Image by Brooke Sleep Media.
by Daniel Viles
Aspley’s opportunity for a first Bond University QAFLW minor premiership and Wilston Grange’s quest for a first finals appearance since 2018 collide at Zupps Aspley Oval in the feature match of Round 13.
For the Gorillas to make the finals for the first time in six years, they will need to win at Zupps Aspley Oval for the first time in five years against an opponent they haven’t beaten in four.
For the Hornets to finish top of the table, they will probably need to win their remaining two matches by around sixty points more than Southport win theirs.
In the words of Napoleon Bonaparte: “Impossible est un mot que l’on ne trouve que dans le dictionnaire des imbéciles” – Impossible is a word found only in the dictionary of fools.
Here’s how they might achieve the possible.
Aspley’s first quarters have been significantly better in 2024 that they were last year, but old habits have resurfaced recently with no goals in three of their last four opening terms. The Hornets know it needn’t be that way: last time out against Grange, they scored exactly three goals in each quarter. Watch for the stung Hornets to come out of the blocks quickly on Saturday en route to a proper four-quarter performance.
Wilston Grange tackled Bond University to a standstill two weeks ago: their 100 for the match led by 16 from Siobhan Senior, equalling the single match record in 2024, and 11 from Jasmine Ware. The Gorillas know they have the strength and running to neutralise the best opponents. If that neutralisation can manifest as frustration in their opponents, the Tricolours could become their own heroes.
Aspley regains Emma Pittman and Lucy Pengelly in defence this week to more than cover the absence of Tiarna Ernst. Further forward, Izzy McDonough is back from injury after missing two matches for Queensland under-18s, and Lilu Hung played in Queensland’s loss to the Allies last Saturday and is surely in no mood to suffer another upset.
Another returning from the 18s is Grange’s Zimra Hussain who found plenty of space at Springfield last Saturday. Former NSW Central Coaster Jasmin Rivers resumes her place in the midfield, her tackling prowess suggesting she could be the right type of midfielder for this match.
The Hornets’ rovers have taken it in turns through 2024 to go on ‘hot streaks’. Right now, it’s Jess Davy who is winning the ball and finding targets at will. The Moreton Bay Lions legend had 59 disposals in her last two matches and is third in the competition for effective disposals per match behind Coorparoo’s Lucy Schneider and teammate Lucia Liessi.
It wouldn’t surprise if the Gorillas match either Rivers or Haley Jones on Davy to not only cut off Aspley’s slick ball movement at the source, but give Keyshia Matenga the chance to broaden their own attack by releasing Ware and Taneka Dhadlie.
However, the next problem would be stopping the other Aspley midfielders from building forward momentum and having both Kitara Whap-Farrar and Emma McNaughton celebrating in the general direction of Portugal.
Elsewhere in Round 13: Coorparoo and Maroochydore will attempt the possible by travelling to the Gold Coast in search of their first ever wins against Southport and Bond University respectively; and Yeronga will believe their first win of the season is possible against University of Queensland whose finals aspirations are far more possible than they were even a week ago.
ASPLEY v WILSTON GRANGE
Saturday 20 July 2024, 4:45pm at Zupps Aspley Oval, Carseldine
Live stream with commentary on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 10 – Aspley won 8; Wilston Grange won 2
Head-to-Head at Zupps Aspley Oval: Played 4 – Aspley won 3; Wilston Grange won 1
Last time they met: 18 May 2024 (Round 6) – Aspley 12.8 (80) d Wilston Grange 2.3 (15) at Hickey Park.
SOUTHPORT v COORPAROO
Saturday 20 July 2024, 2pm at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 5 – Southport won 5
Head-to-Head at Fankhauser Reserve: Played 2 – Southport won 2
Last time they met: 18 May 2024 (Round 6) – Southport 12.7 (79) d Coorparoo 3.2 (20) at Giffin Park.
BOND UNIVERSITY v MAROOCHYDORE
Saturday 20 July 2024, 2pm at Bond University Oval, Robina
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 12 – Bond University won 11; Drawn 1
Head-to-Head at Bond University Oval: Played 3 – Bond University won 3
Last time they met: 18 May 2024 (Round 6) – Bond University 11.9 (75) d Maroochydore 0.2 (2) at Domino’s Park.
YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE v UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
Saturday 20 July 2024, 2pm at Leyshon Park, Yeronga
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 27 – Yeronga won 17; UQ won 9; Drawn 1
Head-to-Head at Leyshon Park: Played 11 – Yeronga won 6; UQ won 4; Drawn 1
Last time they met: 18 May 2024 (Round 6) – UQ 9.9 (63) d Yeronga 2.2 (14) at Base Architecture Meadows.
You can watch all matches in the Bond University QAFLW by visiting the Official AFLQ YouTube channel.
