Derrick rubbed out for grand final run
PALM Beach Currumbin have been left seething by the suspension that has rubbed captain Jesse Derrick out of the QAFL grand final while Broadbeach maintain Robert Blood may never play again.
Derrick had his one-game suspension for a slinging tackle on Cats player Blood during the qualifying final on September 2 increased to three games following a successful appeal by Broadbeach on Wednesday night.
Derrick missed his club’s stunning upset win over premiers Labrador last weekend that put them straight into the grand final and has two matches still to serve. Palm Beach Currumbin coach Chad Owens labelled the tribunal backflip an injustice as the team prepares to use Derrick’s absence as motivation for the grand final.
“I just can’t make sense of the decision,” Owens said.
“(Jesse) is very upset and rightly so. It’s come as a big shock to everyone.
“We won’t let it become a distraction though. We can’t change the decision so we just have to move on with it now and do the best we can to win a premiership for Jesse and the rest of the club.
“We will use him as inspiration. He is our captain, he is a fantastic person and fantastic leader.
“It’s just sad that he is not going to be out there and be part of it. I’m sure the boys will do him proud.
There is a real chance the two clubs could meet again in next week’s grand final with Palm Beach Currumbin to play the winner of tomorrow’s preliminary final between Broadbeach and Labrador.
Broadbeach football operations boss Jason Cotter said there were no winners from the situation and revealed not only was Blood ruled out for the season, they were unsure if the 21-year-old would ever play football again.
“There is still a concern he may never play football again,” Cotter said.
“He still has headaches now and the incident was September 2 so that’s not a good sign. He can’t work and is doing a double degree at university and can’t study.
“There is suspicion of micro-bleeding on the brain. He is still getting migraines and head-spins so it’s a real concern.
“Broadbeach FC would like to stress that there are no winners in this situation and two young men miss out in competing in the most important time of the year.”