Image: Brooke Sleep Media
A commemorative Anzac Day of football has left a couple of 'fresh faces' on top of the ladder following round three of Bond University QAFLW.
At Hickey Park, Wilston Grange continued their impressive unbeaten start to the season by downing Morningside in a tight and low scoring contest by four points. Both teams struggled to find the middle of the big sticks in a goalless first half as the Panthers led by three behinds at the main break.
Finally, in the third term the Gorillas found their target in the space of two minutes when Tshinta Kendall turned the game on its head with two quick goals. In the final quarter, the home team still held sway by ten points before Morningside's Kaitlyn Day with only minutes remaining narrowed the margin with a snap goal that bounced through from 25 metres.
From that point it was a titanic struggle till the final siren and the Grange were able to hang on when it mattered to sit proudly on top of the ladder.
The Gorillas had an amazing 45 more handballs and plus nine forward fifty entries with Siobhan Senior, Keyshia Matenga, Summer Hamilton, Hayley Finning and Zimmorlei Farquharson along with Kendall among their influential playmakers.
Meanwhile, for Morningside aside from Day, Laura Roy, Coco Garton, Neva Bell, Indiana Williams and Greta Liell-Cock named among their best.
On the Gold Coast at Bond University, Coorparoo were able to repeat their finals result at the same venue in defeating the Bull Sharks by 16 points 4.2.(26) to 1.4.(10) to join Wilston Grange on top of the ladder.
The Kings managed a goal in each of the four quarters while restricting Bond University to a solitary major from Kendra Blattman in the second term. Sarah Perkins was the key factor for Coorparoo up forward booting three goals with another key forward Chelsea Chesterfield chipping in with the other. The visitors had many contributors in the win including Lucy Schneider (26 disposals) Grace Roberts-White (25 and 15 tackles), Chloe Haines, Ayla Fetahagic and Jacinta Baldwick to name a few.
To illustrate the desperation shown by both teams they combined for an unbelievable 260 tackles! Jasmyn Davidson, Halle Geyer, Beth Pinchin and Shannon Nolan among the Bull Sharks best and in the ruck, Maisy Evans with 40 hitouts battled hard against her opposite number Renee Teys.
Maroochydore recorded their first win of the season by flying from the first bounce in their home win over Moreton Bay. The Roos booted four goals in the opening term starting with Jenna Burke followed by Taya Oliver then Abbey Rankin grabbed the last two, including a brilliant long range effort from 45 metres out to open a match winning 26-point lead.
To their credit, Moreton Bay responded with goals from Laura Irwin in the second quarter and Emmerson Brady in the last, while restricting the Roos to only four behinds after the opening term blitz. The final margin 17 points 4.6.(30) to 2.1.(13).
Gabi Simpson a standout for the victors with 31 disposals (20 contested), Sarah Humm, Anita Ovenden, Phoebe Tuck, Britney Murray and Oliver among the stats leaders.
For the Lions co-coach Jessica Davy again leading the way gathering 31 possessions with support from Arden Quilliam, Tahlia Mead, Tahlia Benson and Grace Tucker.
In the remaining matches, Southport bounced back from a rare defeat last week to put University of Queensland to the sword to the tune of 66 points. Tayla Christensen starring with five goals and Stephanie O'Brien with two goals among her 27 disposals.
Aspley joined Maroochydore in tasting victory for the first time this season with a 41-point win over newcomers Broadbeach. Despite being without a goal, the Cats only trailed by 15 points at the last change, but the Hornets put their foot down in the final term kicking four goals. Aspley's Jess Stallard the only multiple goalkicker with two.
Next week there are a couple of cracking contests with Southport hosting ladder leaders Wilston Grange and Morningside home to Bond University.