This year’s centrepiece was between Bayside Eagles & Sunshine Coast Waves. Both teams came into the finals with a solid season of wins to their credits.

The venue was the Beenleigh Arena and a large crowd was on hand to enjoy a match that promised a blend of physicality with deft touches & speedy combination play.

The game began with a strong start from Bayside. The passing was pinpoint accurate with wonderful combination plays both down the sidelines & through the middle. Goalkeeper Allan Phillips from Bayside controlled play well from the back & made some spectacular and explosive saves.

Trevor Edwards from Sunshine Coast Waves made life very difficult for the opposition with passes that would pass through the eye of the needle and his skill and ability coupled with his extraordinary vision for play.

Two first half goals were scored by Daniel Corbett for the Bayside Eagles & One goal for Caleb Urlich for the Sunshine Coast Waves. These goals were extraordinary in their execution with precision build up play by both teams.

Minor injuries were sustained by Sunshine Coast, but were attended to quickly and all returned to the battle. This event was not going to be missed by any of the players.

The nail bitting second half began with gusto as both teams tried to stamp their authority on the last ‘half’ of the season. Play was frantic as both teams mentally & physically willed the ball into the net. Both keepers stopped balls that many on the sidelines had assumed were unstoppable. One save from Ryan Timmons, the Waves keeper, had his fingertips nudge the ball past the post to the simultaneous enthusiastic applause of the crowd & collective groans of the Bayside bench.

Second half goals to Sunshine Coast were scored by Mathew Bevan and Scott Prickett and Justin Morrison scored for Bayside. Goals were few and far between as both keepers and players alike committed 100% to the defence of their goals.

With the scores all tied up at 3-3 after forty minutes of “edge of seat ” regulation time, extra-time was needed to settle this titian match.

An extra time unbelievable goal from Mathew Bevan separated the two teams and enough to clinch the victory for the Waves. The bench erupted with excitement at the blow of the full time whistle with a result that that was once thought impossible.

Final score: Bayside Eagles 3 – Sunshine Coast Waves 4.

Kaisei Yoshimura was awarded both the Players’ Player for the Season and the Golden Boot for the second year running.