All ACT Sportsgrounds and other ovals across the border in Queanbeyan were closed over the weekend, causing all Junior and Community Division football to be cancelled, as well as Second Grade and Under 18 fixtures.
First Grade matches scheduled for Gungahlin Enclosed Oval and Patches Asphalt Park were moved to Alan Ray Oval, with the Ainslie Football Club stepping up to host at the eleventh hour. Batemans Bay hosted Tuggeranong down at Monarch Park, with their Under 18 and Second Grade matches going ahead due to their 50th Year Celebrations.
It was an exciting round of football with plenty of huge performances, so let’s dive into all the action!
WR Engineering First Grade Women
Gungahlin and Belconnen led the way at Alan Ray Oval, kicking off at the earlier than usual start time of 9am. It was a tight first quarter, with only five behinds scored for Belconnen. The Magpies took control in the second quarter, booting three majors to establish a healthy 25-point lead at the main break and holding the Jets scoreless. The second half action was much the same, the Magpies controlling the play throughout to finish the day as 47-point winners. The final score was Belconnen 6.12.48 defeated Gungahlin 0.1.1. Belconnen’s best were Jorja Simpson, Katie Taylor, Maddie Bailey, Lucy Knox, Amber Allen, and Tiarne Reid. Gungahlin’s best were Samantha Rubino, Belinda Wozniak, Kate McGrath, Chloe Sullivan, Ainslie Winefield, and Karina Collins.
Tuggeranong made the trip down to Monarch Park to take on the Batemans Bay Seahawks, who on a massive day for the club with 50th Year Celebrations, would be raring to go. The Seahawks kicked the first two majors of the day and established an early lead, before the Valley pinched one back late to leave the margin at 8-points. Batemans Bay continued the fight in the second term, pushing the lead out to13-points, before Tuggeranong hit back with a couple of goals and leaving the margin at 1-point at the main break. The third term was a tight contest, the Seahawks leading for most of the term before a late goal for Tuggeranong to give them the lead for the first time by 3-points. The Valley powered home in the last with another two majors and finished the day as 14-point winners. The final score was Tuggeranong 6.3.39 defeated Batemans Bay 3.7.25. Tuggeranong’s best were Hayley Otten, Imogen Badham, Anne-Maree Ghirardello, Kate Patton, Katrina Brine, and Mia Clough. Batemans Bay’s best were Amy White, Bronte Smith, Zara Neil, Ali Thompson, Brodie White, and Jalina Smith.
It was a battle of 1st vs 2nd at Alan Ray Oval between Queanbeyan and Ainslie, with the Tricolours keen to bring the unbeaten run of the Tigers to an end. The first term was a tight tussle that saw only the one major score for the Tigers and two minor scores for the Tricolours. The Tigers took control in the second term kicking five goals to one and establishing a healthy 25-point margin. Queanbeyan extended their lead after the main break out to 40-points, before Ainslie kicked a couple of goals in the last term to reduce the final margin to 29-points. The ladder leaders proving too strong again to keep their unbeaten run rolling. The final score was Queanbeyan 8.5.53 defeated Ainslie 3.6.24. Queanbeyan’s best were Anita Manning, Madison Lustri, Ariella Paterson, Jade Paterson, Jessica Stramandinoli, and Ellen Squire. Ainslie’s best were Maddison Holloway, Claudia Williver, Georgia Patterson, Chelsea Allen, Lily Martin, and Casey Smith.
WR Engineering First Grade Men
Gungahlin and Belconnen faced off out at Alan Ray Oval with Belconnen hoping to put some distance between them and 5th placed Eastlake with a win. It was the Jets however who started fast and took an early lead in the game, showing some fight and going into the first break leading by 2-points. The second term was dominated by the Magpies, booting four goals to one and establishing a 20-point lead. This lead would prove too much for the Jets to overcome in the second half, despite fighting right to the final siren, Belconnen finished as 22-point winners on the day. Dom Bunyan led the way for the Magpies with five goals. The final score was Belconnen 11.18.84 defeated Gungahlin 9.8.62. Belconnen’s best were Hamish Saunders, Thomas Savage, Luke Wharton, Addie Vincent, Blake Chapman, and Dom Bunyan. Gungahlin’s best were Jake Thorpe, Logan Harrison, Lachlan Smith, Tom Gatenby, Jordan Klose and Ryan Smith.
Tuggeranong produced another dominant display at Monarch Park, defeating Batemans Bay by 119-points and racking up their 7th win for the year. The Valley did not make the most of their early opportunities, kicking two goals and five behinds to the Seahawks one behind to leave the door open despite their dominant start. They came out to play in the second term and dominated proceedings, booting eight majors to the Seahawks two, and increased the margin to 57-points. The second half was much the same with the Valley continuing to hit the scoreboard regularly, eventually finishing the game as 119-point winners. Skipper Joe Carroll led the way for Tuggeranong with four goals, and James McCabe also kicked three of his own. The final score was Tuggeranong 19.21.135 defeated Batemans Bay 2.4.16. Tuggeranong’s best were Aiden Henderson, Joe Carroll, Blake Walker, James McCabe, Noah Budd, and Blake Bennie. Batemans Bay’s best were Mason Fardell, Tully Ware, James Collins, Michael Thane, Mitch Taylor, and Ryder Freyer.
Queanbeyan took on an undefeated Ainslie side at Alan Ray Oval hoping that they could be the team to end the unbeaten run of the Tricolours. The first quarter was a great contest between both sides that saw the Tigers take a slim 1-point lead into the first break. The action continued in the second term with the Tigers able to push the lead out to 7-points at the main break. Ainslie pulled the deficit back in the third term and managed to take the lead by the three-quarter time siren by 4-points. John Brennan put put Queanbeyan up at the 7th minute mark of the last term by 3-points with a goal before Bailee Gilbert produced a lovely left-foot snap one minute later to push the margin out to 9-points. A tight contest between the two teams continued through the last term with Queanbeyan looking set to take a huge scalp. Matt McGrory gave the Tricolours some hope, breaking out of a forward stoppage and kicking a major at the 25th minute mark to reduce the margin to 3-points. Only two minutes later Lachlan McKeough broke out of a forward 50 contest and produced a left-footed snap to break the hearts of the Tigers and put the Tricolours into the lead. Tommy Muir took a big mark in the 29th minute of the final quarter and kicked the sealer to give Ainslie an 11-point win. The final score was Ainslie 9.13.67 defeated Queanbeyan 8.8.56. Ainslie’s best were Matt McGrory, Tommy Muir, Luke Crocker, Joe Bishop, Nick Cameron Neser, and Thomas Faul. Queanbeyan’s best were John Brennan, Ben Clough, Bailee Gilbert, Lachlan Mertz, Lachlan Moresi, and Cameron McWhirter.
Clubs will be without a host of stars this weekend as AFL Sydney/Canberra travel to the Gold Coast to take on Queensland Country, while footy continues back in Canberra.
Head over to the AFL Canberra PlayHQ page for all fixtures, results and ladders for the WR Engineering AFL Canberra Premier Division.