Image: Anthony Byron
After a bye last week, the Bond University QAFLW resumes this weekend, with a great round of women’s footy to look forward to.
All the games will be played this Saturday.
Bond University (1st) vs Wilston Grange (3rd) @ Bond University Oval 2pm
This game has huge ramifications with the winner a chance to remain or grab first on the ladder. Bond University have been very solid this season with just the one loss and a massive percentage of 404. But Wilston Grange are one of the other two teams with just one loss this season and with their last game being a 106-point procession over Moreton Bay, they will be feeling confident they can topple the ladder leaders and take first place. It’s going to be an offensive affair!
How the Bullsharks Win
It will be in the centre of the ground, with the Bullsharks being number one ranked clearance side in the competition and relying on them heavily. Shannon Nolan will look to continue her stellar form this week up against rival midfielder Keleejay Bingham. The Bullsharks are the number one contested team in the competition and the Gorillas are the best uncontested team in the league, so it will be interesting to see who gets their game on their terms first. Beth Pinchin and Tobi Chapman will have their hands full up against the best offence in the league, but if they can get on top, it will greatly boost their chances of getting the win.
How the Gorillas Win
It has to be their offence. With ex-Lions and Bulldogs AFLW player Zimmorlei Farquharson now leading the league in goals with 22 (3.7 per game), and forth on the leading goal kicking charts (and ex-Bond player) Tshinta Kendall (1.8 per game) in the same forward line it will be a hellish match up for the Bullsharks defence. In the midfield they will look to ruckman Ella Smith to continue her dominance (24 hitouts per game) alongside Bingham and captain Mackenzie Findlay to get on top against the best clearance team in the game. If they can get some control in the midfield then they can go to their default uncontested mark, composed gameplan and increase their chances of victory.
Morningside (5th) vs Southport (4th) @ Jack Esplen Oval 4:45pm
It’s the 2025 grand final rematch with a top four spot up for grabs. Both teams will be looking to continue their momentum with both getting the win in their last game, the Panthers impressively giving Coorparoo their first loss of the season in a close seven point thriller and the Sharks defeating Aspley by 76-points on the Hornets home deck. Last time they went up against each other in Round Two, it was Morningside who secured the win, showing the gap between the two from last season had closed significantly.
How the Panthers Win
Panthers are more reliant on their midfield especially with the talent in it. Laura Roy will be looking to continue her clearance dominance (6.7 per game) with the help of ruckman Teresa Dixon (19.7 hitouts per game). But it will be others that will have to step up to like Greta Liell-Cock and Hannah McLaughlin to stop Southport’s potent midfield. They need to stop Southport’s aerial dominance as well and will be looking to key pillars Lucy Bellinger and Renee Taylor. Courtney McDonnell will have her hands full up forward, being the Panthers main focal point and having to look out for Southport’s Siobhan Ross, with her control and poise off half back helping set up the Sharks uncontested marking game. If they can control those two aspects of the game the Panthers will be a hard side to stop.
How the Sharks Win
The Sharks gameplan is designed to control the game through uncontested marks, being the best uncontested team in the league (number one in uncontested possessions, disposals and uncontested marks). They will look to Stephanie O’Brien to continue what she has been doing in the midfield and to Ella Maurer, with the dynamic midfield duo looking to quell Laura Roy’s impact. And who can forget the second ranked offence in the competition, including Olivia Meagher and ex – AFLW Swan and SUN Giselle Davies, who are both averaging 1.5 goals per game in their last four. Olivia Meagher has also been racking up the pill (24.8 disposals per game) and is looking like a very good hybrid midfielder/forward. These two paired with Tayla Christensen who is averaging two goals a game and leading the Sharks in goals scored for the season (12), makes for a dangerous trio up forward.
The remaining matches see seventh placed University of Queensland up against the 10th placed Moreton Bay at Base Architecture Meadows at 3:45pm, with a win from UQ putting them in the running for a top six position. For Moreton Bay, they will be looking to get their first win of the 2026 season.
A second placed Coorparoo will be looking to get back onto the winners list after their first loss in Round Six in an upset against fifth placed Morningside. For the eighth placed Broadbeach, they will be looking to extend their win streak to three in a row and continue their push for a finals berth, with a win this week putting them firmly in the running for the top six. This game will be played at Giffin Park at 4:45 pm.
Finally, sixth placed Aspley will be looking to cement themselves in that spot as they take on ninth placed Maroochydore at Neil Upton Oval at 4:45pm. Maroochydore will feel they have a great chance to take the four points, with a competitive loss against Broadbeach in Round Six, while Aspley will be looking to get back on track after a disappointing loss to Southport.