Rookie Panther prowls, big Cat roars and Gorillas’ North Queensland recruit shines
QAFL colts: An AFL footy father-son prospect soared to propel Broadbeach close to the top six, Panthers’ rookie shone on debut while the biggest improver tag loomed for a Wilston Grange defender.
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Kalani White changed the game for the Cats’ in Broadbeach’s gripping win over Maroochydore which has tightened up the finals’s race in the QAFL colts competition.
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In a nip and tuck affair, the Cats scampered home late in the final term, kicking 4-1 to one major to send the club into seventh position – but equal on competition points with Maroochydore.
Finals contenders:
1. Aspley 46 (361.85 per cent)
2. Wilston Grange 40 (319 per cent)
3. Morningside 36 (206.73 per cent)
4. Sherwood 36 (177.09 per cent)
5. Palm Beach Currumbin 30 (98.30 per cent)
6. Maroochydore 28 (146.37 per cent)
7. Broadbeach 28 (108 per cent)
Noosa (20) remained an outside chance.
White, the son of former Demons ruckman Jeff White, altered the flow of the game when he was moved to centre half forward at halftime after playing the opening two terms at centre half back.
The towering 200cm White was absolutely magnificent alongside ruckman Charlie Gwynne, and with a flow of possession Broadbeach somehow found 16 points in the final 10 minutes of tough, low scoring affair.
It was actually like finals’ football had come early, and in the tense contest both White and Gwynne stood up to the intensity in key moments.
White is a Gold Coast kid having been on the Glitter Strip since he was a baby when his dad retired from the Demons and relocated to Queensland from Melbourne in 2008.
Not surprisingly Kalni has been a Suns’ Academy inductee, but the father-son option means the tall timber is most likely Demons’ bound.
While White and the tall, Gwynne, shone, it was very much a team performance and Broadbeach’s players will be bouncing around at training this week ahead of round 13 against the competition’s big improvers, Noosa.
Maroochydore gave the match a real nudge and looked winners until the fourth quarter after initially jumping their rivals in the opening term.
Leading the way for the Roos was Toby Griggs. Not only did he see a lot of the footy and use the ball well, his off the ball running and unselfish efforts did not go unnoticed by coach Rod Smith.
Wilston Grange v Palm Beach Currumbin
PBC coach Gaven Johnston-Smith rated Wilston Grange arguably the team to beat in the competition after the Gorillas produced a high class team performance in its 16.11.107 to 5.6.36 victory.
“Our young guys got a lesson from a well disciplined side,’’ said PBC coach Gavin Johnston-Smith.
“Definitely they are the side team to beat, certainly the hardest team we’ve played in recent times.’’
So well did the Gorillas’ squad play as a group, it was almost toss a coin stuff to come up with best afield.
But when a push came to a shove, Wilston Grange’s best landed on the outstanding Jack Thompson, Archie Smith, Bailey Morgan and Grady Turner.
Thompson is a beast in the mid field where he can dominate stoppages, while also hitting the scoreboard. Twice he booted majors against PBC SHS.
Smith swung between up forward and mid field. He worked hard to be the link player when his teammates transitioned out of defence, and also kicked a goal.
Morgan was typically a second and third effort player, and his clearance work was great as well.
Backman Turner’s marking across the half back line was amazing and he must surely be one of the competition’s most improved players.
Clearly benefiting from being in the Suns under-18 academy program, the Whitsunday junior is owning the centre half back region where he is taking marks for fun.
Turner was originally from the sugarcane town of Proserpine where he made an impact on the sporting field as a cricketer and touch football player.
But Turner, who was a boarder at Nudgee College, was making great strides in footy.
There was a nice moment for Wilston Grange’s Carter Simpson when he made a successful return from an ACL injury.
In his return from that long term injury, Simpson booted four goals, while Blair Humphreys kicked three.
PBC were down on troops, having to field eight under-17s, and then lost leadership back man Brock Johnston-Smith with a dislocated shoulder.
In a crisis, PBC were desperate to find a hero and up stepped Ed Puecker.
He was outstanding given the ball was coming in all directions toward him.
Rory Withers was also strong for PBC through the mid field, an area where Wilston Grange applied tremendous pressure with great results. But Withers did well.
Sam Wundtke also tried his heart out in the ruck and around the ground.
Morningside v Mt Gravatt
Morningside maintained the rage in its 18-6 to 4-1 win over Mt Gravatt which was an important percentage boosting effort.
Captain Matt Robson led from the front for the Panthers, intercepting well around centre half back. It was a great performance by Robson who stepped up to skipper the side.
Josh Thomsen was tremendous in the ruck and you’d have to have a good memory to think of one hit out which he lost. He was also high up in the clearances and tackles.
And in his colts debut, Morningside’s under-17 captain Clancy Muniandy kicked three goals.
Muniandy is another local boy, an Iona First XV cricketer who plays centre half back at Esplen oval.
Zac Joyce joined Muniandy in kicking three majors, while Josh Thomsen, Max Milner, Xavier Veivers Brown and Cooper Short found two each.
For the Vultures, Liam Cull read the ball really well from centre half back and locked down his opposing centre half forward which was no mean feat.
From Cull’s performance, Mt Gravatt’s run the backline started.
Aspley v Noosa
Noosa battled against the competition’s best in the business, unbeaten Aspley, who found 22 goals in a runaway win (144-13).
Padua College student Lachlan Chambers, a superb club player, kicked five goals but Aspley had 11 other goal kickers including Jett Atkins (three), Thomas Steel, Jalen Proud, Ryan Fox, Calen Harrop (all two apiece).
“It was an even spread across the ground, but it was enlightening that we were able to maintain a four quarter performance and consistently hit the scoreboard.
Calen Harrop produced a thrilling running game, and his ability to get from contest to contest was excellent, before going forward where he converted with two majors.
Frankie Quinn was a stalwart down back with intercept marks, and then created plenty of dash around the half back line.
Indeed the whole back seven were excellent in winning the contest and then allowing the side to shape the ground and move the ball the way coach Atkins wanted.
Jalen Proud ran into the pack with gusto, snaring marks along the way. His performance adds a dimension to the Aspley play as the Hornets look toward its run to the finals.
And Jett Atkins also created havoc with his bullish work in the mid field, and then moving forward to either create opportunities for others, or kick major scores himself.
Sherwood v Labrador
Sherwood generated 33 scoring shots to six in its performance against Labrador at Sherwood.
It all started with Elijah Kim in the ruck and Julian Cruice as an inside mid, and from there Jamie Preston as a deep forward, Harry Boston on the wing, Jack Slater as an outside mid and Linc Bentley as a small forward excelled.
It was an outstanding team performance for the third placed Magpies.
For Labrador, Lachlan Roche continued to win his own footy through the mid field and has been so consistent week in, week out.
Labrador’s other Mr Consistency, Leo Johnston, swung between mid field and back and was dominant in either position. He is a fabulous player.
In addition, Bailey Ingham was solid under pressure, either as a mid fielder or forward.
Surfers Paradise v Redland Victoria Point
The Demons and the Sharks played out a remarkable tie, 6.12 (Surfers) to 7-6 (
Redland Victoria Point) after the Sharks finished with a flourish.
Surfers held a 20 point advantage entering the final term, but a big hearted effort from the visitors saw Redland roar home with a 3-4 performance.
It was edge of the seat stuff.
In a tight game Redland pair Raphael Geesu and Calen Lee kicked two each.
Surfers had six single scorers - Jaden Willis, Jordan Williams, Kai Odewahn, Kai Babbage, James Carrigan and Lachlan Morrissey.
Mid fielders Carrigan, Willis and Odewahn were best for Surfers, along with ruckman Lachlan Walsh.
Redland-Victoria Point’s Max Boultbee was absolutely outstanding for the Sharks in the ruck, a Mr Fit-it who is excellent for a young player in his position.
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