RANKING FIXTURE DIFFICULTY
The QAFL season has moved into the back half of the campaign and, with 10 home and away rounds remaining, The Bulletin has taken a look at each club’s schedule to see just how tough the run home is in the race to finals SURFERS PARADISE SCHEDULE RATING: 78.4
Round 12 @ Redland-victoria Point (2nd)
Round 13 v Palm Beach
Currumbin (6th)
Round 14 @ Mt Gravatt (11th)
Round 15 @ Labrador (4th)
Round 16 v Aspley (3rd)
Round 17 @ Noosa (5th)
Round 18 v Broadbeach (1st)
Round 19 v Wilston Grange
Round 20 @ Sherwood (12th)
Round 21 v Mt Gravatt (11th)
The Demons have the hardest run home of any Gold Coast team, despite getting to play Mt Gravatt twice as well as bottom-ranked Sherwood. The most difficult fixtures come in Round 12 (at RedlandVictoria Point), Round 15 (at Labrador), Round 17 (at Noosa) and Round 18 (versus Broadbeach). The Dees have to play every team in the top six over the last 10 rounds including two of the most difficult trips for a Gold Coast club: Sharks and Noosa away.
PALM BEACH CURR. SCHEDULE RATING: 76.8
Round 12 @ Aspley (3rd)
Round 13 @ Surfers Paradise (10th)
Round 14 v Broadbeach (1st)
Round 15 @ Broadbeach (1st)
Round 16 @ Mt Gravatt (11th)
Round 17 v Maroochydore
Round 18 v Noosa (5th)
Round 19 BYE
Round 20 v Labrador (4th)
Round 21 @ Wilston Grange (8th)
The Lions are the only team to have to play Broadbeach twice in the run home, and it comes in back-to-back weeks thanks to a rain enforced fixture reshuffle.
The other tough tests are Aspley away this weekend and Labrador at home in Round 20.
The Round 17-18 schedule, bringing both Maroochydore and Noosa to Veracity Oval, looms as a pivotal fortnight for the Lions that could shape their finals hopes.
LABRADOR SCHEDULE RATING: 75.8
Round 12 v Mt Gravatt (11th)
Round 13 @ Broadbeach (1st)
Round 14 BYE
Round 15 v Surfers Par. (10th)
Round 16 v Wil. Grange (8th)
Round 17 @ Aspley (3rd)
Round 18 @ Redland-victoria Point (2nd)
Round 19 @ Morningside (9th)
Round 20 @ Palm Beach Currumbin (6th)
Round 21 v Noosa (5th)
Rounds 17 and 18 are where we will learn the most about Labrador’s flag chances, when the Tigers travel in back-toback weeks to play RedlandVictoria Point and Aspley. It begins a month-long run of away fixtures that also includes a tough trip to face Palm Beach Currumbin. They also have Broadbeach away as soon as next week, meaning the Tigers play the rest of the top four away from home over the next two months. Tough stuff. BROADBEACH
SCHEDULE RATING: 70.6
Round 12 @ Wil. Grange (8th)
Round 13 v Labrador (4th)
Round 14 @ PB Curr. (6th)
Round 15 v PB Curr. (6th)
Round 16 v Redland-victoria Point (2nd)
Round 17 BYE
Round 18 @ Surfers Par. (10th)
Round 19 @ Maroochydore (7th)
Round 20 v Aspley (3rd)
Round 21 @ Morningside (9th)
By design the Cats should have an easier schedule, because of course they can’t play themselves. But Broadbeach also has the luxury of not playing a single top four rival away from home. Labrador, Redland-victoria Point and Aspley will all travel to Subaru Oval in the run into the finals, setting the Cats up nicely for a look at the minor premiership. Only two trips into Brisbane and Maroochydore away takes the Cats away from the Coast.