Maroochydore won its first match of the 2025 Bond University QAFLW after five goals in the first quarter led them to a 64-point win over Yeronga South Brisbane in their Anzac Day clash at Leyshon Park.
Amy Bissett completed a hat-trick before the first break while regular midfielder Abbey Rankin enjoyed life in the forward line contributing two majors of her own.
In muddy conditions, the Roos more successfully moved the ball away from congestion than their opponents, particularly Marlee Marshall whose series of clearances into the forward 50 provided a steady stream of goalscoring opportunities in that first term.
For Yeronga, first-gamers Dina Bizimana and Bella Turner threw themselves into their senior debuts registering eight and seven tackles respectively, many of them running down Roos who had broken into space.
Thyra Tavil found the ball in space most often for the Devils and benefited from the work of Crisstal Povis (13 contested possessions) who won contest after contest against larger opponents.
Bissett, who represented Tasmania against Queensland in 2024, had her first goal handed to her when she intercepted an errant handball in the opening minute and sent it back with interest.
Yeronga dominated territory for the next six minutes but their only shot on goal was blocked by Roxy Beuzeville. Once the Roos got out of defence, a clever handball from Whitehouse (13 contested possessions) set up Bissett’s second before the Tasmanian turned provider for Rankin’s first with a soccered kick into the goalsquare.
Rankin doubled her tally late in the quarter when she roved a Lana Lowery ruck win and snapped over a congested defence to score, before Bissett completed her hat-trick with a set shot after marking on the lead from Whitehouse.
After Lily Gilliland scored her first state league goal 37 seconds after the restart, a more organised Yeronga defence kept the Roos in check for most of the second and third quarters.
The Devils’ goal came early in the second half when a Kimmy Bell tackle forced the ball loose near the goalsquare and Racquelle Sutton kicked checkside over the defence.
Maroochydore’s Samantha Langmaid scored the best goal of the match late in the third when she gathered the ball on the arc, sprinted past her defender and kicked truly in the opposite direction to her run.
The greater experience and aerobic fitness of the Roos was evident in the final term when their territorial dominance yielded set shot goals to both Bissett and Rankin.
Maroochydore plays its first home game of the year next week against the winless Aspley while Yeronga travels to Wilston Grange for its first away game.
In the other Anzac Day match, three goals to Abbey Bevan led Bond University to a 17-point win over Coorparoo at Giffin Park.
Friday 25 April 2025, 1pm at Leyshon Park, Yeronga
YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE 0.0 (0) 0.1 (1) 1.1 (7) 1.1 (7)
MAROOCHYDORE 5.3 (33) 6.6 (42) 7.12 (54) 9.17 (71)
Replay and match statistics
Yeronga South Brisbane
Goals: Racquelle Sutton
Best: Thyra Tavil, Crisstal Povis, Bella Turner, Lily Clutton, Dina Bizimana, Racquelle Sutton
Maroochydore
Goals: Amy Bissett 4, Abbey Rankin 3, Lily Gilliland, Samantha Langmaid
Best: Amy Bissett, Roxy Beuzeville, Abbey Rankin, Marlee Marshall, Lucy Massie, Abbey Tognazzini
Friday 25 April 2025, 3:30pm at Giffin Park, Coorparoo
COORPAROO 0.0 (0) 0.2 (2) 0.2 (2) 1.3 (9)
BOND UNIVERSITY 0.3 (3) 0.3 (3) 3.3 (21) 4.4 (28)
Replay and match statistics
Coorparoo
Goals: Jenae Govan
Best: Enah Dešić, Chelsea Chesterfield, Lucy Schneider, Ajla Fetahagić, Grace Roberts-White, Renee Teys
Bond University
Goals: Abbey Bevan 3, Maisy Evans
Best: Skye White, Lexi Samuels, Maisy Evans, Abbey Bevan, Georgia Johnson, Trinity Ella
Find all your information about the Bond University QAFLW at the Competition Hub.