by Daniel Viles
Attack of the Killer Hornets Leaves Gorillas in the Mist
One blitz of four goals in five minutes turned a tight northside derby into a comfortable 32-point win for Aspley over Wilston Grange in the Round 13 feature match of the Bond University QAFLW.
With six minutes remaining in the second quarter, a period of high-quality ball movement at fast pace from the Hornets produced two goals to breakout forward Emma McNaughton bookended by majors to Kitara Whap-Farrar and Drew Barnes stretched their lead from 5 points to 29 at the main break.
Jess Davy continued her brilliant recent form both winning the ball and creating opportunities for Aspley from the middle of the park. Her 25 effective disposals (one short of the season record), 9 clearances, 9 inside-50s and 7 tackles constituted one of the most complete displays in this year’s Bond University QAFLW.
The Gorillas defended superbly all match, including the aforementioned five minutes which would have overwhelmed any club team in Australia, led by fullback Hayley Finning (23 effective disposals, 5 intercept marks) and supported by Jacinta Ens (3 spoils, 2 intercept marks).
Aspley opened the scoring in the sixth minute when a movement that began with an Emma Pittman turnover at centre halfback was completed by Whap-Farrar with a signature goal from tight in the left pocket.
Zimra Hussain was brilliant for the Gorillas (22 effective disposals, 13 contested possessions) and sparked their first goal when her double-effort in the right pocket produced an accurate pass to Jasmine Ware in front of goal. Ware’s set shot resulted in her second goal in as many weeks.
Territory was dominated by Aspley in the second term but with only three early behinds to show for it. That changed in the 13th minute when Jasmine Kawa began to dominate the ruck contest.
A strong tap from Kawa at a boundary throw-in put Jaimie Bryant into space. Izzy McDonough, who had provided the assist for the Hornets’ first goal, this time kicked over Finning and watched Whap-Farrar run through an empty goal square.
Three minutes later, McNaughton took a leaf out of Whap-Farrar’s book by following a dropped mark attempt into the right pocket and snapping from a narrow angle.
McNaughton scored her second sixteen seconds after Kawa tapped back to Davy at the restart. Davy’s kick saw the ball loose briefly until McDonough swept to handball to Drew Barnes who, in turn, handballed McNaughton into goalscoring space.
Kawa varied the plan by tapping to Liessi a minute later, her catch-and-pass finding McNaughton who repeated the play for Barnes to the right of goal. Barnes’ set shot goal was Aspley’s 400th in the Bond University QAFLW since entering in 2019.
The Gorillas began the second half strongly with one counterattack begun by a Finning spoil at fullback rapidly moving the ball to right half-forward. Their second such attack began with a volley out of defence from Charlize Anderson and ended with captain Mackenzie Findlay passing accurately to Emily Keehn for her first state league goal.
Home captain Pittman, having arguably her best match of the season (15 effective disposals, 3 inside-50s) engineered her team’s quick response when she turned Anna van de Wiel’s intercept mark into a set shot for McNaughton with a powerful run and pass through the corridor. McNaughton’s conversion completed her second consecutive hat-trick.
Grange refused to give up their narrow opportunity for finals football with a third goal. Ens roved at a boundary throw-in at left halfback, drove to the centre circle, and then watched as Naomi Celebre cleared to find Lauren Shackleton with the entire forward 50 to herself.
Again, Aspley restored its lead quickly, Lilu Hung winning a free kick 40 metres from goal and then showing that there is more than one draft hopeful in the Bond University QAFLW with a piercingly long accurate kick.
The remainder of the third term saw Wilston Grange camped in the forward 50, but Aspley had the better of the final term although registering only minor scores.
The Hornets will secure a double-chance in the finals if they defeat Coorparoo next week, while Wilston Grange will need a large victory over Maroochydore and then need other results to be kind to them if they are to sneak into the final four.
Also in Round 13: Maddy Baldwin’s five goals were the dominant scoreboard feature of Southport’s 75-point defeat of Coorparoo; Courtney Sexton scored her first ever hat-trick as Bond University won by 62 points over Maroochydore; and University of Queensland kept its own finals hopes alive with a win over Yeronga.
Saturday 20 July 2024, 4:45pm at Zupps Aspley Oval, Carseldine
ASPLEY 1.4 (10) 5.7 (37) 7.7 (49) 7.10 (52)
WILSTON GRANGE 1.2 (8) 1.2 (8) 3.2 (20) 3.2 (20)
Replay and match statistics
Aspley
Goals: Emma McNaughton 3, Kitara Whap-Farrar 2, Drew Barnes, Lilu Hung
Best: Jess Davy, Lilu Hung, Emma Pittman, Louise Tyson, Morgan Lanigan, Eloise O’Connor
Wilston Grange
Goals: Jasmine Ware, Emily Keehn, Lauren Shackleton
Best: Jasmine Ware, Keyshia Matenga, Hayley Finning, Mackenzie Findlay, Kalista-Jayne Shiner, Naomi Celebre
Saturday 20 July 2024, 2pm at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
SOUTHPORT 4.1 (25) 7.3 (45) 9.6 (60) 12.9 (81)
COORPAROO 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 1.0 (6) 1.0 (6)
Replay and match statistics
Southport
Goals: Maddy Baldwin 5, Alannah Welsh 3, Dekota Baron 2, Sunny Lappin 2
Best: Kaylee Kimber, Abbie Pluples, Alannah Welsh, Maddy Watt, Rianna Schipp, Maddy Baldwin
Coorparoo
Goals: Chloe Gaunt
Best: Mia Teubler, Alana Mitchell, Chloe Gaunt, Meg Muir, Kayla Geddes, Jess Watts
Saturday 20 July 2024, 2pm at Bond University Oval, Robina
BOND UNIVERSITY 3.7 (25) 6.7 (43) 10.11 (71) 12.11 (83)
MAROOCHYDORE 0.0 (0) 1.2 (8) 3.2 (20) 3.3 (21)
Replay and match statistics
Bond University
Goals: Courtney Sexton 3, Havana Harris 2, Abbey Bevan 2, Tshinta Kendall 2, Tahlia Meyer, Charlotte Taylor,
Bella Davies
Best: Tahlia Meyer, Courtney Sexton, Havana Harris, Shannon Nolan, Mia Salisbury, Nyalli Milne
Maroochydore
Goals: Lilly Baker, Axel Oswald, Lucy McEachen
Best: Jya Epstein, Abbey Tognazzini, Axel Oswald, Lucy McEachen, Marlee Marshall, Demi Norton
Saturday 20 July 2024, 2pm at Leyshon Park, Yeronga
YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE 0.1 (1) 0.2 (2) 2.3 (15) 2.3 (15)
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND 0.6 (6) 3.9 (27) 4.12 (36) 5.14 (44)
Replay and match statistics
Yeronga South Brisbane
Goals: Lana Lowery, Sienna Morassuti
Best: Georgia Hewett, Jamie Howell, Farradai Hopkins, Lizzie Hill, Charlotte Millen, Sophia Wheeler
University of Queensland
Goals: Lauren Middleton 2, Monique Piunti, Eva Sartor, Gracie Roy
Best: Lucy McCormick, Monique Piunti, Lauren Middleton, Laura Roy, Eva Sartor, Lara Mason
Table: Southport 44, Aspley 44, Bond University 40, Coorparoo 24,
University of Queensland 20, Wilston Grange 20, Maroochydore 16, Yeronga South Brisbane 0.
Find all your information about the Bond University QAFLW at the Competition Hub.
