Queensland’s premier state competitions, the Bond University QAFLW and QAFL, return this Saturday April 6, with 10 blockbuster games taking place across South East Queensland.
In 2024, twelve clubs will contest the premiership flag in the men’s competition, with eight competing in the women’s fixture.
In the men’s competition, Aspley will commence their premiership defence when they host Broadbeach, while in the women’s, reigning premiers Bond University take on Yeronga away in the opening round.
Some familiar faces will suit up in the QAFL competition for the first time. Former Brisbane Lion Rhys Mathieson will play for Wilston Grange, while his former teammates Daniel Rich and Nakia Cockatoo will play for Noosa and Morningside respectively.
While on the Gold Coast, former North Melbourne Kangaroo Aaron Hall will play for Palm Beach Currumbin, as will former Sydney Swan Grand Final ruckman Tom Hickey. Former Western Bulldog Hayden Crozier will run on for Surfers Paradise.
In the QAFLW, recently drafted NAB AFL Women’s players will play for a club in the first half of the season. New Brisbane Lions recruits Sophie Peters and Indiana Williams will play for Maroochydore, while Jacinta Baldwick will play for Coorparoo and Evie Long for Aspley. University of Queensland has also welcomed former Queensland Firebird and Australian Diamond Gabi Simpson, to its ranks.
To continue to make Queensland’s top-tier state league competitions as accessible as possible, AFL Queensland will again stream all games live and free on the official AFLQ YouTube channel.
Head of AFL Queensland Trisha Squires welcomed the return of the premier state league competitions this weekend.
“We have seen our QAFLW and QAFL competitions go from strength to strength in recent years and with the acquisition of so many exciting players in the off-season, they will both go to a new level in 2024,” she said.
“On behalf of AFL Queensland, I would like to wish good luck to all players, coaches, umpires and volunteers who will be participating this year – thank you for making our game so special.”
Ahead of the season return, AFL Queensland quizzed all 20 QAFL and QAFLW Captains on the teams and players they think will stand out this year:
- Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
- Who do you think will win the 2024 J. A. Grogan and Emma Zielke Medal?
- Who will be this year’s leading goal kicker?
- Which player is most likely to win goal of the year?
- Which player is most likely to win mark of the year?
QAFL Answers:
Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
Aspley – 9
Redland-Victoria Point – 2
Palm Beach Currumbin – 1
Who do you think will win the 2024 J. A. Grogan Medal?
Liam Dawson (Aspley) – 2
Rhys Mathieson (Wilston Grange) – 2
Aaron Hall (Palm Beach Currumbin) – 1
Campbell Aston (Redland-Victoria Point) – 1
Hayden Crozier (Surfers Paradise) – 1
Joel Leahy (Aspley) – 1
Kwaby Boakye (Broadbeach) – 1
Tom Hickey (Palm Beach Currumbin) – 1
Will Fletcher (Sherwood) – 1
Who will be this year’s leading goal kicker?
Matt Hammelmann (Redland-Victoria Point) – 8
Jono Freeman (Noosa) – 2
Connor Stackelberg (Aspley) – 1
Which player is most likely to win goal of the year?
Dylan Smith (Redland-Victoria Point) – 1
Harry Law (Labrador) – 1
Harry Milford (Morningside) – 1
Jackson Griffiths (Mt Gravatt) – 1
Jai Fitzpatrick (Noosa) – 1
Kwaby Boakye (Broadbeach) – 1
Mitch Patten (Surfers Paradise) – 1
Mitch Stallard (Redland-Victoria Point) – 1
Nick Dodge (Aspley) – 1
Oscar Stewart (Wilston Grange) – 1
Sam (Salvatore) Cilmi (Palm Beach Currumbin) – 1
Stanley Waistcoat (Sherwood) – 1
Which player is most likely to win mark of the year?
Brodie Haberfield (Surfers Paradise) – 1
Cory Beeman (Palm Beach Currumbin) – 1
Curtis McCarthy (Noosa) – 1
Harry Milford (Morningside) – 1
Hugh Fidler (Wilston Grange) – 1
Jack Austin (Sherwood) – 1
Jarrod Huddy (Redland-Victoria Point) – 1
Josh Leahy (Mt Gravatt) – 1
Josh Wagner (Maroochydore) – 1
Justin Crock (Labrador) – 1
Kasey Nicholas (Broadbeach) – 1
Will Peppin (Aspley) – 1
QAFLW Answers:
Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
Bond University – 5
Southport – 2
Aspley – 1
Who do you think will win the 2024 Emma Zielke Medal?
Steph O’Brien (Southport) – 4
Emily Harding (Coorparoo) – 1
Jane Childs (University of Queensland) – 1
Jasmyn Davidson (Bond University) – 1
Who will be this year’s leading goal kicker?
Jess Stallard (Aspley) – 2
Chelsea Chesterfield (Coorparoo) – 1
Courtney McDonnell (Yeronga South Brisbane) – 1
Jesse McMillan (Maroochydore) – 1
Kitara Whapp-Farrar (Aspley) – 1
Leah Kaslar (Bond University) – 1
Maggie O’Connell (Southport) – 1
Which player is most likely to win goal of the year?
Jamie Howell (Yeronga South Brisbane) – 1
Jesse McMillan (Maroochydore) – 1
Kate McKenna (University of Queensland) – 1
Kelsey Crosby (Coorparoo) – 1
Kitara Whap-Farrar (Aspley) – 1
Megan Hunt (Southport) – 1
Mia Geere (Wilston Grange) – 1
Tahlia Meyer (Bond University) – 1
Which player is most likely to win mark of the year?
Ajla Fetahajic (Coorparoo) – 1
Bella Iverach (Bond University) – 1
Dekota Baron (Southport) – 1
Elka Barnett (University of Queensland) – 1
Jesse McMillan (Maroochydore) – 1
Jess Stallard (Aspley) – 1
Kadie Fletcher (Wilston Grange) – 1
Maddie Goodwin (Yeronga South Brisbane) – 1
