Capital Leagues Grand Finals Preview
It’s time for the Big Dance as Capital Leagues 1, 2, 3 & 4 reach their final conclusion this weekend with the Grand Finals.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 1 Saturday 16 September, 4.30pm @ A J Kelly Park Taringa Rovers v North Pine 1 v 2. Rovers beat North Pine 1-0 in the major semi after also recording wins in both fixtures, so should be favourites. The Gorillas squeaked past Brisbane Knights on penalties to reverse the two losses they suffered during the season. I said in the preview of that major semi that North Pine needed to be wary of Taringa’s triple goal scoring threat of Sean Karambasis, Milan Sekulic and Omar Hamid (Capital 1 Player of the Year) but the Gorillas were undone by an own goal.
I can see at least one of these three getting on the score sheet this time around. North Pine’s top scorer, Shuto Kuboyama was on target against the Knights and will be keen to continue that form. My head (and my heart, as a Rovers’ old boy) says that Taringa will win. I said 3-1 for the semi (and was wrong) but will go with that score again. CAPITAL LEAGUE 2 Saturday 16 September, 2.00pm @ A J Kelly Park Centenary Stormers v Virginia Utd 1 v 2. It was a win apiece in the season's fixtures with the win to each team being convincing. The major semi was a tighter affair, with the Stormers getting up 2-1. Virginia rebounded to dispose of Annerley 2-0 without any of their leading scorers finding the net. Shoheel Khan and Joey Kleibo (Capital 2 Player of the Year) were on target against Virginia last time so Virginia will need to be on their guard again. For the Reds, Alex Nicolaidis scored against Centenary but they will need their other marksmen, Michael Geddes and Jordan Pitt, to fire to have any chance. The Stormers had a perfect record at home during the season and their only dropped points came away from Atthows Park. Could playing at A J Kelly Park be a factor? I don’t think so and tip Centenary to win 3-0. CAPITAL LEAGUE 3 Sunday 17 September, 5.30pm @ John Fredericks Park Caboolture v AC Carina 2 v 3. Carina can boast two wins from two over Caboolture with both wins being by one goal (1-0 & 2-1). The Dolphins equal leading scorer, Damien Kealy, got both in the Round 22 fixture match, while their other leading scorer, Daniel Abbey, got the only goal in the first match up. Carina sent St George Willawong spiralling out of the finals with a 2-1 win at Willawong with Kealy again on the scoresheet. However, he will be absent from the Grand Final having received a Red Card in that match. Caboolture’s top scorer, James Fairgrieve, got four against the Saints in the major semi and will be the major threat to Carina.
The Snakes will look to repeat last year’s Grand Final win (in Capital 4) and I think they will, getting up 2-0. CAPITAL LEAGUE 4 Sunday 17 September, 3.00pm @ John Fredericks Park Samford Rangers v Kangaroo Point Rovers 1 v 4. A 2-1 win to Samford and a 1-1 draw were the season results for this pairing.
KPR progressed to the final after winning a close one over North Brisbane in the Preliminary Final (1-0). Samford demolished North Brisbane in the Major Semi to the tune of 7-0, but that was an aberration from the Aces. Both teams stack up well defensively, conceding 14 and 13 goals respectively in 16 games. It’s up front where the difference lies, Samford netting 75 goals to Rovers’ 39. Dane Forsyth and Ryan Gleeson scored more goals between them than KPR did in total. Rovers’ winning streak now stands at 11. Rangers’ is 9. Both teams’ last dropped points came in that draw between them.
Samford to do the League/Grand Final double, but I reckon extra time is a possibility. Score – 2-1 to Rangers (aet).
