Image: Brooke Sleep
The reigning Premiers Southport together with the finalists from last year, Morningside, Bond University, Coorparoo and Wilston Grange showed they had lost nothing over the summer with some big wins inflicted on some younger and more inexperienced opponents in the opening round of Bond University QAFLW.
The Southport Sharks provided new club Broadbeach with a tough initiation at Neptunes Home Oval to the tune of 98 points.
A host of players gathered over 20 possessions as the reigning premiers mounted a plus differential of 168 disposals with the leading goalkickers Giselle Davies (four), Olivia Meagher (three) and a slightly inaccurate Tayla Christensen (2.4).
For the newbies, Ava Mitchell was a standout with 25 disposals whilst new signings Jasmine Single, Alicia Withers and Riley Perrett proved they will be valuable as the club gains more experience. And while the scoreline doesn’t indicate it, the Cats showed they were able to mix it with the standout performers at different times – and they were very unlucky not to walk away with a few goals on the scoreboard.
Coorparoo had a similar scoreline and same margin as above (98 points) over second season side Moreton Bay. The Kings dominated from the start and in just about every critical stat category. Renee Teys in the ruck, key playmaker Grace Roberts-White, Chelsea Chesterfield up forward with three goals all beginning where they left off last year. Jacinta Baldwick, Lucy Schneider and Ayla Fetahagic among many good players.
For Moreton Bay, co-coach Jess Davy led from the front with Arden Quilliam, Mahalia Johnson and Shauna Kelly as the Lions lacked nothing in their approach laying 68 tackles. Rose Hughes and Breanna-Rose White battled hard against the skill of Teys in the ruck.
Bond University proved too strong at home against Aspley with a comfortable 69-point victory. Tegan Williams with four goals and Izzy Iverach (three) as the powerful midfield containing Maisy Evans, Shannon Nolan, Jasmyn Davidson, Evy Reeves and Grace Moodie showed their class in a quality team effort.
A couple of the new Aspley signings impressed in Eva Downie (25 possessions), and Ella Smith (19), Isabella McDonough chimed in with 18 contested possessions and Monique Corrigan toiled in the ruck with 19 hitouts with 11 contested. The Hornets again not lacking anything in their application amassing 96 tackles.
A similar scoreline at University of Queensland where Morningside overwhelmed the Red Lionesses by 59 points. The Roy sisters Laura and Gracie led the way for last year's grand finalists, together with Simone Arthur, Kaitlyn Day, and Rosin Chu. Mackenzie Sleep's three majors headed the goalkickers as the Panthers were almost 50% when scoring inside their forward 50.
To their credit UQ matched their rivals in a few of the statistics but struggled to score when it mattered. Luka Yoshida-Martin led their disposals with 26, Yve Fittock (22) while Jules Martin, Eva Sartor and Monique Piunti saw plenty of the ball.
Highest score of the round went to Wilston Grange as they relished their home turf kicking 21.6.132 to Maroochydore's 3.4 22. New recruit and former Brisbane Lion and Western Bulldog Zimmorlei Farquharson starred in front of the big sticks with six goals, Kaiya Hides and Tshinta Kendall with three each.
Mackenzie Findlay and Zimra Hussain on top of the stats sheet, Keyshia Matenga was busy while Summer Hamilton laid 11 tackles.
Of all the beaten sides, the Roos did score three goals. Taya Oliver one of the goalkickers among her 17 disposals, Sophie Schulze, Gabi Simpson, Sarah Humm and Sara-Jane O'Grady listed among their best for the day.
Even though there were a number of one-sided matches to open proceedings all sides were pleased to get the season underway and round two does see the Grand Final re-match between Southport and Morningside.