Round 9 results:
Coolangatta Tweed 11.16 (82) def. Zillmere Eagles 1.1 (7)
Yeronga South Brisbane 18.10 (118) def. Maroochydore 5.3 (33)
BYE: University of Queensland
BYE: Coorparoo
BYE: Wilston Grange
Everyone’s a winner:
With only two games this round and the 2016 grand finalists playing the two bottom-placed sides, there was more on the line this week than just the four points. Zillmere had endured an extended dry spell having not registered on the scoreboard since Round 2, while Maroochydore had been struggling against the QWAFL’s established sides with Round 4 their last win. While both sides went down to Coolangatta Tweed and Yeronga respectively, there was plenty to take out of the match for both sides. Zillmere played extremely well and scored a goal in the final quarter off Caitlyn Huth’s boot, even managing to restrict the Bluebirds to just nine points in the first quarter. Maroochydore likewise came out of their match in high spirits after putting together what was possibly their best performance of the season to date, kicking 33 points against the competition’s hot premiership favourites.
The Devils’ advocate:
Ladies and gentleman, we have a new QWAFL leading goal-scorer. As predicted earlier in the week, Jade Ransfield stepped up to the plate for Yeronga on the weekend and kicked a bag of five to overtake Wilston Grange’s Maddison Peeters at the top of the leaderboard. Ransfield’s effort takes her total tally to 21 for the season, two ahead of Peeters who has found success at Grange after moving down from Cairns at the start of the season. Ransfield has played a lot of footy at centre-half and full forward for the Devils this season, with her tall frame giving her a big advantage to fly over defenders. She’s most dangerous from set shots with her uncanny accuracy, but is just as good during play with the ability to break away from her opponent or snap over her shoulder.
Bateman Returns:
Zillmere footballer Melanie Bateman made a seamless return to QWAFL footy on the weekend after a stint in America playing college basketball. The 5’7 cross-coder represented the Northeast Hawks in the NJCAA competition, scoring 46 points in her 24 games at point guard. In her first game back for Zillmere, Bateman showed her natural athletic abilities are still a big asset for the Eagles and she will be looking to build some form over the next couple of weeks and after the bye round.
The ladder now:
With their two wins on the weekend, Yeronga and Coolangatta have opened up a lead over the rest of the competition at the halfway mark. The Devils remain unbeaten on top on 24 points, followed by Coolangatta on 20, then Wilston Grange, Coorparoo and UQ on 18 after all three had a bye. Maroochydore and Zillmere round out the bottom on six and zero points respectively.
By Josh Cheadle
Twitter: @JoshCheadle20
