Sling tackle, a second grand final and border patrol: The best of QAFL and QFA Division 2 South competitions
There was a heavy sling tackle, talk of a second grand final, battles with the border and much more. Here is the best of the QAFL and QFA Division 2 South news.
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QAFL
A SLING tackle that left popular cat Nic Burton sprawled on the ground hasn’t been enough to stop Broadbeach from securing a win that has the club believing it can snap a senior premiership drought spanning more than 20 years.
Broadbeach were leading by 56 points over Surfers Paradise in the fourth quarter at Subaru Oval on Saturday when Demons ruckman Matthew Green made two questionable sling tackles, both to Burton, that left the Cat unable to continue.
Burton managed to bounce up from the first but with his arms pinned in the second, and without the football, his head connected heavily with the turf, leaving him with whip lash.
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Thankfully Burton’s luck turned later that day when he won the meat tray at the club.
Green was reported for the action that led to a scuffle between opposition players before Broadbeach went on to win 13.15 (93) to 3.5 (23).
“He has whip lash,” Broadbeach coach Craig O’Brien said.
“I think it just came out of frustration on Green’s behalf.
“Green is a good player but when you get frustrated you do things you don’t normally do.
“You have got to fly the flag with that type of stuff because those sling tackles are getting really dangerous.”
Surfers Paradise coach Brad Moore said Green would cop any punishment he was dealt with but backed the character of the talented player.
“We will wait and see what happens,” Moore said.
“It was an unfortunate incident. Green plays the game really physically and pushes the limits but within the guidelines of the rules.
“His frustration got the better of him in the moment. It’s definitely not the way he plays his football and he doesn’t want to be known for it.”
The incident couldn’t detract from a clinical display from the Cats who dominated in the middle, decisively spread from the contest and routinely gave their forwards the opportunity to take uncontested marks in front of goal.
Jordan ‘The Mayor’ Moncrieff took his goal tally to 23 by kicking six on Saturday while Clay Cameron and Connor Nutting both slotted two each.
Reigning premiers Surfers Paradise were scoreless in the first term and could only kick one goal in each of the remaining three quarters.
Broadbeach sit second on the ladder with four wins and a bye from five rounds.
In an eight game regular season, the Cats look a major chance to win their first senior premiership since 1996.
“The self belief is starting to come,” O’Brien said.
“I told the boys before the season that there might come a minute or the end of a match where they walk off and think they are the real deal and a chance to win this.
“When you get that mental feeling you can feel indestructible and win from anywhere.
“We are starting to get that feeling.”
The Demons were always going to be up against it before the first bounce, with top 22 players Alby Jones (back), Kain Ford (quad), Dale Eames (hamstring), Max Pescud (Academy) and Jack Taylor all unavailable.
The majority are expected to return this week’s Round 6 clash with Mt Gravatt.
“We were completely outplayed,” Moore said.
“They beat us in all facets of the game. It was one of our poorest performances in a long time.”
The Demons are seventh on the ladder with one win from four games and a bye, with the club having one of the toughest starts to the draw of any club.
They have played Palm Beach Currumbin, Labrador, Morningside and Broadbeach and Moore is confident his team won’t be deflated after the tough start to the season.
“I have full faith in our process and the playing group,” Moore said.
“We will have an honest reflection on Saturday’s performance but everything will be in perspective as well.
“We aren’t in our best form yet but we won’t dwell on it. We will use it as a launching pad to get better.”
Meanwhile, Labrador lost to Mt Gravatt 11.7 (73) to 7.13 (55) at Cooke Murphy Oval on Saturday.
The Tigers were in the box seat to take hold of the game but were ultimately undone by inaccurate kicking.
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ROUND 5 QAFL RESULTS
Broadbeach 13.15 (93) defeated Surfers Paradise 3.5 (23) at Subaru Oval.
Mt Gravatt 11.7 (73) defeated Labrador 7.13 (55) at Cooke Murphy Oval.
Morningside 14.9 (93) defeated Maroochydore 12.6 (78) at Jack Esplen Oval.
Sherwood 14.3 (87) defeated Wilston Grange 8.6 (54) at McCarthy Homes Oval.
Palm Beach Currumbin – bye.
QAFL LADDER
Morningside – 20
Broadbeach – 16
Palm Beach Currumbin – 16
Sherwood – 8
Mt Gravatt – 8
Maroochydore – 4
Surfers Paradise – 4
Wilston Grange – 4
Labrador – 0
QFA DIVISION 2 SOUTH
The border headaches are set to continue for clubs in both Queensland and NSW following the split of the QFA Division 2 South competition.
Clubs face the dilemma of trying to find mutual ground to play fixtures due to the border and zone restrictions.
AFL Queensland split the competition this week to separate the four Northern Rivers teams of Tweed Coast, Ballina, Lismore and Byron Bay with the Queensland teams.
But Tweed Coast players and others who work in Queensland won’t be able to travel south to play Ballina and Byron Bay unless they isolate for 14 days after.
“They can’t go across the border and then leave Pottsville to play footy,” Tweed Coast coach Hamish Mitchell said.
“We can play Byron and Ballina but they would have to come to Pottsville. They can have the money from the gate and bar and all that.
“We just want to play footy.
“It would also enable them to have all their players available to field their strongest team.”
It’s an issue the likes of Coolangatta face if they were to play Kenmore, given they can’t travel beyond Beenleigh due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Some coaches have floated the idea of having the winners of the Northern Rivers hub play the winners of the Queensland pool after the official grand final if possible in order to try and inspire their players.
The restrictions also left the likes of Ballina and Lismore without many players on Saturday, leaving them to battle manfully undermanned.
Tweed coast beat Lismore 23.15 (153) to 2.7 (19) while Byron Bay kept its undefeated season going with a mammoth 26.13 (169) defeated Ballina 1.1 (7), with William McBride kicking nine goals.
WIN FULL OF VALUE
ADDED player accountability has led to Bond University’s 117 point win over Coomera.
“The boys cracked in and the score was probably embellished a bit,” Bond University coach Sam Whish-Wilson said.
“It was our best performance of the year.
“We were all on the same page. We talked a lot before the game about our team values and what we will hold each other accountable to all game.
“We have had those values all season but we are at a stage where each player has to hold each other accountable, not just the coaches.”
Brothers Rhys and William King played in the same team together for the first time since they were starting their junior careers in the game.
Rhys booted two goals and Williams slotted one of his own.
“It was awesome seeing them out there together,” Whish-Wilson said.
“I believe players play well with emotion. They were two of our best players and loved the fact they were playing together.”
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Coolangatta coach Tim Deacon says the energy of youth is helping deliver a run of form that has included four straight wins.
The Blues beat Carrara 10.13 (73) to 5.6 (36) on Saturday at Eximm Oval, breaking away in the second half to produce a win that has lifted them to second on the ladder.
“We have been having good second halves lately, something we didn’t do well early,” Deacon said.
“The boys are getting to know each other a bit better. It’s going to take time and there are moments in games we look really good and others not so much.
“We are starting to play our brand of football.”
Deacon said the inclusion of five players under the age of 20, including Corey Joyce, the younger brother of Suns AFL player Jesse Joyce, Connor Robinson, Beau Kelly, Josh Fenton and Daniel Johnstone, had added sparked the group.
“Having the five young kids in the team is really good for us,” Deacon said.
“The more games we get into them the better. Having young kids in your team creates a learning atmosphere. That is what I’m all about.”
ROUND 5 QFA DIVISION 2 SOUTH RESULTS
Byron Bay Magpies 26.13 (169) defeated Ballina 1.1 (7)
Coolangatta Tweed 10.13 (73) defeated Carrara 5.6 (36)
Bond University 22.19 (151) defeated Coomera 5.4 (34)
Kenmore 19.19 (133) defeated Robina 2.8 (20)
Tweed Coast 23.15 (153) defeated Lismore 2.7 (19).
Burleigh – Bye
Victoria Point – Bye
ROUND 5 QFA DIVISION 2 SOUTH LADDER
Byron Bay – 20
Coolangatta – 16
Bond University – 16
Kenmore – 12
Victoria Point – 12
Burleigh – 12
Tweed Coast – 8
Carrara – 8
Ballina – 8
Coomera – 4
Robina – 0
Lismore – 0
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