Armitage hung the young Lions out to dry with a dominant performance for Morningside in a 98-point thrashing of the home side, leaving the Suncoast suddenly vulnerable to a challenge from Mt Gravatt for fifth place.
The Suncoast Lions’ finals fate is now likely to be determined in the final qualifying round of the season in three weeks’ time after two horror results this weekend.
While the Lions were beaten 23.21 (159)-9.7 (61), Mt Gravatt shocked previously second placed Broadbeach to win by six goals on the Gold Coast and move to within a game of Suncoast.
The Vultures hold a whopping 17% advantage in terms of for and against over the Lions, meaning the winner of the Round 18 clash between the two clubs will likely determine the fifth and last finals place.
The Lions were never in today’s game, trailing by 28 points at quarter-time, although they limited the damage to 33 points at the main break.
They still trailed by that margin halfway through the third quarter, before the Panthers assumed full control and ran out winners
Morningside dominated the hit-outs and centre breaks, placing enormous pressure on the Lions’ defence.
Noosa teenager Brody Johnson was solid helping out in defence and worked hard to kick two goals at the other end of the ground, while Rhys Magin tried valiantly on his wing. Sam Reid created the Lions’ only two goals of the third term from the other wing with two brilliant pieces of play.
But it was to no avail as the Panthers kicked nine of the last 10 goals of the match.
Senior Lions star Chris Johnson made a low key return from major groin problems that had sidelined him for three months, kicking two first half goals before hitting the showers.
Morningside was always favoured because of their bigger bodies, and they pushed the young Lions off the ball too easily as the game wore on.
Marty Pask, returning to action after two weeks out with hamstring problems, worked hard and took a string of contested marks, often against two or three opponents. But he was the only one of the Lions’ listed players to stand out.
Armitage’s use of the ball was a cut above everyone else on the field, while skipper David Lillico directed traffic from the middle of the ground. He had plenty of support from the in-form Tyson Upton, while talls Kent Abey and Julian Silvester were strong in the air up forward.
The Lions sent Jared Brennan back onto Abey in the last quarter, but an avalanche of opportunities made Brennan’s life difficult. Abey kicked four behinds in the last term before goalling after the siren, so his four-goal haul could have been much greater.
Brennan rucked for much of the first half, but failed to have a major impact on the game. The Lions had just six senior listed players – and Chris Johnson played only the first half before hitting the showers.
Scores:
Morningside, 7.5, 11.8, 16.14, 23.21 (159)
Suncoast Lions, 3.1, 6.5, 8.6, 9.7 (61)
Goals, Panthers: Armitage, Abey, Silvester 4; J Wilson, Rodrigues 2; Mugavin, Wilson, Ward, Gough, Price, Upton. Lions: B Johnson, C Johnson 2; M Chimes, Z Chimes, Oxley, Reid, Pask.
Best, Panthers: Armitage, Bonney, Abey, Upton, Brown, Lillico. Lions: Pask, Magin, B Johnson, Fixter, Reid, Allan.
