QAFL grand final preview: Who wins the stats?

Delve into this complete QAFL grand final breakdown ahead of the premiership decider between Broadbeach and Aspley. Key match-ups, coaches, star players and season stats. WHO COMES OUT ON TOP?

The Broadbeach Cats will be out to defend their QAFL premiership title on Saturday when they face the Aspley Hornets at Coorparoo.

The undefeated Cats have been season favourites and will be playing in their fourth grand final in five years, while the Hornets arguably have the bigger point to prove after deciding to leave the VFL after just one season.

So the Cats will have history on their side — but do they have the figures?

We take a look at what the stats say using official AFLQ data.

See every players 2022 statistics here.

Last time they met

Preliminary final: Broadbeach defeat Aspley 93 – 68

Round 20: Broadbeach defeat Aspley 79 – 55

Round 10: Broadbeach defeat Aspley 95 – 67

Grand final profile: Broadbeach

Ladder position: 1

Win-loss ratio: 18-0

Season stats: 6035 disposals, 73.5% efficiency, 1662 marks, 954 tackles, 609 hitouts, 249 goals, 177 behinds

The coach: Craig O’Brien. QAFL Team of the Year coach Craig O’Brien has created an unbeatable monster in Broadbeach over the past two years. He rejoined the helm in 2020 after the shock exit of Beau Zorko, building on what the former coach had already created. Under O’Brien’s reign, the Cats could be in for a long dynasty of good footy.

Broadbeach Cats senior coach Craig O'Brien at men's training. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Broadbeach Cats defender Josh Searl in action against the Labrador Tigers at Subaru Oval in Round 1 of the 2021 QAFL season. Photo credit: Brooke Sleep Photography.

The star player: Josh Searl. Captain of Broadbeach and one of the league’s most formidable defenders, Searl will no doubt lead by example on Saturday. With an average of 18.8 disposals at 80.7% efficiency, 9.7 uncontested possessions and one intercept mark per game, Searl earned his position as captain of the AFLQ’s QAFL Team of the Year.

Grand final profile: Aspley

Ladder position: 2

Win-loss ratio: 14-4

Season stats: 6026 disposals, 77.3% efficiency, 1678 marks, 858 tackles, 796 hitouts, 266 goals, 188 behinds

The coach: Daniel Webster. Having been at the helm of Aspley since the NEAFL in 2018, Webster helped get Aspley into the VFL in 2021. While they opted out of the competition for 2022, Webster has been a key part in why Aspley are renowned as one of the best football clubs in Queensland. The Brisbane Lions AFLW midfield coach will be out to prove the club as just as successful since leaving the VFL.

Daniel Webster. Photo: Josh Woning.

Aspley Hornets QAFL player Ryan Banks-Smith. Photo: Queensland Sport Photography.

The star player: Ryan Banks-Smith. Fresh off winning the 2022 Grogan Medal, Banks-Smith will be coming into the final with a target on his back. Averaging 28.9 disposals at 77.8% efficiency, seven inside 50s, six clearances and three tackles per match, Broadbeach will need to shut down Banks-Smith early.

Key match-ups

All stats are season averages unless stated otherwise.

Josh Searl (Broadbeach) v Nick Dodge (Aspley)

Searl: 18.8 disposals, 80.7% efficiency, 6.3 contested possessions, 9.7 uncontested possessions, 1 intercept mark, 1.4 tackles

Dodge: 11.2 disposals, 70.4% efficiency, 5.5 contested possessions, 5.5 uncontested possessions, 1.5 F50 marks, 1.8 tackles, 23 goals

Broadbeach player James Gledhill. Photo: Mike Batterham.

James Gledhill (Broadbeach) v Connor Stackelberg (Aspley)

Gledhill: 7.6 disposals, 82.6% efficiency, 1.8 contested possessions, 5.8 contested possessions, 0.9 intercept marks, 1.2 tackles

Stackelberg: 14.1 disposals, 60.9% efficiency, 6.8 contested possessions, 6.5 uncontested possessions, 6.3 F50 marks, 1.5 insides 50s, 71 goals

Broadbeach Cats forward Jordan Moncrieff celebrates after kicking a goal against Labrador Tigers. Photo: Brooke Sleep Photography.

Jordan Moncrieff (Broadbeach) v Liam Dawson (Aspley)

Moncrieff: 10.8 disposals, 65.8% efficiency, 4.7 contested possessions, 5.3 uncontested possessions, 1.1 tackles, 2.2 inside 50s, 25 goals total

Dawson: 15.6 disposals, 78% efficiency, 6.2 contested possessions, 9.6 uncontested possessions, 5.2 intercept marks, 1.2 tackles

Aspley ruck Will Wolbers. Photo: John Gass.

Riley Bowman (Broadbeach) v Will Wolbers (Aspley)

Bowman: 21.8 hitouts, 15.2 disposals, 67.5% efficiency, 6.5 contested possessions, 7.1 uncontested possessions, 1.8 tackles, 10 goals total

Wolbers: 36.9 hitouts, 14.4 disposals, 75.8% efficiency, 10.2 contested possessions, 3.9 uncontested possessions, 1.6 tackles, 7 goals total