EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL
NEAFL Northern Conference headed to Cazaly’s Stadium Cairns last week with
the top of the table clash between NT Thunder and GC Suns Reserves.
The Thunder’s intent and desire to shut down the Suns physically was evident
early and they more than made up for the Round 15 hiccup against Morningside
with a decisive victory.
The venue was turned out in outstanding condition by AFL Cairns and we are
fortunate to have a high class facility in North Queensland to house both NEAFL
and AFL games.
It is important that this venue is continually used on the NEAFL fi xture and important
that every effort is also made to try and establish a North Queensland based
NEAFL side in the not too distant future. Judging on the impact last Saturday had
on the people of Cairns the game is in a good state and offers a tremendous opportunity
for further growth and recognition.
Whilst the Thunder lowered their colors in game number fi fty to Morningside at
Esplen Oval last week which coincided with Darren Ewing’s milestone the fi fty
fi rst appearance also marked a similar milestone for Cameron Ilett who epitomizes
all that is good about the Thunder program.
Ilett and his brother Jarred, along with Ewing and Bradley Palipuaminni as foundation
members of the club have been the pioneers of a club that continues to
grow stronger in reputation on and off the fi eld with each outing. Their brand was
well acknowledged in Cairns and the locals quickly warmed to “territory football”.
Further south in the colder confi nes of South East Queensland two clubs prematurely
written off after playing against themselves on the coast in Round 15 were
proving the tipsters wrong by recording their best respective wins for the season.
Broadbeach led by in form dynamo Dayne Zorko were most impressive in rolling
the Lions at Sherwood. Whilst the end result was undoubtedly a team effort its
impossible to go past Zorko as the form player of the competition at the moment.
His performances since returning from a Zane Taylor Medal winning cameo in
Mandurah WA surely must have him being mentioned in dispatches at recruiting
meetings across the country. Especially given the expected role that “mature
age” players should play in this years draft.
INSIDE THE RECORD:
Rounds 17 & 18 Previews 2
Clubs Load Up before Finals 5
Player Profile - James Brain 6
NAB Rising Star - Peter Yagmoor 8
Mallan Keeps his Melon over the Ball 10
Pullman keeps Bombers hopes Alive 11
NEAFL Round 14 Results and Ladder 12
Hickey Heading in the Right Direction 15
Tipsters 16
Awards Page 17
Aspley Team List 18
Belconnen Team List 19
GC SunsTeam List 20
Brisbane LionsTeam List 21
NT ThunderTeam List 22
BroadbeachTeam List 23
Mt Gravatt Team List 24
Morningside Team List 25
Labrador Team List 26
Southport Team List 27
Fixture & Results 28
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
ROUND 19
Saturday 6th August
Southport v Queanbeyan (1.00pm)
Brisbane Lions v Morningside (Chelmer)
GWS Giants v NT Thunder (Blacktown)
Labrador v Aspley
Redland v Mt Gravatt
Broadbeach v GC Suns
The Sharks also aren’t ready to put the cue in the rack for 2011 just yet and with
a blistering fi rst quarter showed then fourth placed Morningside that if you don’t
bring your A grade game to the table in this competition then upset losses will
occur.
The split round offers the last chance for a weekend off and a chance to recharge
the batteries before the three week lead into our inaugural fi nals series.
One gets the feeling plenty could happen in that three week period – and it probably
will.
Martin King
Football Operations Manager
AFL Queensland
Cover Photo courtesy of the
NT News
NEAFL FOOTBALL RECORD
Chief Executive Officer: Richard Griffi ths
Football Operations Manager: Marty King
Record Editor: David Heilbron
Advertising: Penny French
Published by: Panther Print, Jeays St Bowen Hills QLD
All Correspondence to:
The Editor, Footy Record, AFL Queensland, PO Box 3132
Yeronga LPO, QLD 4151. Tel (07) 3033 5400
NEAFL Football Record Issue 16 23rd - 30th July 2011 Page 1