The Suncoast Lions have missed the AFLQ finals series after crashing to a 68-point defeat at the hands of a committed Mt Gravatt at Maroochydore this afternoon.

The Lions’ first ever loss on the Sunshine Coast in 11 outings could not have come at a worse time, with the winner securing fifth place on the Balfours Cup premiership table and the loser going into mothballs for 2006.

It means that a Lions reserves team misses finals action for the first time since their inaugural year in the state league competition in 1998. That season the club could only field listed players aged under 21 and were known as the Lion Cubs.

The Lions Reserves were allowed to field all listed players in 2000 and won the state league premiership the following year, before becoming the Suncoast Lions in 2004.

They were left to finish 2006 with a 9-9 record after the Vultures extended their winning sequence to six games with an 18.13 (121)-8.5 (53) victory.

The Lions fielded 10 listed players, with Mitch Clark dropping out of the side with ongoing groin problems after playing just a half last week. Ruckman Beau McDonald could not come up as he had hoped and did not play, although the side was bolstered by Robert Copeland and Rhan Hooper.

Ash McGrath also returned after missing nine weeks with a badly torn hamstring, and he came through the game unscathed.

The Vultures jumped out of the blocks quickly and raced to a 21-point lead at the first break, their little men creating plenty of problems.

After an even second term, where Wayde Mills and ruckman Lenny Clark did their best to keep their team in the contest, the Vultures sewed up the game in the third quarter, and then ran all over their tiring rivals in the last term.

It has been a big season for the top-up players in the Suncoast side and they have looked tired over the past month. Defender Jay Heywood finished on a high, standing firm in defence and rebounding superbly after having his hands full with Redland’s Craig Millar last week.

Clark battled hard all day against Vultures young gun Shaun Hampson, while Jayden Attard took on the visitors in the midfield and Marcus Allan also tried hard.

No-one today could afforded to have been anything other than on their game, because Mt Gravatt has proved they are not just in the top five to make up numbers.

They have gathered some real momentum since their state under 18 players returned, and will have a real belief that they can beat grand finalist of the last two years Morningside in Sunday’s elimination final at Coorparoo.

The best news for the Vultures was the return to form of former Grogan Medallist Mick Stinear over the last fortnight. While Mt Gravatt blitzed the Lions due to a comprehensive team performance rather than any standout individuals, Stinear gave his side great drive.

Brock Turton and Tony Van Rooyen, who both played in the 2001 Lions Reserves grand final victory over Southport, also put the Lions to the sword with their work for the Vultures today.

Former Lions champion Darryl White was solid without being spectacular for the Vultures, but he will be a valuable asset come finals time.

Mt Gravatt face Morningside in the cut-throat final after the Panthers produced their worst performance of the season against Broadbeach yesterday. They trailed by 69 points midway through the third term before adding some respectability to the scoreboard, losing 17.11 (113)-9.19 (73).

Broadbeach will go into their qualifying final clash with Zillmere with their confidence sky-high. Full-forward Korey Fulton kicked his 100th goal of the season yesterday and has booted 27 in his last three games against the three top sides.

They face a Zillmere combination shattered by a third hamstring strain to key recruit Ty Zantuck, and on the back of a third straight loss, this time to minor premiers Southport, 19.15 (129)-10.11 (71).

Scoreboard:

Mt Gravatt 4.5, 8.5, 13.10, 18.13 (121)
Suncoast Lions, 1.2, 4.3, 7.3, 8.5 (53)
Goals, Vultures: Lake 3, Riordan 3, Hampson 2, Caccamo 2, Spencer 2, Van
Rooyen 2, Vearing, Stinear, White, Scott. Lions: Copeland 2, Hooper, McGrath, Harding, Reid, Brennan, Clark.
Best, Vultures: Stinear, Turton, Van Rooyen, Smith, Rankin, G Grose. Lions: L Clark, Mills, Attard, Allan, Forsyth, Heywood.

Final Premiership Table

TEAM   P   W   L   D   For   Ag   Pct   Pts
SOUTHPORT   18   13   5   0   2060   1462   140.90   52
BROADBEACH   18   12   6   0   2053   1467
139.95   48
ZILLMERE   18   12   6   0   2171   1678   129.38   48
MORNINGSIDE   18   11   7   0   2148   1531   140.30   44
MT GRAVATT   18   10   8   0   2157   1561   138.18   40
Suncoast Lions   18   9   9   0   1685   1704   98.88   36
Labrador   18   4   14   0   1320   1969   67.04   16
Redland   18   1   17   0   918   3140   29.24   4