BROADBEACH showed no signs of rustiness in their first-up match, as the Cats stormed to a 57-point win over Mt Gravatt in Round 2 of the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL). The Cats looked good from the get-go as they piled on eight goals to one in the opening half against a wasteful Vultures outfit who booted 1.7 from only three less scoring shots. By the final break, the lead was out to a whopping 65 points courtesy of a five goals to one third quarter, before the Vultures managed to chew back some percentage in the final quarter with four goals to two but still go down, 15.11 (101) to 6.8 (44).

Jordan Moncrieff was the star of the show for the Cats, slotting half a dozen majors – as many goals as the entire opposition – leading his team to a memorable win in a best on ground performance. Along with Moncrief, Matthew Fowler booted three goals and over-age talent Josh Gore slotted two. The Cats have plenty of young talent on the list such as Gore and top Suns Academy hopeful Alex Davies, while Josh Searl and Blake Erickson were also impressive in the win. For the Vultures, Rhys Estall and Jonah Licht both kicked multiple goals and were named among the best, while Todd Carbone and Joel Leahy also impressed to make it into Mt Gravatt’s top players on the day.

At the top of the QAFL ladder sits Morningside with a nice 2-0 start to its season and the Panthers are coming off an impressive 41-point victory over Wilston Grange on the road. After an inaccurate start saw them boot 1.6 in the first term and trail by four points at quarter time, the visitors managed to straighten up and then get better as the game went on. Leading by 18 points at quarter time, the Vultures booted 5.3 to 1.4 to scoot away to a 14.14 (98) to 8.9 (57) win.

Matt Hammelmann led the way with three majors for the winners, as Brisbane Lions Academy young gun Blake Coleman and Brock Aston converted two. Another Academy talent in Saxon Crozier was named best-on in the performance, while Jack Rolls and Peter Mollison were also among the best. Josh Baxter and Sam Gribble kicked a couple of majors each for the Gorillas in defeat, while Will McKenzie, Corey Gladdish and Max Hewett impressed on the day.

The battle between two Round 1 winners looked destined to be a fizzer in the opening quarter when last year’s grand finalists Palm Beach Currumbin slammed home 7.4 to Sherwood’s 0.1 and opened up a 45-point quarter time lead. Sherwood worked its way back into the contest after nullifying the second term with four goals apiece, then booted seven goals to one to come storming home in a blaze of glory, only to fall marginally short against the Lions, 12.11 (83) to 11.8 (74).

Jarryd Douglas booted three majors, while Ashton Crossley, Jamison Shea and Mitchell Johnson all snagged two goals in the win. Cory Beaman and Zac Harrison were named among the best for the Lions. Liam Dawson was the main target up forward once again for the Magpies with the former Brisbane tall slotted five majors. Another former Lion in Ryan Harwood, as well as Will Fletcher, were the other Sherwood players named in the best.

In the final game of the round, reigning premiers Surfers Paradise overcame a sluggish start to bounce back from a Round 1 loss to defeat Labrador by 18 points. The Demons trailed by 19 points at the first break, but then slammed home seven goals to three to draw within two points at the main break. They continued on their run with a three goals to one third quarter to lead by seven at the final change, before extending that with four goals to two in the last stanza for an accurate 14.2 (86) to an inaccurate 9.14 (68).

Tyson Brazel and Dale Eames both slotted three goals apiece, while young talent Max Pescud booted another two to be named in the best. Matthew Green and Conor Manning were also named in the Demons’ top players, while Thompson Smith kicked a couple of snags as well. Fraser Thurlow was best on ground for the Tigers in defeat, booting a goal, as did Leigh Osborne and Alex McKay who also impressed. Experienced Jono Beech and young talent Blair Rubock kicked a couple of goals in the loss.

QAFL ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Labrador 9.14 (68) defeated by Surfers Paradise 14.2 (86)
Mt Gravatt 6.8 (44) defeated by Broadbeach 15.11 (101)
Palm Beach Currumbin 12.11 (83) defeated Sherwood 11.8 (74)
Wilston Grange 8.9 (57) defeated by Morningside 14.14 (98)
Bye: Maroochydore