QAFL colts: Round 1 Players of the Week after head turning start
Best players from QAFL colts round 1 revealed here after a head turning start to the season which featured dramatic wins by Noosa, Wilston Grange, Aspley, the Roos, Panthers and Magpies.
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Noosa, Aspley and Wilston Grange all produced roaring starts to the competition by downing three Gold Coast battleships, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Palm Beach Currumbin respectively as the QAFL colts season rolled forward.
Imposing Maroochydore also gained the upper hand over Redland Victoria Point, while Morningside’s theme song was sung loud and proud at Esplen Oval.
At Klumpp Road, the Magpies soared in a local derby win over Mt Gravatt.
THE RESULTS
Aspley 9.8.62 v Broadbeach 2.2.15
Aspley coach Brett Atkins said: “I was really impressed the way we were able to defend the ground 95 per cent of the game. We showed glimpses with some quick and accurate ball.’’
Wilston Grange 9.10.64 def Palm Beach Currumbin 4.5.29
Gorillas coach Darren Fazldeen said: “It was a great win by the boys first up against Palmy. It is definitely the hardest road trip in the competition. The boys played our style of footy which was pleasing and relished the challenge.
Palm Beach Currumbin coach Glen Clarke said there was plenty to work on with his young side despite the loss. “We were a very young side so it was a great test for a player. We need to improve our spread from the contest and our shape going into the forward line. But our efforts all day were great and we didn’t stop competing, including kicking the final two goals.’’
RELATED LINKS
QAFL SENIOR FOOTY’S KEY RECRUITS
QAFLW SENIOR FOOTY’S KEY RECRUITS
Q and A WITH THE QAFL AND QAFLW SENIOR CAPTAINS
Noosa 6.10.46 def Surfers Paradise 6.4.40
Noosa coach Ben Archard said: “It was a great effort by my boys. We pride ourselves on high pressure and certainly brought that across the whole four quarters. We played and stuck to our structure in what was a complete team performance.’’
Surfers Paradise coach Dean Odewahn said it was a close game all match and could have gone either way.
Maroochydore 14.13.97 def Redland Victoria Point 5.5.35
Roos coach Rob Smith said: “The pressure from the whole group was amazing.’’
Sharks coach Aaron Christensen said: “I think our execution and general messy polay hurt us. They (Maroochydore) did really well converting turners. As the game went on we went away from our structures which helped them to transition the footy quite easily. It is a credit to the Maroochydore coaching staff and their players.’’
Morningside 8.14.62 def Labrador 5.10.40
Panthers coach Justin Lawrence said: “Labrador were very impressive and it was a tight game.’’
Labrador coach Rob Yoannidis said: “I thought we were really good over the whole day. Our mids worked really hard, and won lots of stoppage clearances. We have lots of up side as we can clean up some of our decision making and ne cleaner with the footy by foot.’’
Sherwood 17.6.108 def Mt Gravatt 7.1.43
Sherwood coach Ben Jaenke-Cain said: “It was a pretty good win, fighting back after the first quarter and going on to take control of the rest of the game.’’
Mt Gravatt coach David Greenaway said: “We started the game well and played the way we had been training. But in the second quarter Sherwood took control and edged in front to lead by a goal at half time. We went into our shell and stopped attacking, and worried about the opposition. But there were good signs for the future and plenty to work on.’’
Surfers Paradise v Noosa
So who were the Players of the Round? We reveal them here.
PLAYERS OF THE ROUND
Jake Howson (Aspley)
Playing forward, he finished off his great work with some big plays. He kicked three goals, but it could have been six majors.
Cambell Harrop (Aspley)
Harrop was bullish through the infield and used his class to get the ball on the outside.
Rory O’Brien (Aspley)
O’Brien was solid down back, while his reading of the ball in the air and intercept marking was a treat to watch.
Jack Thompson (Wilston Grange)
It was a great day out for the Gorillas and one of the best was mid field young gun Thompson who had a high possession count and was efficient in getting his team rolling.
Lucas Kera (Wilston Grange)
Palm Beach Currumbin were not without potency, particularly with ace Luca Leverda (see below) lingering across the centre forward line where he was both a direct target and also a presence player. But backman Kera played his part in denying PBC and rebounding possession the other way.
Marcus Zipf (Wilston Grange)
The athletic ruckman was a strong marking, ball winning tall player who was instrumental in the Gorillas possession winning performance.
Toby Grigs (Maroochydore)
One of Maroochydore’s young mid field players, Grigs dominated in the centre clearances and was “super tough’’ according to coach Smith.
Takoda Boltong (Maroochydore)
One of the club’s young back men, his intercept marking was a highlight as was his use of the ball.
Alex Peacock (Sherwood)
It was a captain’s knock from Peacock who played through the middle with great gusto. He looks set for another big season.
Jake Cockerell (Sherwood)
Key position player Cockerell was great on both sides of the ball and has set a high standard which he will aim to maintain across 2024.
Julian Cruice, Reece Thompson and Jamie Preston (all Sherwood)
Sherwood has an array of talls, including Thompson, who was outstanding while Cruice as an inside midfielder and Preston as an underside ruck role shone brightly.
Jai Mure (Noosa)
Playing in the mid field, you needed to look no further than Jai Mure when working out the BoG performer. The St Teresa school product was in everything, even when he was rested forward.
Ethan Slaney (Noosa)
Noosa needed to man the pumps when Surfers Paradise came roaring into the 50m zone and to the fore was Slaney.
Jed Bullman and Jasper Delaney-Taylor (Noosa)
Bullman was one of his team’s best last season and he had a bumper start to 2024 as captain, while ball winning half back Delaney-Taylor was also great for the winners.
Ryley Egan (Morningside)
Egan kicked three goals from midfield and was the BoG. It was a super performance by him and a bumper start to a new season after his 2023 campaign was disrupted by injury. The local junior looked to flourish with the C for captain next to his name.
Cooper Short and Tom Johnston (both Morningside)
Both boys complemented their work around the ball by combining to kick five vital goals – with Short bagging three and Johnston two
Archie Watts and Ben Morison (both Morningside)
The Panthers have plenty of fresh eyes around the squad and the best two debut boys last weekend were Watts and Morison.
Damon Clarke and Luca Leverda (both Palm Beach Currumbin)
The Palmy co-captains and key position player leaders showed their young teammates how it was done. Clarke was outstanding at half back while the fast emerging Leverda did well around centre half back his own. A special mention also to on baller Jake Simons who got through a ton of work.
Luke Kirkman (Mt Gravatt)
Kirkman was enormous in the middle for the Vultures, a performance even more significant when you consider the Magpies will be finals’ contenders this season.
Cody Finlay (Mt Gravatt)
In his QAFL debut, ruckman Finlay did not disappoint and Mt Gravatt will only get better as he develops and players get more experience around him.
Also well done to Vultures defender Elijag Sutton who was strong and solid.
Billy Brenac (Surfers Paradise)
In a tight contest in heavy conditions which could have gone either way, Brenac was outstanding at fullback.
Lachlan Morrissey and Ben Leeds (Surfers Paradise)
Both boys worked tireless through the midfield and did everything possible to give their side the edge.
Jaden Willis (Surfers Paradise)
Willis played a captain’s hand, leading the charge from mid field and down back. It was a gutsy effect.
Jem Nolan, Curtis Brown (Labrador)
Nolan’s penetrating run off half and his use of the footy was great while Curtis Brown played through the Tigers backline, was strong in the air and cleared the footy well.
Lachlan Roche (Labrador)
Roche was as solid as a rock through the midfield and his work rate was amazing. He also won lots of stoppages.
Riley Stevens (Labrador)
Stevens played his role through the midfield and his ability to find the footy was eye-catching, as was his releasing of the footy by hand.
Brodie Kovarik (Labrador)
Brodie found plenty of space from the wing, using his pace to win ball. He gained plenty of possessions and delivered to the forward line on many occasions.
Mitch Roberts (Redland Victoria Point)
In his first game since moving to the club from country Victoria, Roberts showed he will be a great asset to the group.
Bailey Burrows and Kynan Browns (Redland Victoria Point)
Captain Burrows slogged away in the midfield all game while Browns did give his side some ruck dominance.
Matty Owen and Charlie Moreton (Redland Victoria Point)
Both boys showed some exciting glimpses and will be better for the run against the championship Maroochydore side.
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