Image: Ben Grimes
Five things we have learned from Round 9 of the Bond University QAFLW:
1. Southport flex their muscles in a dominant display
It was a huge display from the Sharks with a great team effort and a few individual performances for the ages. They showed the league who they are (again!) and Coorparoo should now be alert in the top spot as the Sharks are gunning for it. Tayla Christensen had five goals and 12 touches which puts her as the equal leading goal scorer in the league. For the others in the forward line, Caitlin Miller impressed with three goals and Maddy Baldwin and Melita Watts both chipped in with two of their own. Gun midfielder Olivia Meagher would be kicking herself after nearly kicking a bag with one goal and four behinds. But she still impressed, with 24 touches, six tackles, and six insides 50’s. Ella Maurer also dominated the centre of the ground with 30 touches going at 80% disposal efficiency, alongside an equal game high four centre clearances and four inside 50’s. Overall an impressive game from Southport in a warning to the competition.
2. Bond University puts last week’s hiccup in the rearview mirror
Bond University returned to normal programmimg with a 62-point win over the Cats at home which keep them in third spot with a percentage of 238. The Bullsharks led all day, not conceding a goal until the third quarter where the Cats finally got one through Rachael Slater. A few stand out performances occurred for the Bullsharks, with Shannon Nolan obliterating the opposition midfield, racking up an absurd 40 touches, 11 clearances and seven tackles, alongside two goals. Evy Reeves also played an excellent game, recording an equal game high 16 tackles, bruising the Cats midfield all day long. Up in attack, Kendra Blattman and Isabella Iverach both snagged three goals with the former being brilliant aerially with four marks inside 50. Ruck Millar Brosan-Ball also helped control the midfield, with 49 hitouts and seven tackles in a dominant display.
3. Coorparoo make the most of their chances
Accuracy proved to be the key to winning this game, with the Hornets having nine scoring shots and Coorparoo having 12. But Coorparoo had the accuracy especially early, kicking four goals and one behind to one goal and three behinds, to give them momentum going into the second half with the lead. Aspley had chances in the second half, kicking two goals and three behinds, but by then Coorparoo had control of the game and did nicely to run out 23-point winners. Ex-Gold Coast SUN Sarah Perkins kicked three goals as she hits some form and provided some great moments in the ruck as well. Ayla Fetahagic racked up 24 touches in the win, alongside seven clearances and a goal. Jacinta Baldwick also had a great game with the Coorparoo gun having 19 touches with a goal and two behinds. With this win, Coorparoo remains at the top of the ladder, with an important game against the Southport Sharks coming up in two weeks time.
4. Morningside have some class
Morningside continue to get it done, this week against Moreton Bay at home by 81 points. They now are tied with Wilston Grange for fourth on the ladder, with the Gorillas ahead only by percentage. What was really impressive was their ability to get the ball inside 50, with the average for the year being 30 insides 50’s per game. However, against the Lions they got 47 which smashed their average and was the reason why they had such dominance in the game. Key contributors included Isabella Levine, who racked up 31 touches alongside eight tackles and 10 clearances. The main proponent for the prolific amount of inside 50’s the Panthers got was Kaitlyn Day and Kiara Tolley, who both got 20 touches, but more impressively 12 inside 50’s between them. Day also got two goals, an overall excellent game from her. Hannah McLaughlin kicked two goals and two behinds up forward but also provided excellent pressure when she didn’t have the ball, with eight tackles and winning three free kicks as well.
5. Maroochydore have shown great improvement
Although Wilston Grange got the win, the bigger story is the development of the Roos. They came into this game as the underdogs and although they lost, they showed great fight with a few of the young guns having a great game. Britney Murray played great in the midfield with 26 touches and five tackles alongside Gabi Simpson who had 25 and 11 tackles. Sophie Schulze was elite by foot, with 17 touches at 94% disposal efficiency, having six tackles and winning seven free kicks. But the Gorillas can’t be ignored with Zimra Hussain having an amazing game with 27 touches and a goal. Mackenzie Kindlay was also great with 26 touches and seven tackles. Finally, Keyshia Matega was great in the air, with three intercept marks and a spoil. With this win, it keeps them in fourth spot, with the Panthers breathing down their neck.