The Batemans Bay Seahawks claimed their maiden win in the WR Engineering AFL Canberra Premier Division First Grade Men and Women’s competitions over the weekend, defeating the Gungahlin Jets down at Monarch Park.
WR Engineering AFL Canberra Premier Division Second Grade, Under 18s and The Canberra Times Community division all kicked off over Friday and Saturday. The Over 35s Masters competition also continued with Round 2 at Monarch Park.
Now it’s time to take a deep dive into the weekend of WR Engineering AFL Canberra Premier Division First Grade action across the competition!
WR Engineering First Grade Women
The 2025 Grand Final re-match saw Belconnen Magpies spoil the party at Alan Ray Oval as the Tricolours unveiled their premiership flag and celebrated the re-opening of the oval after re-surfacing works over the off-season. The Magpies led from start to finish, starting the game hot and holding a 23-point lead at the main break. The Tricolours fought back in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome the fast-starting Magpies. Jorja Simpson was outstanding for the Magpies, breaking the First Grade Women’s disposal record with 46 disposals. The final score was Belconnen 6.2.38 to 3.8.26 Ainslie. Belconnen’s best on the day were Grace Read, Tiarne Reid, Josie Bates, Lucy Knox and Jorja Simpson. Ainslie’s best were Jamie Clayden, Emily Bell, Annie Burgess, Jasmyn Murphy, Katie Williams and Millah Sullivan.
The Batemans Bay Seahawks took on the Gungahlin Jets down at Monarch Park in what was talked up to be a potential match of the round. The first quarter was a tight contest with both teams walking away with a single behind at the break. The second quarter was a different story with the Seahawks able to hit the scoreboard with goals to Bronte Smith and Claudia Hannan taking them to a 17-point lead at half-time, keeping the Jets scoreless in the second quarter. Inspirational captain Sophie Alves kicked another at the start of the third before the Jets slotted three goals of their own to reduce the margin to 6. The Seahawks were able to keep the ball locked in their forward half after an early goal in the fourth and held on for their maiden win by 15 points. The final score was 4.10.34 to 3.1.19. The Seahawks best on the day were Claire Callaghan, Brodie White, Sophie Alves, Jalina Smith and Karmen Ison. The Jets best were former AFLW player Kate Clarkson, Sam Rubino, Clare Warwick, Emily Nutt, Annie O’Brien and Amity Yeoman.
Queanbeyan and Eastlake went head-to-head out at Patches Asphalt Park in a battle of the big winners from Round 1 of the First Grade Women’s competition as Jayde Hamilton celebrated her 100th First Grade match. The first quarter was a tight affair, with the Tigers taking a slender 2-point lead into the break. They were able to extend the margin to 8 points at the main break, leading 16 to 8. The third term saw both teams hit the scoreboard, the Tigers leading by 10 points at the final break. The Demons could not overcome the deficit however, the match finishing with the Tigers as 13-point winners. The final score was 6.6.42 to 4.5.29. Queanbeyan’s best were Montana Dove, Emma Dunn, Michelle Foscarini, Jessica Stramandinoli, Anita Manning and milestone player Jayde Hamilton. Eastlake’s best were Elizabeth Gower, Ryeli Fleming, Madeline Convery, Hannah Kearney, Eleanor Leadbitter and Millie Chisholm.
WR Engineering First Grade Men
The 2025 First Grade Men Grand Final re-match between Queanbeyan and Eastlake was played at Patches Asphalt Park on Saturday afternoon, and it did not disappoint. A low scoring first quarter with 1 goal each to both teams saw the Tigers leading by 3 points. Eastlake came out firing in the second term, booting 4 goals to Queanbeyan’s 3, and leading at the main break by 11 points. The Tigers won the premiership quarter, to lead by 2 points at the final break and held on in the last for a 6-point victory. Finley Budd was a rock down back for the Tigers with 10 spoils and 11 one-percenters. The final score was 11.14.80 to 11.8. 74. Queanbeyan’s best were Finley Budd, Jaden Gilheany, John Brennan, Aidan Bowyer, Michael Armstrong and Bailee Gilbert. Eastlake’s best were Lucas Hurse, Thomas Wischnat, Luke Morfoot, Keenan Patron, Cooper Kilpatrick and Ryan King.
The Batemans Bay Seahawks held off the Gungahlin Jets to secure their maiden First Grade Men win down at Monarch Park. The Seahawks started fast with a 4 goal to 1 first term that saw Buster Ware boot 3 goals. The Jets fought back in the second to go into the main break down by 18 points. When Logan Harrison kicked the first 2 goals of the third quarter, the margin was reduced to just 7, before goals to Jedd Martyn and Jarrod Thompson pushed the Seahawks lead back out. Logan Harrison kicked another in before the final break to leave Batemans Bay with a 15-point margin. The Jets fought hard to stay in the contest but a 3 goals to 1 final quarter for the Seahawks would seal their maiden victory. The final score was 12.13.85 to 8.10.58. Batemans Bay’s best were Jarrod Thompson, Nathan Munnerley, Buster Ware, Sam Martyn, Mitch Taylor and Alexander Makey. Gungahlin’s best were Josh Baldwin, Sam Heighway, Logan Harrison, Royce Miitze, Jett Jones and Jake Thorpe.
Ainslie took on Belconnen at Alan Ray Oval in the other match-up of Round 2. The Tricolours proved too strong for the Magpies, running out as 49-point winners. Ainslie held a 5-point lead at quarter time after a seesawing first quarter with 5 lead changes. A 5 goals to 1 second quarter for the Tricolours with two goals to each of McGrory and Holloway, helped them establish a 28-point halftime lead. Ainslie continued their dominance after the halftime break, proving too strong for a young Magpies team. McGrory and Holloway both finished with 3 goals. The final score was14.13.97 to 6.12.48. Ainslie’s best were Matt McGrory, Blake Holloway, Nicky Robertson, Joel Dunstall, Jack Firns and Jesse Dunstall. Belconnen’s best were Hamish Saunders, Ryan Turnbull, Blake Chapman, Riley Hansen, Zac Smith and Sebastian Tanner.
Head over to the AFL Canberra PlayHQ page for all the fixtures and results for the WR Engineering AFL Canberra Premier Division.