Palm Beach Currumbin player Jason Burge opens up about his dramatic lead in to the QAFL grand final

The man at the centre of the QAFL grand final’s dramatic prelude has opened up about the rollercoaster ride of emotions he felt as his place in the premiership decider hung in the balance. Jason Burge details why he had to find a way to play a game that could be his last.

A SUSPENSION or potential premiership win.

Those are the two contrasting scenarios that played out in Jason Burge’s mind as to how his football career could end going into Tuesday night’s marathon hearing with AFL Queensland.

Burge, 32, has revealed he is unsure if he will play on next season, making the verdict by the panel to uphold the tribunal’s original decision to find him not guilty of rough conduct, despite an appeal by AFLQ, even more significant.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” Burge said.

“It has been a rough week-and-a-half but I’m stoked. I’m not 100 per cent sure with what I’m doing but there is that possibility.

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“I’m not saying this is my last but it was in the back of my mind that it could have been my last game and I didn’t want to go out like that.

“I’m really appreciative for all the support I’ve received from our volunteers and supporters.”

Burge was initially given a three-game suspension after being charged with rough conduct for a hit on Surfers Paradise ruckman Sam Jewell in the opening seconds of their 22-point semi-final win over the Demons at Salk Oval last weekend.

Palm Beach-Currumbin's Jason Burge in action in the QAFL match between Labrador and Palm Beach-Currumbin on Saturday at Cooke Murphy Oval. Picture: Jerad Williams

The match review panel assessed Burge’s conduct to be careless with high contact and high impact.

Palm Beach Currumbin successfully argued Jewell had been pushed by Lions ruckman Jonathan Croad just before gathering possession of the ball, putting him off balance and sending at high speed into Burge, who held his ground.

AFLQ appealed the decision but they failed to convince the panel there was any merit in handing out any suspension.

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Burge played most of his senior career at Southport before arriving at Palm Beach Currumbin in 2017 and featuring in their successive premiership wins going into 2019.

The midfielder said the past 10 days had taken a toll on him emotionally but he now felt revitalised following the final decision.

“It means the world (to be able to play),” Burge said.

“What we have gone through as a club over the last three years and even before that to get this club in a position to get three in a row in the seniors and for the colts and reserves to also be in the grand final on the same day, it’s massive.

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“I have been in footy a long time and this stuff doesn’t happen every year. We have worked so hard to put the club in this position to win three in a row for the seniors and hopefully collect all three premierships on the day.”

Palm Beach Currumbin president Anne Cornish had to take time off work to help with Burge’s case and said the club was ecstatic with the result.

“It’s the right decision and this past week has brought everyone closer together,” Cornish said.