With five Maroochy RSL Club AFL Sunshine Coast Junior teams already tucked away into Grand Final action following the previous weeks second semi finals it was time for the five youth Preliminary Finals to be played giving the winners rite of passage to next Sunday’s Weyba Road Noosa action.
The two under 12 Preliminary Finals were played at Pomona under blue skies but thankfully not to the temperature of the previous Sunday, although still good beach weather. A big and positively vocal crowd was gathered as teams came from all corners Gympie to Coolum, and in the south Kawana Park and Nambour & Hinterland from the hills.
First up was the Coolum Beach v Gympie 12’s division 2 game, for the Breakers of Coolum Beach they in the final weeks of the season were pegged back by two teams in Glasshouse Hinterland and Gympie who returned to division 2 after the grading rounds in division 1. No doubt some disappointment for the Breakers at missing out at the business end of the season but they have experienced some solid match play with these two teams over the course of season 09.
Sunday the Cats of Gympie were too strong for the Coolum Beach Breakers and ran out with a solid margin by games. The Breakers best quarter was their third when they made the scoreboard work to the tune of 3.2, which is the sort of footy the boys need to play for four quarters and no doubt this developing club will take that experience to future years.
The Cats win came with solid performances from the Rowlands boys of Bronzen and Kimba and Zak Burton who between them kicked 11 of the Cats 17 majors. Around the ground assistance came from Thomas Lee (2 goals also), Joel Perry-Warren and best on ground recognised by many as Mason Mahlstedt.
For the Breakers Bulldog Ward was amongst the goals with a couple and provided solid leadership around the forward half, inspired by cousin Bulldog Callan. Whilst solid assistance came from Jarah Armstrong, Ned Thompson, Jack Mullett, Trent Thomas and Ash Boykett.
The Gympie Cats now face the large feline foe of Glasshouse Hinterland Lions in the decider at Weyba Roads back oval come Sunday. This will be a fantastic game of footy and being played on the smaller oval, strength around the contests will be a deciding factor to the outcome, as space to roam will be hard to find.
The second game 12’s division 1 saw teams of contrast come together, the Kawana Park Eagles were minor premier, whilst the Blues of Nambour & Hinterland finished the season off in fourth spot and didn’t appear to be at boiling point leading into finals. The Eagles went down in the second semi final to Maroochydore Roos and hence had to play for survival through a Preliminary Final, whilst the Blues knocked over a fancied by many Noosa Tiger combination to advance to Sunday’s encounter.
Again this game appeared over very early in the peace as the Blues were caught napping; 4.4 to zero at the first break. The Nambour & Hinterland team possibly still caught in the vacuum of euphoria at the success the afternoon before of the senior Blues Grand Final win? The second quarter the Blues found the sticks on four occasions but 1.3 the result as the Kawana Park Eagles still went about their business with 3.3 to have an unassailable 40 point lead at the main break.
The third quarter was probably the highlight quarter of all 8 played at the Den of Pomona yesterday, the scoreboard worked hard to see 3.2 to the Eagles and 3.5 to the Blues – a four quarter effort like that one by the Blues may have had them dancing in the big one next week.
For the Eagles Dylan Menti was strong up front with four majors whilst well supported by one of the “Krakouer” brothers in Bradley Kimberley with 3 whilst brother in crime Timothy Kimberley was amongst the best as they banded together to drive the Eagles home. Glover’s, Hooper’s, McCosker’s, Allman’s, Galbraith’s, Carlson’s and Coward all doing their part for the Eagle to soar.
Whilst Jordan “Penguin” Harding kicked two of four for the Blues, Burns, Laing, Jones, the “hyphen” Courey and Borthwick giving their all in the Nambour & Hinterland Blues last hit out for 2009. The “woods” were certainly alive yesterday with the long celebrations of Penguin and his boys premiership win over Noosa Tigers in the local division 3 senior Premiership – congrats Nambour & Hinterland on back to back flags at this level.
Down at the Jungle of Glasshouse Hinterland the locals were well set up early to host three all important 14’s and 16’s games a strong and somewhat warmish wind pushing in surprisingly from the south west corner was to test players in the early part of the day.
The under 14’s division 1 Maroochydore Gold v Caloundra game was to get the day started, the Roo’s with a couple of injuries bought a very capable unit to battle and to that they delivered upon. Challenged early by a very committed Panthers team of Caloundra the scoreboard was ticking over in the first stanza as the winds all seemed to handle well. At the first break the Roo’s of Maroochydore lead 6.4 to Caloundra 4 straight, it was actually two goals in the later part of the quarter that put the Panthers still in contention. One of these two was a beauty as the ball went from north to south through the centre corridor in four sets of hands with solid marks and quality kicks, result Brad French kicking truly – great footy.
The second quarter was in contrast to the first as it became a tight tussle, but for the Panthers the only two goals were with the opposition and a 27 point half time lead they had. The final score thereafter read, 14.15.99 to 5.1.31, the third quarter for the Golden Roo’s tested their accuracy to goals something that they won’t be able to afford next week – such inaccuracy with 1.8 for that quarter.
For the Panthers all tried hard, doing their bit for the coach and with a young team will be strong at this level in 2010.
Maroochydore Gold had the Miller boys of Isaiah and Clanga kick two apiece whilst Zac Ryan also chipped in with a handy two. But certainly they were greatly serviced in front of goal by a stand out performance from my best on ground in Lachlan Bone with 8.3, the Bone just found the ball at will in the forward 50 and kicked truly in most getable occasions. Others to help the Golden Roo get this job done were Jordan Barden, Connor Seamer, Cameron Gee, Jye Smith and Tyson Jones.
With the Tigers already having two teams locked into Grand Final action, the under 14’s division 2 team of Noosa Red were keen to assist the Tiger party of Sunday 6th September. Caloundra again the opposition with team jumpers arriving just on the siren. The Panthers had only numbers of 18 as a few injuries during the ones cut them short with a few sore bodies backing up, injuries of concern in particular to young Broady, all the best Lachlan.
The first quarter was a contest to see who could miss the best as both teams peppered away but goals not forthcoming simply 4 points to 1 the flag waves goal card markings. The second quarter opened up to some better play with 4 majors going to the Tigers and 2 by way of the Panthers. Still at the main break the Caloundra Panthers were in the game through some Tiger inaccuracies as the score line read 4.7 to the Panthers 2.1; only 3 goals the gap.
But the third quarter was decisive as the Tigers kicked away with another four majors and by this point the fat lady was all over this game like a kid in a lolly shop. The final score Noosa Red 11.15.81 to Caloundra 4.4.28, so the Noosa Red Tiger goes forward to another challenge with the Demons of Pomona.
Pierce Anderson and Josh Emslie the major goal kickers for Noosa with 3 apiece, five other single goal kickers making the Noosa total. Others to contribute to the Noosa Red win were Zac Threadgold, Connor Anderson, Hunter Heath, James Bain and Jimmy Gotts with an overall team effort.
The Panthers have done very well at this 14’s level in 2009, two teams with 36 players and most weeks at both divisional levels some solid team committed play. Gareth Hunt and Nathan Snowdon were fantastic for the Panthers all game whilst support came from Rhys Buchholz, Tom Hedley, Michael Ether, Charlie Amerena, Jordan Barret and Ryan Costain.
All that was left on a day of Preliminary Final action, that had to that point in fairly convincing manners put four teams into next week’s Grand Finals was to play out the under 16 game. By this point in the day some light cloud was moving in which provided some relief as teams took to the field shortly after high noon for their last man standing shoot out.
This game as in previously played games this year between Kawana Park and Caloundra was anyones at the first bounce and most of the large crowd gathered thought nothing less would again unfold. At the first break the scoreboard had Caloundra Panthers 14 points in front and basically this solid get out of the blocks was to provide the difference as the breaks thereafter indicated leads of in favor of the Panthers 21, 14 and 19. At one point nearing the half way mark of the last quarter we all thought ‘what if’ as Kawana Park again surged forward, one more goal and we would have been back at a 7 point gap but alas the Panther of Caloundra steadied and played the game out with a real wish to be in next weeks decider.
The Kawana Park Eagles went into this game with only two interchange as a few late season injuries chewed into their list and with four under 14 boys playing up for the Eagles they can be most proud of their 2009 season efforts. Best players on the day for the Eagles were Matt Kimberley, Matthew Allman and Lewis Bold who provided plenty of run and carry, with support coming from Nick Mills, Harry Kempf and David Reid. Whilst Lincoln High was strong up forward with four goals whilst also having a third quarter run across half back as coach Craig Kimberley mixed things around to get his Eagles started.
The Panthers were happy at games end, but the competition powerhouse Noosa Blue await them in a Grand Final showdown. The Panthers will need to be very attuned to the task at hand next Sunday if they are to take home the chocolates. Goals came through their regular avenues of Hayden Matthews and Trent Bignell with the cheeky Liam Manfield chiming in for a few. Aiden Sauvage was superb over the four quarters with solid help coming from a committed Panthers team, special mention to Brayden Whicker, Dylan D’Arcy, Nathan Carter, Dermott Chatwin and Jackson Schultz.
So after having three teams in Preliminary Final action held at the “Jungle”, the Panthers finally prevailed with their last cab of the day, their 16’s getting home.
With six sleeps to go until our final day of Maroochy RSL Club AFL Sunshine Coast Juniors action for 2010 we wish all players and coaches all the best in their preparations to this exciting Grand Final day to be held at Noosa’s Weyba Road.
So the GF matches will be:
9.30am: 12’s division 2 – Glasshouse Hinterland v Gympie (back oval)
8.30am: 12’s division 1 – Maroochydore Roo’s v Kawana Park
10.15am: 14’s division 2 – Pomona v Noosa Red
12.00noon: 14’s division 1 – Noosa Blue v Maroochydore Gold
1.45pm: 16’s – Noosa Blue v Caloundra
Last Modified on 08/09/2009 13:31