Photo by Highflyer Photography
Queensland Women’s Coach Jamie Stanton has named her final team as they strive for a third straight victory over Tasmania at Latrobe Recreation Ground this Saturday July 5.
Up and coming stars of the Bond University QAFLW competition headline the starting list, with only 10 players returning from last year’s victorious team.
Steph O’Brien, the competition’s reigning two-time Emma Zielke Medallist and last year’s Queensland Co-captain, returns and is again joined by Lucy Schneider, Ella Calleja, Emma Pittman, Ayla Fetahagic, Jasmyn Davidson, Tayla Gregory, Grace Roberts-White, Maddy Watt and Jess Davy.
Amongst the players set to pull on the maroon jumper for the first time is Morningside’s Isabella Levine, who leads the competition in clearances and is second for contested possessions. Joining her in their Queensland debut are Southport’s Olivia Meagher who sits second on the QAFLW leaderboard for goals and Kierra Zerafa who sits second for disposals.
Stanton said after the team’s strong performance and win last year, they will aim to go up another level as they continue to establish Queensland as a dominant state in women’s Australian rules football.
“We’ve welcomed back a number of experienced players while also introducing some exciting new talent,” Stanton said.
“For some of our younger players in our group, this is their first representative match since playing for the Queensland academies and is a great opportunity for them to showcase that they are ready to be on an AFL Women’s list.
“Overall the players have really bought into the concepts we’re working on as a coaching group, and it’s been rewarding to see the team come together so seamlessly.
“With the best talent in the state wearing the maroon, we’re confident in the side we’re putting on the park to take on Tasmania. We know they’ll bring plenty of experience and physicality, but we’re ready.”
