CLAWS OUT IN CATFIGHT
THE QAFL judiciary is set for a busy week after two Labrador players were charged following a melee against Palm Beach Currumbin which is alleged to have included a headbutt on former Collingwood player Jack Anthony.
Just days after it was revealed AFL great Barry Hall walked away from the Tigers due to concerns over abuse, the grand final rematch lived up to the hype in a game that also doubled as the Lions debut for Anthony (inset on left).
TWO Labrador Tigers players are facing suspension for alleged headbutting and striking incidents following a fiery QAFL grand final replay with Palm Beach Currumbin.
Just days after former AFL star Barry Hall admitted to walking away from the game due to concerns over abuse at the lower level, reigning Grogan medallist Wayde Mills and teammate Beau Azzolini were reported to the match review panel who will meet today to determine whether the pair will face set sanctions or are referred to the tribunal.
Premiers Palm Beach Currumbin overcame an openingquarter shootout and the physicality of the Tigers to win 22.18 (150) to 11.3 (69) in front of their home fans at Salk Oval on Saturday in their first game of the season following a Round 1 bye.
Mills drew the ire of umpires for allegedly headbutting fellow former AFL player and Lions recruit Jack Anthony while Azzolini was reported by three officials for striking Palm Beach Currumbin ruckman Jed Harrison.
Anthony went on to kick five goals in his Lions debut.
PBC coach Chad Owens said the Lions weren’t going to be intimidated by Labrador.
“The physical stuff wasn’t going to worry us, we just had to keep getting first to the footy,” Owens said.
“We were harder at the ball and better on the outside. We had more forward options to kick and we outplayed them.
“It was good to see where we’re at. It was good to see the stuff we worked on in pre-season stand up under pressure. Whether it stands up week in and week out is yet to be seen.”
Labrador coach Aaron Shattock said he didn’t see the alleged headbutt but if there
was one the contact was “minute”. He also conceded the Lions were far too good.
“They had far too many better players across the ground and were really impressive,” Shattock said.
Shattock said potential suspensions to Mills and Azzolini would be a blow to a team already battling injury problems.
Tigers duo Jacob Sands and Jaicob Kenny are unlikely to play this week after suffering shoulder injuries in the first half of Labrador’s loss.
Both sides traded goals in the opening stages but after taking a 14-point lead into the first break, Palm Beach Currumbin went on to kick 15 goals to six in the last three quarters.
Palm Beach Currumbin lost ruckman Jonathan Croad to injury midway through the first term, with Harrison taking on the duties full-time for the majority of the game.
Labrador, who played in the past four grand finals, sit on the bottom on the ladder after two losses while Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise hold first and second respectively.
Broadbeach beat the Western Magpies 14.11 (95) to 11.11 (77) while Surfers Paradise defeated Morningside 11.12 (78) to 11.9 (75).