The x-factors who can change the game for QAFL clubs Broadbeach, Palm Beach Currumbin, Surfers Paradise and Labrador
REVEALED: Your football team’s x-factors. Discover the players who can turn the tide on performances and determine the outcome of the biggest games. SUBSCRIBE TO READ THE WHOLE SERIES
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THE 2020 QAFL season is in full swing and the reduced length of the season means every game is critical.
It leaves teams needing an extra edge over their opponents more than ever and there are certain players at each club who have the x-factor needed to win games and send them into the finals.
After Round 3, we reveal the three players at each of the Gold Coast QAFL clubs who could flip the script midgame.
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LABRADOR
Tom Fields: A quality ball user and elite kick who can cause some big damage once he is up and going. The Labrador junior is also a Southport NEAFL premiership player who can play on ball, on a wing or off halfback.
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Leigh Osborne: Produces his best work around stoppages. Osborne’s first few steps are packed with power, giving him a good mix of inside grunt and an ability to explode on to the outside to support.
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Jonathon Beech: A man with an ability to play anywhere on ground. He has been incredibly valuable for Labrador at forward, partnering with Bryce Retzlaff while Jake Goldsmith is out with a knee injury. Beech provides the Tigers with another big target who has the ability to take marks and kick goals.
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PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN:
Jonathan Croad: One of the QAFL’s best ruckman in recent years. Croad is incredibly strong int he contest and can play like a midfielder. A lethal combination.
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Mitch Johnson: The Sharks NEAFL player has booted six goals in his first two games for the Lions. Johnson is strong in the contest, has genuine pace to burn and when the ball hits the ground he is often first to it. It helps he knows where the goals are too.
Cory Beaman: Best on ground against Sherwood last weekend. Beaman spent time at the Suns academy and exudes quality. He plays off halfback and can get Palm Beach Currumbin’s attack going.
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BROADBEACH:
Jordan Moncrieff: There is no doubt about Moncrieff’s inclusion. A tall (197cm) talent who is also a good leader at the Cats Moncrieff booted six goals last weekend and worked hard for all of them. He is agile and hard to match up on. Good luck stopping him this season.
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Alex Davies: The Gold Coast Suns leading draft prospect for 2020, Davies has had no trouble making the step up to senior football. A tall midfielder who is elite by hand and foot.
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Connor Nutting: A former Suns AFL-listed player who threatened to take the game away from Mt Gravatt last weekend. A very serviceable forward who works hard, is a good runner and uses the ball well. Nutting can ply tall or small, is fit, fast and has good skills. He will be one of the best players in the QAFL this year.
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SURFERS PARADISE:
Noa Corbett: A small forward who can mark the ball overhead well while also boasting the ability to make a big impact on the scoreboard. Corbett can change the game in an instant and he possesses a huge apptetie to apply forward pressure, not to mention he has some flare about him.
Max Prescud: A Suns academy player who is draft eliligble this year. Prescud is a forward who is slightly taller than Corbett and just as good at marking the ball. He can also play on the wing.
Brody Haberfield: The perfect swingman. Haberfield is a key defender who can go forward and cause enormous headaches. Haberfield is powerful, can mark the ball well and is hugely competitive. The Demons can throw him into the forward line and know he will do just as much damage in front of goal.
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ROUND 3 TEAM CHANGES
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN (v Wilston Grange. Saturday at Salk Oval. 2pm.):
In: Jonathan Croad. Joshua Lys
Out: Ashton Crossley (groin), Riley Engles
BROADBEACH (v Labrador. Saturday at Subaru Oval. 2pm):
In: Rhys Clark, Jackson Fisher, Nathan Quick, Liam Nelson, Brandon Chadwick, Dylan Lancaster.
Out: Alex Davies (arm), Matt Fowler (inj.), Aiden Fyfe (inj.), Kai Sheers (ill), Ben Hancock (knee), Benji Neal (hamstring).
LABRADOR (v Broadbeach. Saturday at Subaru Oval. 2pm):
In: Rhys Nicholls, Brad Carter, Tyler Brown, Luke Coombes (16-year-old debutant).
Out: Nick Jackson (omitted), Hugo Barry (omitted), Cooper Anderson (concussion), Leigh Osbourne (suspension)
SURFERS PARADISE (bye):
EARLIER:
THE limited time frame for preparation has Gold Coast QAFL teams acutely aware of the increased risk of injuries that could upset their chances at the premiership.
Teams have already had multiple players go down with injury through the week, pre-game and during matches two rounds into an eight-round regular season.
COVID-19 forced the halt to football, leaving the players without a training and game structure that would usually follow the pre-season campaigns that conditioned their bodies for the rigours of football.
They only had weeks to try and get fit for the resumption of the season between full-time work.
Palm Beach Currumbin lost Jonathan Croad (hamstring) and Jackson Emblem (knee) before their Round 2 clash with Sherwood last Saturday while Tyler Cornish suffered from tightness in his hamstring.
Broadbeach lost three players right after quarter-time in a brave win over Mt Gravatt away from home.
Small forward Benji Neal (hamstring) and defender Benjamin Hancock (knee) both went down minutes into the second quarter while midfielder Aiden Fyfe suffered an impact injury, with coaches suspecting he has broken his ribs.
Palm Beach Currumbin coach Jess Sinclair said he expected the lack of conditioning in many players to play a role in injuries this season.
“With limited prep the guys bodies are sore and soft tissues will start creeping in because it not normal prep.
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“We will have to monitor Cornish. He came off at half time on the weekend and we will assess a few other guys.
“Even in the development team, guys had sore claves and hammys and it just comes down to conditioning.”
Broadbeach will play Labrador this Saturday at Subaru Oval, Palm Beach Currumbin will play Wilston Grange at Salk Oval and Surfers Paradise will have a bye.
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