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AFLQ State League
2008 Home-and-Away Season
2008 First Semi-Final
2008 Second Semi-Final
2008 Preliminary Final
2008 Grand Final
2008 Grand Final
Southport came up against traditional
rivals Morningside in the Grand Final at Carrara in a highly dramatic,
thrilling conclusion to the season.
A warm, sunny day and a vocal crowd greeted the players.
The Sharks started brilliantly, kicking eight goals to the southern end in
the first quarter to lead by 21 points at the first change.
Morningside had the better of the second term and only inaccuracy prevented
them holding the lead at the long break; the Panthers trailed by five points
at that stage despite having five more scoring shots than their opponents.
Feelings ran high in the third quarter. Despite several heated
exchanges, the umpires sensibly got things moving quickly, and this tended
to break up the scuffles. Furthermore, the sun had disappeared just as
the second half was about to start, and stormy, lightning-strewn skies
threatened to disrupt proceedings. Adding to the drama, Morningside
looked increasingly strong, and with Sam Brown kicking three goals for the
quarter, the Panthers took an eight-point lead going into the final term.
An off-the-ball free kick early in the final quarter was probably worth 12
points to Morningside. After it seemed that the Sharks’ Ben McEntee
would goal from a mark, Hayden Wilson’s six-pointer at the other end of
the field gave the Panthers a
14-point buffer. Morningside stretched their lead to an imposing 22
points by the eight-minute mark.
By this stage the ground lights were helping to brighten a darkening
afternoon and the illuminated numbers on the scoreboard were shining like
beacons. Thankfully, though, the rain would stay away.
Southport’s surge of five goals in the run home, the last by McEntee, saw
the never-say-die Sharks notch their 13th flag in 26 years since joining the
league in 1983.
Southport’s best were Kurt Niklaus who kept state forward Kent Abey
goalless, Danny Wise and the retiring Clint Watts, while Morningside’s best
were Jacob
Gough, who rucked almost the entire match becoming the first man from a losing side to win
the Joe Grant Medal for the best player in the Grand Final, and Ryan
Holman.
Final scores were:
Southport 18-7 (115)
Morningside 15-17 (107)
It’s the sixth time Southport have
beaten Morningside in the season decider, while the Panthers have three
Grand Final wins over the Sharks to their credit.
A detailed report of the game can be found here
at the AFLQ web site.
More articles on the game can be found here at the AFLQ web site:
Southport
perspective
Morningside
perspective
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Images from the Grand Final between
Southport and Morningside (all images are clickable)
Southport’s Brett Sinclair
out-positions Morningside’s Logan Bower. The Panthers’ Grogan
Medallist Nathan Kinch (4) and Jack Lawler (22) and Shark Justin
Kahlefeldt (15) do the roving.
Damien
Bonney sends the Panthers into attack from the centre of the ground.
Jacob
Gough, the Joe Grant Medallist, lines up for goal.
Fraser
Pope with the kick on the Sharks’ half-back flank. Damien
Bonney stands the mark.
Panther
Jacob Gough and Shark Ben Merrett battle it out in the ruck on
centre wing.
Stormy
skies accompanied by regular lightning threatened proceedings late
in the game, only adding to the drama. Thankfully, the rain
stayed away and the match concluded without a hitch.
Twister
anyone? There were a few heated exchanges throughout the match,
this one resembling an all-in wrestle. In most cases, the umpires
wisely got play moving quickly, and this tended to break up the
scuffles.
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