Four mouthwatering finals scenarios play out for Gold Coast QAFL clubs

A home grand final will be at stake this weekend on the back of the Cats win while a fifth straight grand final is under threat for a Lions team smashed by injury. Meanwhile the Tigers have something to celebrate despite having their finals hopes dashed and what has happened to the reigning premiers? All your Gold Coast QAFL news here.

THIS week’s Round 9 QAFL clash with between Broadbeach and Morningside will determine who wins the minor premiership and could dictate which city gets hosting rights for the grand final.

The Cats put Wilston Grange to the sword on Saturday at Hickey Park, brushing aside the Brisbane team 18.16 (124) to 4.7 (31) in a game the Gorrilas were kept to just one goal by halftime.

Broadbeach, chasing their first senior premiership since 1996, are hitting peak form at the right time and will have the bulk of the best players on its list available to play when the regular season finishes at the end of this week.

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The Cats are premiership favourites with Morningside with both sides undefeated after eight rounds.

The highest ranked team to progress through the preliminary finals will get hosting rights to the grand final, with Southport Sharks and Yeronga both options for AFLQ.

It makes finishing on top this weekend crucial.

“This game is a like a final and we are treating it like that,” Cats coach Craig O’Brien said.

“We need this challenge now to see how good we are and Morningside are the same.

Broadbeach Cats player Connor Nutting. Picture credit: Brooke Sleep Photography.

“The result this weekend won’t necessarily be the result in a grand final by any means but it will give us an indication of where we are at.

“A win would give us real belief because we know we have beaten everyone then.”

Broadbeach have one of the most potent forward lines in the QAFL with Jordan Moncrieff, who was rested on Saturday, Connor Nutting, Josh Gore, Clay Cameron, Ryan Gilmore and Jackson Fisher among the goal kicking options while Michael Selsby has proven he can come off the bench and win games, like he did against Palm Beach Currumbin a fortnight ago.

Meanwhile, Palm Beach Currumbin’s hopes of reaching a fifth straight QAFL grand final look uncertain as the club battles enormous injury problems.

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Jarryd Douglas pulled his hamstring in the first minute of the Lions 16.17 (113) to 9.7 (61) loss to Morningside on Saturday at Jack Esplen Oval.

It is another blow to a team who lost Mitch Johnson to a season-ending knee injury going into the game, along with Stephen Thynne (ankle) and Brock Askey (concussion).

“Morningside completely dominated us in every aspect of the game,” Lions coach Jess Sinclair said.

“We are just running out of soldiers. Our whole forward line has been pretty much decimated.”

Adding to the club’s woes is the fact Brayden Crossley was put on report following a tackle and melee in the fourth quarter.

“Mathematically we can’t finish any higher or lower than third so that gives us a home final,” Sinclair said

“This week we will have to experiment and give some guys opportunity who have been playing in our development team.”

The finals hopes of fellow Gold Coast team Labrador have been dashed following a 9.13 (67) to 6.5 (41) loss to Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

It was a day of mixed emotions for players and staff who welcomed back Queensland football giant Jake Goldsmith who played his first game since rupturing his ACL last season.

Jake Goldsmith (left) pictured playing against Palm Beach Currumbin in 2018. Picture: Mike Batterham

Goldsmith has missed virtually two seasons of football after groin surgery and then the knee injury. Tigers senior coach Liam Burke said he was a welcome sight back on the field.

“He is an absolute beast in the competition so it was good for him to come back so he can go into the pre-season knowing he has ticked one off,” Burke said.

Meanwhile, the season hangs in the balance for reigning premiers Surfers Paradise who will need to beat Maroochydore this weekend after losing 12.13 (85) to 8.9 (57) to Sherwood at McCarthy Homes Oval on Saturday.

Surfers Paradise are four points outside the top six and could leapfrog Maroochydore, who hold sixth, with a substantial win.