THE FLAG IS THERE FOR THE TAKING. ANYONE CAN WIN IT

I see the so called experts are starting to write off the gorillas chances in the premier division. That's fine with us too be honest. I think the boys would just love to fly under the radar going into finals. They have probably the easiest run into the the finals, playing the last 3 games against teams outside of the finals race. But they can't rest on their lorrels going into these games, because it will bite them on the arse and they could go from playing a home final to play playing a sudden death game down the coast. Right now the top 4 is a cramped race, with all teams with 3 losses and anyone could take out the minor premiership and the all important week off in the first week of the finals. If sandgate get the minor premiership they will have the problem of having a bye leading into the finals, so they would be ripe for the pickings in my eyes. Palm beach are the real danger out of the top 5 right now. They're on a rampage and really there might be something special to knock them off come finals. The maggies are the un known as far as I am concerned. How many players will they get back from the lions and can they make a run at the top spot. It reall is a tight race for the flag in the premier division and any of the top 5 can win the flag. The finals are going to be a cracker

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD. SHOULDN'T HAVE DROPPED MY CRYSTAL BALL. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU

The new NEAFL has started off well as far as I am concerned, even though the suns are virtually getting their own way with the amount of players they are allowed to use from their list of afl players. Things are sort of rosy. The question what does the future hold for the new comp, where will the northern conference is going to expand to. Cairns is probably the first option they will look at and other than that they may not look else where. But I think if this comp really wants to get better, the sooner the afl brings in a reserves comp the better. i think the reserves comp is still on the agenda for the afl and I can see it happening in the next few years if not earlier. Next year will be a big year for this new comp, will they keep having pointless byes during the season where up to four teams will have a bye on the same weekend when they could be playing each other. But next their will be the country carnival and that will give the comp a whole round by and of course the state game as well. The eastern conference has already chosen the teams that will partake in the league next year and I have a feeling there will be more cross conference games next year. The more of them the better I suppose. We will all have to wait and see what the afl and the 2 league offices come up with for the future of this league

BROADBEACH RUE TOO MANY MISSED CHANCES

The arch rivals of gold coast took on each other once again today and it was a tight scrappy affair with either side looking like winners at all stages during the game. The game started off like most games do, as a scrappy contest. The sharks were getting plenty of the footy early and really they could have put the game away in the first quarter. They had that many inside 50 and they just could convert their chances and they were controlling the footy and having hughes back at full forward helped, as he kick started their scoring and ended up with 2 for the quarter with adam devine slotting the other. For broadbeach in that their ealry pressure was good and that was a sign of things to come and at one stage they were holding on for deer life and once they were starting to win the clearances and kept the pressure up they got back into the contest just through hard work. Zorko and Derrick were in everything, but eagle was being held well by nickalaus

The second quarter was just a slug fest. Broadbeach had all the footy and really in my opinion should taken the game away from southport. Their zone pressure was the key to their strong quarter. When ever southport managed to get the ball outside of the 50, the ball was rushed straight back in and the southport defense were put under immense pressure. But some strong hard work by the 2 stalwarts of the club in danny wise and kurt nickalaus really kept the sharks in the game. Nickalaus was holding jason eagle in check and eagle just couldn't get a sniff of the action. Really if it wasn't for those 2, the outcome of this game might have been difent. Broadbeach remarkably only took a 1 gola lead into the break and you could tell the sharks had a sniff of a victory.

The third quarter was going to be won on the half forward lines just about. Southport got the first goal of the quarter and got a lift out of it. But broadbeach hit back and kept pressing and pressuring through their zones at the kickouts and southport needed to figure out how to beat it. Zorko was still running a muck up and down the clubhouse wing. But ill discipline was costing the cats big time and Zorko was a culprit on a few occasions. Giving away free kicks and 50 meter penalties at stupid periods. Southport got out to 2 a goal lead and really the game looked shot for the cats at 3 qtr time. They had the game where they wanted it in the second quarter and they let it slip in the third through doing stupid things

the last quarter the sharks took over and run out 2 goals winners. They had the belief and they took it. Their zone improved enough for them to force a couple of kicking in erors that resulted in a goal and the game was gone. The second quarter really was where the game was won and maybe saved in the end. Wise and Nicklaus were outstanding in that period, if the sharks didn't have them. They would have been in a bit of trouble

BEING APART OF A TEAM THAT WON BY 24 GOALS. DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL BE A STAR IN THE SENIORS

With all the injuries and suspension of gun recruit Micah Buchanan the depth will be tested for the hornets tomorrow against a fired up redlands outfit playing at home for the first time in 6 weeks due to ground improments. The hornets have been a solid performing team this season and it hasn't just been 1 or 2 players that have been doing all the hard work like they have had in their first 2 seasons in the state league. The 23 players they put out on the park every week, always lift and play hard like a team possessed. The losses of Buchanan and shir will be big. 2 quality midfielders. But I think Dan Roy will slot into the spot that is void at the moment. Jimmy Linton will play a major role as well. Redlands have had what you would call an up and down season so far. They had the highest of high hopes in making finals and maybe winning a flag. They have quality players across the park. Clouston has been a solid contributer again for the bombers and again will get bushy copeland again I would say or with colch. But I think if he is kept quiet and with carse as well. I think redlands might struggle to keep pace with a rampaging hornets outfit looking for it's 5^th win in a row. At vic point the bombers are hard to knock off. But the hornets always match up well against this mob and I honestly think the hornets have their measure and I expect the hornets to beat the bombers by 4 or 5 goals

THE BOYS FROM VULTURE LAND WERE THE BEST THEY HAVE SEEN. WELL MAYBE

What a fantastic game of footy it was at esplen oval. Just fitting for these 2 cross town rivals. It was a close game all day and really a no clear cut winner up until the final sire when mt Gravatt finally put the game away with a another goal after the siren to run out 7 point winners. It was a scrappy affair and morningside will really rue the missed opportunities they should have converted in the second term. They kick 3 goals 8 and they could have blown the game wide open and maybe put the vultures away, but they didn't and the vultures got a sniff. Their midfield started to dominate late in the third, Lake, Smith, Gilliland and Evans running rampant and by the end of the third they gave the vultures a 9 point lead going into the last. The panthers needed a massive lift from their guns. Shelton was have his usual solid 30 plus touches day and Lillico was going strong as always. They got a lift from Tyson Upton and he kicked the first of the last and they got a roll on after that, slamming 4 straight on with the vultures not even touching the footy in the space of 10 minutes. David Lake threw Albert Proud into the middle to give the vultures a bit of grunt and it worked a treat. He a part of at least 3 center clearances that lead to goals and they were back in the game. The panthers had their opportunities and I think a bad call in one of those behinds, where Josh Vearing seamed to have touched the ball over the line, but the goal umpire gave it a behind. The next missed opportunity came from a snap from Shaun Mugavin that nudged the post and from the kick in the vultures ran up the field un touched to kick another goal and nearly put the game away. Austin lucy kicked a late goal to give the panthers a sniff. But a shot late in the piece from 100 gamer Sam Brown missed everything and the game was gone. It was a cracking game of footy and this loss will hurt the panthers. They now sit a game behind the hornets who are 4^th on the ladder and are looking stronger in every game they play

IF THE SLIPPER FITS. WELL THEY DON'T LIKE BEING CINDERELLAS ANY WAY.

Well it's time Aspley just go on a rampage and this week and I can see it happening. They aren't the Cinderellas any more and they can take this comp right out fron under the thunders noses. This week is really a let down game after a big win against the front runners of the comp in the thunder. This game last year they squandered their opportunities in a game they could have won. But this team has clicked from day dot this season. Buchanan has been outstanding this season and he is a quality footballer. Captain couragous bushy copeland is probably having the best season at the hornets and leading the team so well and is leading the syd gilford trophy as well. The lions have run into the same problem they have every year, the seniors are struggling for numbers and the ressies have to make up their numbers. The coach played last week and kicked 4 goals and that's how bad things are going at the den. I am expecting them to field quite a few listed players in this game. Amon Buchanan has been the lions best player in the twos this season and last week he racked up a lazy 47 touches against the vultures and I expect Russel Evans to put a tag on him and not let him have a field day. This is a danger game for the hornets and if they lose this one and other results go the wrong way for them. They could be sitting outside the 5 with a tough draw on the way home. I reckon the hornets will get up for this one and over come the 15 listed lions and the stars that will be in the umpires eyes like it always is in these games