Tuggeranong Valley’s First Grade Men and their rise in 2026 have been the story of the year. That story continued over the weekend with another historic win against Queanbeyan at Patches Asphalt Park.
There were plenty more highlights and wins over the weekend, so let’s get into all the action!
WR Engineering First Grade Women
Ainslie hosted Gungahlin at Alan Ray Oval in search of their third win for the year, and to keep in touch with the top five. The Jets were celebrating the 150th game for club stalwart Jaye ‘Nemo’ Anderson, and the Tricolours celebrated Katie Williams 50th game. The hosts were boosted by the return of GIANTS Academy star, Georgia Patterson, and young gun Imogen Morse in her return from injury, both playing their first game for 2026 for the Tricolours. It was the veteran Karina Wells-Demant who stamped her authority on the game, slotting the first two majors of the game for the home side. Debutant Sophia Dawe kicked two majors of her own in the second quarter, while Wells-Demant added another, for the Tricolours to hold a 37-point lead at halftime. The second half was a similar story, with Wells-Demant adding another three goals to her tally to finish the day with six, and the Tricolours holding the Jets scoreless through four quarters to run out 71-point winners on the day. The final score was Ainslie 11.5.71 defeated Gungahlin 0.0.0. Ainslie’s best were Georgia Patterson, Karina Wells-Demant, Shannon Brown, Claudia Williver, Jamie Clayden and Sophia Dawe. Gungahlin’s best were Kate Clarkson, Karina Collins, Felicity Patterson, Belinda Wozniak, Celine Langlands and Clare Warwick.
Queanbeyan went head-to-head with Tuggeranong at Patches Asphalt Park, with both teams welcoming back some GIANTS Academy talent to their lineups. The Tigers welcomed back 2025 Bainrot Medallist and leading goalkicker, Billie Hamilton, and sisters Jade and Ariella Paterson for their first game of 2026. The Valley welcomed Morgan Stevens, Ava Brassil and Alana Fraser back into their lineup for their first game since Huddle Round, and Jade Miller for her third game of the season. Queanbeyan had a hot start in the first quarter kicking 4.3 to take a 27-point lead into the first break. A tight second quarter saw only one major and four behinds between the two teams, Queanbeyan leading by 35 at the main break. The Tigers piled on the points in the second half to finish the game as 90-point winners, holding the Valley scoreless in the second half. Billie Hamilton booted six goals for the game on her return to the lineup, showing no signs of slowing down from her breakout first season. The final score was Queanbeyan 13.13.91 defeated Tuggeranong 0.1.1. Queanbeyan’s best were Jayde Hamilton, Ariella Paterson, Anita Manning, Billie Hamilton, Jade Paterson and Jessica Stramandinoli. Tuggeranong’s best were Lucy McKelvie-Hill, Alana Fraser, Anne-Maree Ghirardello, Jade Miller, Hayley Otten and Imogen Badham.
Eastlake hosted Batemans Bay at EPC Solar Park in what turned out to be match of the round in First Grade Women’s competition. The Seahawks were boosted by the returns of Isla Judd and Zara Neil from GIANTS Academy duties and were straight out of the blocks in the first quarter to be 5-point leaders at the first break. The hosts turned the tide back in their favour in the second term and headed into the main break as 2-point leaders. The third quarter was another tight contest between the two teams, the Seahawks winning the quarter but went into the final break trailing by 1-point. It was the Demons who would prevail in the last, kicking two majors to seal a hard fought 14-point victory. Eastlake vice-captain Maddie Convery led the way for the Demons with two crucial goals, and inspirational leader Sophie Alves led the way for the Seahawks. The final score was Eastlake 7.8.56 defeated Batemans Bay 5.6.36. Eastlake’s best were Iris Rangiah, Elizabeth Gower, Ryeli Fleming, Laura Kearney, Maddie Convery and Charlotte Marshall. Batemans Bay’s best were Isla Judd, Brodie White, Sophie Alves, Amy White and Karmen Ison.
WR Engineering First Grade Men
Gungahlin headed to Alan Ray Oval to take on an Ainslie team who were missing some key personnel through injury, boosted by the inclusion of new recruit Byron Laws out of Manly and the Swans VFL system. An inaccurate first quarter for the Tricolours saw them leading at the main break by a 14-point margin. In the second term, the Jets showed the hosts that they had to come to play, kicking four majors to Ainslie’s one, and taking a 1-point lead into halftime. The Jets led by as much as 18-points in the third quarter, before Ainslie re-took the lead by 10-points at the final break. Ainslie ran out the game in the last quarter, kicking another five goals and finishing the day as 31-point winners. Both teams will take plenty of positives from the match, the Jets able to hold their heads high with a strong effort against the undefeated Tricolours. Ethan Councillor booted four majors for the Jets, while debutant Riley Roberts kicked three goals for Ainslie. The final score was Ainslie 13.16.94 defeated Gungahlin 9.9.63. Ainslie’s best were Luke Crocker, Nick Cameron Neser, Daniel Hoffman, Cameron Terry, Riley Roberts and Xavier Zerger. Gungahlin’s best were Sam Heighway, Ethan Councillor, Byron Laws, Jake Thorpe, Macauley Smith and Lachlan Smith.
Tuggeranong travelled across the border to Patches Asphalt Park to take on Queanbeyan, in what was set to be a huge test for a Valley team on the rise. Queanbeyan were celebrating the 100th game of Tigers Junior Christian Palombi. The Valley welcomed GIANTS Academy representatives James Rice and Riley Masters into their lineup for their First Grade debuts, breaking into an undefeated side showing the talent that the two young players present. The entire match was a hard-fought contest, with the Valley displaying that they are the real deal in 2026, leading at each break throughout the game and eventually finishing the day as 21-point winners. Angus Miller sealed the historic win for Tuggeranong with a right-footed checkside shot from the boundary in the last quarter. The final score was Tuggeranong 11.7.73 defeated Queanbeyan 7.10.52. Tuggeranong’s best were Riley Budd, Sam Emery, Adam Bennett, Noah Budd and debutants James Rice and Riley Masters. Queanbeyan’s best were Bailee Gilbert, Aidan Bowyer, John Brennan, Jordan Gilbert, Jayden Lehman and Jack Nunn.
Eastlake hosted Batemans at EPC Solar Park, on a special day for the Demons who celebrated Eastlake Junior Joey Hancock’s 150th game. Eastlake were keen to celebrate the occasion properly and did just that in the first half to lead by 61 points at halftime. The second half was much the same, with Eastlake’s Tom Wischnat continuing his strong goalkicking form to boot five majors for the game. The Seahawks fought hard throughout the day, but it was not enough to stop the reigning premiers, who finished the day as 142-point winners. The final score was Eastlake 25.17.167 defeated Batemans Bay 3.7.25. Eastlake’s best were Luke Morfoot, Spencer Bassett, Tom Wischnat, Jack Evesson Larsen, milestone man Joey Hancock, and Jackson Crowe. Batemans Bay’s best were Max Tiernan, James Collins, Tully Ware, Ryder Freyer, Mitch Taylor and Kyle O’Malley.
Looking ahead to Round 7 action in the WR Engineering Premier Division, we celebrate AFL Canberra Indigenous Round, our unbeaten Men’s teams go head-to-head at Greenway with Tuggeranong and Ainslie, Belconnen host Eastlake and Queanbeyan take on Batemans Bay at home.
Head over to the AFL Canberra PlayHQ page for all the fixtures and results for the WR Engineering AFL Canberra Premier Division.