All the biggest news from the QAFL and QFA Division 2 South Australian rules competitions
Cracked ribs, 12 stitches, return of a club legend, the response of a scathing review, the biggest loss in recent years for one team and the details of a list build that could finally bring success for one club. Read the biggest news from the QAFL and QFA Division 2 South competitions here.
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QAFL
THE RESPONSE:
Palm Beach Currumbin legend Jesse Derrick has made his comeback to football on a day the Lions responded to a scathing review with a 75-point win over Wilston Grange.
Derrick wasn’t going to play in 2020 but the experienced Lion couldn’t stay away.
He played for the Palm Beach Currumbin development side, who beat Wilston Grange 2.4 (17) to 1.7 (13).
The Lions senior QAFL side conducted a stinging review of last week’s game against Sherwood on Tuesday and coach Jess Sinclair got the response he was after, the team smashing Wilston Grange 13.7 (85) to 1.4 (10) at Salk Oval on Saturday.
“It was scrappy, wet and a tackle heavy game but we got a four quarter performance out of them,” Sinclair said.
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“The boys looked hungrier and adapted to the conditions. They were more clean with the footy, that was the main thing.
“They weren’t trying to overuse the ball, they just got it forward and into dangerous spots in front of goal.
We had a scathing review on Tuesday night before training and dissected that second half because we were so poor. A few guys got a clip and they responded.
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Forward Matthew “Chook” Fowler was out with cracked ribs but the Cats were not short on class in their 13.16 (94) to 4.8 (32) win over Labrador on Saturday.
Fowler suffered the injury last week and was one of six forced changes, including draft prospect Alex Davies who may not return for a month with an arm injury.
But with Nathan Quick returning and defender Rhys Clark playing his first game, Broadbeach managed to get on top of a Tigers outfit who lost two of their best.
Labrador lost Jonathon Beech (hamstring) and Thomas Miller (quad) in the first quarter, hurting an already young side who couldn’t go with the Cats in heavy conditions.
”The big bodies helped did help but the weather wasn’t too bad,” Cats coach Craig O’Brien said.
“The pitch was heavy but apart from that it was good. It was tight early but we got away from them halfway through the second quarter after they lost a couple of good players early.
“They were undermanned and we cashed in on that.
“We had a really even spread. Rhys Clark played his first game and was really good off halfback while Nathan Quick played his first game back too.”
QAFL AND QFA DIVISION 2 SOUTH NEWS
REMEMBERING LATE GREAT WHO DIED AT COAST FOOTY GAME
Labrador coach Liam Burke didn’t have a lot to celebrate, but the debut of promising 16-year-old Luke Coombes provided a silver lining to the loss.
“We were pushed around a bit and losing Jono and Tom cost us a bit,” Burke said.
“Beechy will probably pull up all right but Tom could be more serious. We have a bye coming up so we will have to see how they pull up over the week.
“Luke kicked a goal with his first kick in senior footy. He played plenty of time on the wing and on the forward flank and didn’t look out of place. Todd Featherstone presented his jumper which was a nice touch.”
The Tigers are winless from three games and with the regular season cut back to eight games due to COVID-19 Labrador will need an enormous lift in results to challenge for the premiership.
Burke said the team still hoped to reach the finals, with the top six teams of the nine-team competition earning a spot in the finals.
“We can see light at the end of the tunnel,” Burke said.
“The first three games we have played against teams who will be there at the pointy end at the end of the season (Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Morningside).
“We had our chances in Round 1 and 2 and (Saturday) was a bit of a nose dive.
“We will get a few back from injury and if we get a few things right on the run home then we could sneak in.”
QFA DIVISION 2 SOUTH
BRAYDE Palmer’s day finished with 12 stitches in his lip and the moment he left the ground was the same one that signalled the fall of the Carrara Saints on Saturday.
The dominant ruckman was best-on-ground until the moment he went to gather a ground ball before being hit by an opposition player.
There was 10 minutes left in the game and the sidelining of Palmer left the Saints scrambling, eventually going down 10.11 (71) to 7.8 (50).
“That was the point we lost momentum,” Saints coach Wayne Petterd said.
“We tried to play dry weather footy and couldn’t execute properly.
“They had some bigger bodies and their experience probably got them over the line.
“We don’t get these wet conditions very often. Even the fellas who have come from Melbourne and Tasmania, it’s like they forgot how to play wet weather footy.
“On paper we have a good side but we are still getting to know each other. The penny will drop one day.”
BOND BASHED
Bond University suffered their biggest loss in years on Saturday, thumped 14.8 (92) to 2.5 (23) by Victoria Point at Ern Dowling Oval in the QFA Division 2 South competition.
“We spoke after the game about using it as a learning experience,” Bond coach Sam Whish-Wilson said.
“We need to do better and get better so it’s a good opportunity. That is why we play sport, to work out new ways to win.
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“We allowed (Victoria Point) to be good. They have some NEAFL players who have dropped down and we identified them but didn’t put enough pressure on them.
“We went away from what makes us great, that is our tackling and defensive pressure.”
Meanwhile, Coolangatta Tweed edged out Burleigh 8.8 (56) to 5.11 (41) at Bill Godfrey Oval on Saturday.
“They were too good in those conditions. They came prepared to play and we played like it was dry weather,” Burleigh coach Peter Young said.
“They had bigger bodies over the ball. You aren’t going to win too many games kicking 5.11.”
Burleigh lost Cameron Rowlands with a quad injury.
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COOMERA’S BUILD
Coomera haven’t had much to celebrate in senior football in recent years so their gritty three point win over Robina on Saturday is one to be cherished.
Coach Dale Turner enjoyed the team’s first win under his watch, with the Magpies sneaking past Robina 7.9 (51) to 6.12 (48) at Scottsdale Drive.
Full forward Cooper Cook, midfielder Dougie King, centre half-back Michael Crewes, and half-back flankers Harrison Mackenzie and Luke Reynolds were among Coomera’s best.
Coomera coach Dale Turner detailed the work that had been put in to getting the struggling club in a position for success long term.
“We have got a really young side. There are a heap of colts and the average age is around 20,” Turner said.
“In some respects the first couple of games it was men against boys.
“There has been steady improvement each week and for the boys to get a win on the board in round 3 was a big thrill and pleasing for the coaches.
“There is a long way to go but we will take the wins as they come.
“We will build this group together and recruit in the coming years.
“We are young out of necessity with the cards we were dealt.
“We made a call that there may be short term pain for some long term game.
“If the group can stick tight then they can do something special in the next three years or so.
“The thing we have lacked over the last few years is an environment. It hasn’t been one they have wanted to stay around.”
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