QAFL Team of the Week Round 7: Three-time BnF picks up 48 touches in important win
A familiar face picked up a ridiculous 48 disposals to lead his side to victory + one team dominates forward selections after monster day out. CLICK TO SEE WHO MADE THE TOTW.
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LIKE a broken record this footy writer just keeps going back to the well of Matthew Payne.
But after 48 touches in the Gorillas’ win over Sherwood, can you blame him?
Payne looks again to be the midfield benchmark in the QAFL this season and he headlines The Bulletin’s Team of the Week for Round 7.
SEE THE ROUND 4 TEAM OF THE WEEK
QAFL STATS: EVERY PLAYER, EVERY CLUB RANKED
In a round hit by two fixture postponements and dampened by Mother Nature, there remained some incredible individual performances that deserved recognition.
Without further ado, your Team of the Week:
BACKLINE:
BP: Brady Allen (Sherwood)
30 disposals, (13 cont.), 73% efficiency, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s
The Magpies were under the pump a lot against he Gorillas, conceding 24 scoring shots to just 10 of their own. Allen toiled hard in defence while also giving them plenty of go forward.
FB: Adrian Williams (Redland-Victoria Point)
20 disposals (14 cont), 7 marks, 6 int. marks, 1 inside 50
As a last line of defence Williams was resolute in the Sharks’ statement win on the road at Palm Beach Currumbin.
BP: Harrison Arnold (Broadbeach)
19 disposals, 0 turnovers, 4 int. marks, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s
Arnold dropped back from the Brisbane Lions VFL and slotted perfectly into the Cats’ set-up. The 2021 premiership winner didn’t turn the ball over once with his 19 touches and was one of the best intercept markers in the comp for round 7.
HB: Daniel Bowles (Wilston Grange)
30 disposals, 9 marks, 5 int. marks, 3 inside 50s
Bowles is a TOTW regular and he showed why once again with a complete display against the Magpies. The second-most intercept marks for the round and 30 disposals off halfback is a more than handy day out.
CHB: Liam Jones (Palm Beach Currumbin)
21 disposals, 0 turnovers, 9 marks, 5 int. marks
When you’re getting 20+ touches in a quagmire and not giving it back to the opposition once, you’re having a good day. Particularly when you’re intercepting marks in the process. But this is what we’ve come to expect from a player of Jones’ caliber.
HB: Zachary Derksen (Wilston Grange)
20 disposals (10 cont.), 70% efficiency, 6 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 4 int. marks
No team in the comp gets as much out of their halfback flankers as the Gorillas. Bowles had a day out but Derksen was almost as impressive on the other side of the field.
MIDFIELD:
WING: Bailey Gordon (Wilston Grange)
39 disposals (22 cont.), 7 marks, 3 int. marks, 7 tackles, 5 inside 50s
A lot of in and under grunt work from Gordon who worked well in tandem with the GOAT Matthew Payne on Saturday.
CENTRE: Matthew Payne (Wilston Grange)
48 disposals (24 cont.), 7 clearances, 6 tackles, 8 inside 50s
Yep. 48 touches. Matthew Payne everybody.
WING: Brock Aston (Redland-Victoria Point)
30 disposals (20 cont.), 9 clearances, 9 tackles, 8 inside 50s, 1 goal
Another Shark who makes TOTW appearances a habit. Aston had his usual high disposal, high clearance game and added a goal in a close contest on the road to cap it off. Was also one of the top uses going inside 50 over Round 7.
FOLLOWERS:
RUCK: Connor McDonald (Noosa)
17 disposals (11 cont.), 45 hitouts, 9 clearances, 10 tackles
McDonald edges out Mt Gravatt’s man mountain Craig Malone this week off the back of his work at ground level. Nine clearances and 10 tackles from your big man … coaches will take that every week.
ROV: Michael Selsby (Broadbeach)
38 disposals (20 cont.), 79% efficiency, 7 clearances, 8 tackles, 5 inside 50s
Selsby wants a Southport VFL return and he did his chances no harm against the Vultures. He was the Cats’ best in the big win after being moved on-ball by Craig O’Brien and we could well expect to see him there more often in coming weeks.
RROV: Thomas Thynne (Palm Beach Currumbin)
31 disposals (23 cont.), 13 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal
The Lions skipper’s 100th game for the club came in a tough loss at home to the Sharks but Thynne can hold his head high for the performance. He had the second-most clearances of any player in Round 7.
FORWARD:
HF: Joshua Wallis (Noosa)
17 disposals (12 cont.), 71% efficiency, 2 goals, 11 tackles
A logjam of players had 2 goals and ~20 touches in Round 7 but Wallis gets the nod for his incredible tackle pressure in a close game on the road.
CHF: Hugh Fidler (Wilston Grange)
27 disposals (16 cont.), 70% efficiency, 8 tackles,3 inside 50s, 2 goals
A complete performance from Fidler for the Gorillas, gathering plenty of the footy and having five shots on goal.
HF: Sam Jasper (Broadbeach)
16 disposals, 4 goals, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s
Jasper and Moncrieff went goal for goal in the wet. He equaled the best haul for the round and earns his first TOTW selection of the season as a result.
FP: Tom Baulch (Noosa)
18 disposals, 3 goals, 6 tackles
Baulch started in the guts in torrid conditions but was thrown forward after quarter-time and was the match-winner for the Tigers, booting three goals including the sealer late in the fourth term.
FF: Jordan Moncrieff (Broadbeach)
13 disposals, 4 goals, 5 tackles
Wet weather footy is not conducive to big bags for tall forwards but Moncrieff showed his class with four in a return for the Cats.
FP: Connor Nutting (Broadbeach)
15 disposals, 3 goals, 4 marks inside 50, 6 tackles
Nutting’s third game back from injury and he is building back into goalkicking form. The conditions weren’t ideal for his high-marking game but Nutting still provided a quality target in a stacked Cats forward 50.
INTERCHANGE:
RUCK: Matthew Green (Surfers Paradise)
39 disposals (36 cont.), 14 clearances, 9 inside 50s, 3 hitouts
Green was back to his brilliant best in the wet against Noosa. Only Matthew Payne had more disposals than the Demons’ Mr Do-it-all, and nobody had as many contested possessions. He didn’t contest the ruck often at the weekend but he is probably the best bench ruckman you could ever ask for.
MID/FWD: Jake Rogers (Broadbeach)
17 disposals, 82% efficiency, 3 goals, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s
When you’re kicking three goals playing through the middle, going at 82% efficiency in a mud bowl, you’re playing good footy. Rogers didn’t accumulate as much as other players in Round 7, but he was damaging when he got it.
MID: Caleb Franks (Redland-Victoria Point)
30 disposals (17 cont.), 67% efficiency, 12 clearances, 12 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal
Franks proved wet or dry he can win the footy and use it effectively. He was arguably the Sharks’ best in the important win over Palm Beach Currumbin.
MID: Sebastian Rogers (Noosa)
24 disposals, 75% efficiency, 16 tackles, 1 goal, 4 clearances
Noosa had the top three tacklers in the round, which is probably why the won the close one against Surfers, and Rogers led the way with a ridiculous 16. He also go forward for a crucial goal in a tight game, so he makes it onto the bench.
QAFL Team of the Week: Round 6
ROUND five may have belonged to the key forwards but it was the on-ballers who starred in the QAFL this week.
Redland-Victoria Point on-baller Jack Rolls had one of the best individual performances of the season in the Sharks’ win over Maroochydore, racking up 37 touches, 14 inside 50s and two goals.
SEE THE ROUND 4 TEAM OF THE WEEK
QAFL STATS: EVERY PLAYER, EVERY CLUB RANKED
Ex-Geelong AFL star Lachie Henderson did as he pleased at both ends of the ground, amassing 33 disposals, 20 marks and two goals in Labrador’s close loss to Aspley.
Hornets forward Connor Stackelberg makes it three-straight appearances in the Team of the Week with an important four-goal outing to get Aspley over the line away from home.
Read on below for the full QAFL Round 6 Team of the Week:
BACKLINE:
BP: Jackson Bury (Maroochydore)
38 disposals, 87% efficiency, 9 marks, 3 inside 50s
Bury is one of the best outside ballrunners in the competition and he put up another fantastic display in Maroochydore’s narrow loss to the Sharks. He is one of the most dangerous outlet players in the QAFL.
FB: Jayden Young (Labrador)
26 disposals, 85% efficiency, 14 marks (3 int.), 3 tackles, 1 inside 50
Against an Aspley team that kicked 283 points in its previous two games, Young led a Labrador backline that held the Hornets to less than 60 in round six. Though the Tigers lost it was still an excellent showing from the fullback.
BP: Matt Cecchin (Labrador)
28 disposals (11 cont.), 75% efficiency, 10 marks, 6 tackles
Few first year players look as ready-made for senior QAFL footy as Cecchin, who makes it back-to-back Team of the Week nominations.
HB: Brandon Chadwick (Broadbeach)
21 disposals (14 cont.), 86% efficiency, 7 tackles, 3 inside 50s
Some might look at the scoreboard and think the Cats’ backline didn’t have much to do against Morningside. But really, it was because the well-oiled back six runs so smoothly. Chadwick was clean, effective and applied great tackle pressure whenever the Panthers went inside 50.
CHB: Lachlan Henderson (Labrador)
33 disposals (10 cont.), 85% efficiency, 20 marks (7 int.), 4 inside 50s, 2 goals
The ex-Geelong star proved his AFL quality with a complete performance at both ends of the ground for the Tigers. Fifth-most disposals, most marks, most intercept marks and 2.2 to boot – arguably the most dominant performance from any player in round six.
HB: Matthew Gahan (Palm Beach Currumbin)
29 disposals (10 cont.), 90% efficiency, 8 marks (5 int.), 7 tackles, 2 inside 50s
In his first game back from injury Gahan looked in mid-season form for the Lions, who relished his clean ball use from halfback.
MIDFIELD:
WING: Jack Rolls (Redland-Victoria Point)
37 disposals (16 cont.), 81% efficiency, 14 inside 50s, 7 clearances, 2 goals
Yes you’re reading right. 14 inside 50s. Rolls delivers to his forwards more than any other player in the QAFL and at 78% by foot on the weekend, the Sharks had silver service on almost every occasion. Oh – and he kicked two goals himself.
CENTRE: Bruce Reville (Sherwood)
29 disposals (12 cont.), 76% efficiency, 3 goals, 6 clearances, 11 tackles, 8 inside 50s
Wow. Reville put in a Patrick Cripps-like performance for the Magpies, finishing with the second-most tackles of any player in round six while accumulating the footy and hitting the scoreboard. A complete display.
WING: William Johnson (Redland-Victoria Point)
29 disposals (10 cont.), 83% efficiency, 2 clearances, 9 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal
Yet another Sharks ball runner who seemingly brought his own footy to Maroochydore in round six.
FOLLOWERS:
RUCK: Will Wolbers (Aspley)
12 disposals (8 cont.), 50 hit-outs, 2 clearances, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s
If Aspley was going to beat Labrador (and they did) the Hornets needed to win at stoppage and Wolbers helped them do that. He dominated in the ruck and laid pivotal pressure at ground level. Big performance from the big man.
ROV: Caleb Franks (Redland-Victoria Point)
39 disposals (16 cont.), 72% efficiency, 9 clearances, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal
Franks returns to the Team of the Week after leading the competition in disposals. The Sharks’ top three midfielders combined for 24 clearances and Franks led the way with nine.
RROV: Tyler Cornish (Palm Beach Currumbin)
30 disposals (16 cont.), 10 clearances, 9 marks, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s
Cornish is one of the most consistent midfielders in the QAFL and he has improved each week this season. Few players are as unflinching in the contest as Cornish, who had a great battle with Sherwood’s Bruce Reville in round six.
FORWARD:
HF: Mitchel Scholard (Maroochydore)
4 goals, 9 disposals, 2 marks inside 50
That’s nine goals in two games for the Roos’ leading man, who had a better afternoon on balance than the QAFL’s breakaway leading goalkicker, Matt Hammelmann, up the other end.
CHF: Liam Jones (Palm Beach Currumbin)
17 disposals, 82% efficiency, 9 marks (5 int. / 3 inside 50), 4 inside 50s, 3 goals
You want your best players kicking the footy and Jones took that literally – zero handballs, all kicks. He started down back but was moved forward when the Lions needed a spark and he gave them just that, booting three big goals in a come-from-behind win on the road.
HF: Bryce Retzlaff (Labrador)
27 disposals, 85% efficiency, 14 marks, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal
It might be the black and yellow he’s wearing, but Labrador’s talisman is looking eerily similar to the late-career Matthew Richardson who blossomed after being moved to a high half-forward / wing role at Richmond. Tigers coach Nick Malceski has found a new role for Retzlaff and he is executing it to a tee.
FP: Jack Austin (Sherwood)
3 goals, 11 disposals, 5 marks, 4 inside 50s
A quality cameo appearance from Austin, who alongside Bruce Reville was the main man to hit the scoreboard for the Magpies against Palm Beach.
FF: Connor Stackelberg (Aspley)
4 goals, 12 disposals, 4 marks inside 50, 5 tackles
Four goals might not seem a lot for a dominant key forward, but in a low scoring game on the road at Labrador, Stackelberg’s output was the difference. That he only converted half of his scoring shots into goals (finished with 4.4) shows how dominant he was inside 50 for the Hornets.
FP: Sam McLachlan (Maroochydore)
20 disposals, 2 goals, 5 marks, 2 inside 50s
Inaccuracy robbed McLachlan of a bigger day out against the Sharks. He had five shots at goal for just the two majors, but he was certainly dangerous at ground level.
INTERCHANGE:
MID: Max Lower (Broadbeach)
27 disposals (19 cont.), 81% efficiency, 5 clearances, 7 tackles
The Cats pride themselves on their contested ball and Lower leads the way in that category. Only eight of his 27 touches against Morningside were kicks – probably because he was on the bottom of every pack feeding the ball out to his runners.
MID: Will Fletcher (Sherwood)
27 disposals (20 cont.), 6 clearances, 1 goal, 3 marks, 11 tackles
Fletcher was at the bottom of just about every pack in round six. He finished with the most contested possessions and second-most tackles of any player. His disposal efficiency (
BACK: Blake Erickson (Broadbeach)
22 disposals, 1 goal, 7 marks, 6 tackles, 5 inside 50s
Playing opposite Chadwick, who starts in the TOTW for round six, Erickson also gave the Cats great drive off the halfback line and even snuck forward to bag himself a goal against the Panthers.
FWD: Matt Hammelmann (Redland-Victoria Point)
4 goals, 7 disposals, 3 marks inside 50
It speaks to the quality of the QAFL’s leading goalscorer that four goals lands him only on the bench in the TOTW. Maroochydore became just the second team after Broadbeach to successfully limit Hammelmann’s influence – that being ‘only’ four goals, in a winning team.
QAFL Team of the Week: Round 5
Round five in the QAFL was one dominated by big bags from the competition’s leading key forwards and thus there are some familiar faces lining up inside 50 in this iteration of The Bulletin’s Team of the Week.
Only a handful of players from the round four team retained their places this week, testament to the depth of talent across the competition this season.
SEE THE ROUND 4 TEAM OF THE WEEK
QAFL STATS: EVERY PLAYER, EVERY CLUB RANKED
Wilston-Grange and Redland-Victoria Point dominate the side this week after the Gorillas produced a stellar display on the road to last season’s grand finalists Maroochydore, as the Sharks beat-up on the Vultures at home.
See below for the full Team of the Week for round five and read on to know why these players earned their stripes this week.
BACKLINE:
BP: Thomas Reeves (Labrador)
32 disposals (14 cont.), 10 marks (3 int.), 3 tackles, 6 inside 50s
Note: It wasn’t the cleanest day by foot from Reeves, who had four turnovers, but he broke even with three intercept marks. More important were his hard-ball gets in the back six, and his ability to get high up the ground and kick inside 50.
FB: Jackson Allen (Aspley)
18 disposals, 94% efficiency, 8 marks (1 int.), 3 tackles, 1 inside 50
Note: The ball wasn’t in Aspley’s defensive 50 often against the Panthers, but when it was Allen was onto it. He kept Max McDonald goalless on seven touches while not offering up a single turnover on rebound.
BP: Sam Mckenzie (Maroochydore)
19 disposals, 84% efficiency, 6 intercept marks, 2 inside 50s
Note: Mckenzie led the QAFL in intercept marks in round five and was a key cog in many of the Roos’ scoring chains.
HB: Jackson Mills (Wilston-Grange)
28 disposals (12 cont.), 89% efficiency, 7 marks (5 int.), 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal
Note: The Gorillas got excellent service from Mills across halfback at the weekend, playing a complete offensive/defensive game against Maroochydore capped off with a big goal.
CHB: Lachlan Henderson (Labrador)
16 disposals (5 cont.), 6 marks (4 int.), 3 inside 50s
Note: Henderson marshalled a Labrador backline that kept Palm Beach Currumbin to just 66 points, a week after the Lions put 149 on Mt Gravatt. On a weekend dominated by big bags from key forwards, Henderson – and the rest of the Tigers back six – showed out in the Gold Coast derby.
HB: Daniel Bowles (Wilston-Grange)
30 disposals, 80% efficiency, 11 marks (4 int.), 5 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 2 goals
Note: Bowles’ work across half back was a big reason for the Gorillas’ win on the road at Maroochydore. His reading of the play and ability to get forward and impact the scoreboard played a starring role in the victory. His second-straight selection in the team of the week.
MIDFIELD:
WING: Thomas Baulch (Noosa)
32 disposals (11 cont.), 81% efficiency, 3 clearances, 7 marks, 4 inside 50s, 3 goals
Note: Baulch ran rampant out wide for the Tigers, topping 30 touches and three goals (can we coin this statline as Aussie rules’ version of the triple-double? No? OK). The former Aspley man has fit in seamlessly since returning to Noosa in the off-season and is now hitting his stride.
CENTRE: Ryan Banks-Smith (Aspley)
38 disposals (11 cont.), 89% efficiency, 6 clearances, 12 marks, 12 inside 50s
Note: Banks-Smith brought his own footy to Aspley’s win over Morningside. He never once turned the ball over from 38 disposals and had the most inside 50s of any player in Round 5. His second consecutive selection in TOTW.
WING: Brock Aston (Redland-Victoria Point)
33 disposals (9 cont.), 85% efficiency, 7 clearances, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 9 inside 50s
Note: The Sharks’ midfield group ran rampant against the Vultures. Any KPI stat for a midfielder was ticked by Aston, who did not turn the ball over once and was in the top 10 for tackles across the round.
FORWARD
HF: Jai Fitzpatrick (Noosa)
40 disposals (17 cont.), 85% efficiency, 4 clearances, 6 tackles, 8 inside 50s, 1 goal
Note: Few if any had a better Round 5 than Fitzpatrick. Deployed predominantly as a high half-forward, Fitzpatrick spent time through the guts and on a wing – and wherever he went, he found the footy. Had the most disposals of any player in Round 5 and an easy lock for TOTW.
CHF: Matt Hammelmann (Redland-Victoria Point)
20 disposals, 7 goals, 12 marks inside 50, 3 inside 50s
Note: Hammelmann extended his lead in the goalkicking leaderboard with seven goals against Mt Gravatt, but could have had more – he also finished with five behinds. Expect to see Hammelmann in the TOTW regularly throughout the 2022 season.
HF: Jordan Moncrieff (Broadbeach)
10 goals, 18 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 7 marks inside 50
Note: The Mayor was back to his brilliant best in Round 5 after missing the previous week’s win over Redland-Victoria Point, booting 10 goals to also eclipse the 100-goal mark for the Cats in just 26 appearances. Easily the best forward performance of the weekend.
FP: Ethan Johnstone (Noosa)
16 disposals, 7 tackles, 4 goals
Note: Tigers small forward Johnstone epitomised reward for effort in the win over Sherwood. He amassed seven tackles and booted four goals, ticking all the boxes for the Noosa coaching staff.
FF: Connor Stackelberg (Aspley)
16 disposals, 6 goals, 7 marks
Note: That’s 12 goals in two weeks for Stackelberg, who is finding rhythm as the Hornets pile on the points. He also left goals on the field, kicking four behinds from his 10 shots.
FP: Bradley Lynch (Broadbeach)
20 disposals, 90% efficiency, 4 goals, 2 clearances, 2 tackles, 4 marks, 2 inside 50s
Note: Lynch was poised to play across halfback before a late out shifted him forward, where he starred with four goals playing alongside Moncrieff. He had a blemish-free day with zero turnovers, testament to his ex-AFL class.
FOLLOWERS:
RUCK: Zach Westerberg (Wilston Grange)
40 hit-outs (16 to adv.), 15 disposals, 80% efficiency, 5 tackles, 3 marks
Note: Westerberg dominated the ruck battle in the Gorillas’ important road win over Maroochydore, giving his midfielders first use of the footy with a league-leading 16 hit-outs to advantage.
ROV: Caleb Franks (Redland-Victoria Point)
34 disposals (15 cont.), 76% efficiency, 12 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 2 goals
Note: Throw a blanket over the Sharks’ on-ball brigade because all had a day out against the Vultures. But it was Franks who did the bulk of the clearance work, leading the QAFL for round five with 12 clearances. His two goals were a cherry on top.
RROV: Joshua Govan (Maroochydore)
36 disposals (12 cont.), 81% efficiency, 8 clearances, 3 inside 50s
Note: The Roos’ shock home defeat to Wilston-Grange was not the fault of Govan, who toiled all day through the middle. He had the fourth-most touches of any player in Round 5 and featured among the best clearance players.
INTERCHANGE:
RUCK: Tom Michael (Redland-Victoria Point)
21 disposals, 90% efficiency, 10 clearances, 23 hit-outs (5 adv.), 3 tackles
Note: Michael amassed midfielder stats in the win over Mt Gravatt, with his incredible work at ground level to produce 10 clearances a feature. His disposal efficiency was also the fifth-best of any player in the QAFL that had 20 or more disposals.
MID/FWD: Jack Rolls (Redland-Victoria Point)
34 disposals (10 cont.), 74% efficiency, 3 clearances, 5 marks, 9 inside 50s, 2 goals
Note: Another Shark who had a field day against the Vultures, Rolls was the key distributor inside 50 and also finished with 2.2 for the afternoon in a complete display.
MID: Matthew Payne (Wilston Grange)
37 disposals (18 cont.), 76% efficiency, 5 clearances, 7 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s
Note: Death, taxes, Matthew Payne. No player had more contested possessions in round 5 than the three-time league best and fairest. His class and grit got the Gorillas over the line in a massive win on the road at Maroochydore.
DEF: Matt Cecchin (Labrador)
21 disposals, 71% efficiency, 6 marks (3 int.)
Note: Playing just his second game of senior footy, young Tigers product Cecchin put barely a foot wrong down back against the Lions. He’s one to watch as the season continues.
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