broadbeach Josh Searl - Jordan Moncrieff is of course The Mayor - has also been getting plenty of possession with deadly disposal while Brad Lynch, who joined the Cats from the Bulldogs this season, has been a danergous match winner and always elusive.
Aspley has been well served by a ruckman, Will Wolbers, who is continuing great early season form while Daniel Joseph at half back is displaying an elite kick. He is hitting the form that saw him win the Hornets 2015 NEAFL best and fairest award.
Connor Stackelberg continued to be consistent in front of goals for the Aspley seniors.
Down the road at Wilston Grange, the Gorillas have been blessed to have Matt Payne who continues to set the highest of standards as an inside mid.
On the half back flanker Daniel Bowles has shone, while utility Jackson Mills continues to play well in any position on the ground.
Down by the bay, Redland Victoria-Point has seen Caleb Franks again terrific with his midfield clearance and midfielder Jack Rolls shining with an ability to break from the congestion.
Brock Aston has also been a “bull on the inside and runs well on the outside’’ according to his coach Phil Carse.
Full forward Mark Hammelmann has been a great target with his contested marking for Redland-Victoria Point while at the other end of the field full back Adrian Williams is hard to beat one-on-one and takes interceptions.
At Morningside, two young midfielders, Kelly Castle and Oneill Moncreiff, have had a really good month of footy alongside ruckman Max McDonald and defender Tom Jeffrey.
And southside rivals Mt Gravatt has seen Jackson Griffith, the ever green Gavin Grose and Zac Young rise to the occasion.
The youthful Griffith is a running half back with good skills who is great in traffic, while centre half back continues to display leadership and direction with a young backline. His big left foot and defensive are first class.
Young is another small back with good speed and a great left foot. He is also composed in congestion.
Noosa’s best this season has been ruckman Connor McDonald whose mobility and marking impresses, Tom Rourke in the mid field and small forward Ethan Johnstone.
Seniors Squad of the Month
Forwards: Connor Stackelberg (Aspley), Mark Hammelmann (Redland-Victoria Point), Ethan Johnstone (Noosa)
Centre half forward: Danny Charlesworth (Surfers),
Half forwards: Lucas Turner (Broadbeach), Josh Searl (Broadbeach)
Wing: Jackson Mills (Wilston Grange)
Ruck: Matt Green (Surfers), Will Wolbers (Aspley), Max McDonald (Morningside), Connor McDonald (Noosa)
Centreman, mid: Tyler Cornish (PBC), Caleb Franks (Redland-Victoria Point), Matt Payne (Wilston Grange), Jack Rolls ( (Redland-Victoria Point), Brad Lynch (Broadbeach), Kelly Castle (Morningside), Oneill Moncreiff (Morningside), Brock Aston (Redland-Victoria Point), tOM Rourke (Noosa)
Centre half back: Gavin Grose (Mt Gravatt)
Half back line: Corey Beaman (PBC), Daniel Joseph (Aspley), Thomas Thynne (PBC), Alby Jones (Surfers), Daniel Bowles (Wilston Grange),
Centre half back: Danny Charlesworth (Surfers),
Defenders/Backmen: Jack Taylor (Surfers), Liam Jones (PBC), Adrian Williams ( (Redland-Victoria Point), Ben McInney (PBC), Tom Jeffrey (Morningside), Zac Young (Mt Gravatt), Jackson Griffith (Mt Gravatt).
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