Match of the round:
Saturday 4:45pm – University of Queensland Vs. Yeronga South Brisbane (UQ Oval 9, St Lucia)
We’ve got another cracker in store for this week’s match of the round when UQ take on Yeronga at home. The last time they met back in round 8, UQ showed the first glimpse of how to contain Yeronga by keeping the Devils scoreless in the first quarter. The Red Lions discovered they could force Yeronga to play reactive footy by dropping numbers back behind the ball and drawing the Devils players further and further out of position which hinders the ideal style of footy for Yeronga. With a spot in the top four very much on the line for UQ, they’ll be throwing everything they’ve got at Yeronga to try to repeat that early performance and maintain it for four quarters.
The Red Lions get a few big names back in for this crucial clash with Claudia Wharton and Marley Beaven coming back into the side while Dania Herdman will be close to 100% for her second game back. However, injuries to Emma Pericic and Dakota Davidson, both of whom fill the key forward role, coupled with Rachel Anstey away overseas, means UQ are running low on tall forward and ruck stocks.
This is in stark contrast to Yeronga who get consistent ruck Erica Fowler back in for this week, along with key forward and marquee Sabrina Frederick-Traub who had been visiting family and travelled overseas. But perhaps the biggest inclusion for the Devils this week is none other than Jordan Zanchetta, joint 2015 QWAFL Best and Fairest. Zanchetta made her long-awaited return from an ACL injury last week in the QWFA, where she was named as one of the best. On Saturday, Zanchetta will re-join her QWAFL teammates for the first time in over a year in a bid to help Yeronga win a premiership while also pushing her case for an AFLW contract. After so long out of the game, it’s hard to know what to expect from the dynamic midfielder, but if it’s anything like what she can produce at her best, we’ll be in for a tantalising show on Saturday and for the rest of the season.
After a season ending injury early last year, look who’s finally back for the @YSBDevils… it’s #2 @zanchettaj !!! #WelcomeBackJordy pic.twitter.com/nB0Yyz0ncv
— AFLQ Community Footy (@AFLQfooty) July 15, 2017
U18 All-Australians return:
Queensland’s Under 18 stars are all clear to resume their spots in the QWAFL this round after competing in the NAB AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships just over a week ago. The Queenslanders won two of their five matches at the carnival, but had a whopping ten players named in the All-Australian squad who will play against each other later in the year. Sophie Conway (Zillmere), Courtney Bromage (Yeronga), Tarni White (Coorparoo) and Gabby Collingwood (UQ) were all bestowed the honour and are available for selection this week.
Meanwhile Jemma Abbott (Maroochydore) was also rewarded for a strong carnival however an ankle injury in the second-last game will keep her out of action for at least a little while longer. Coolangatta, who have the bye this week, had three Queensland All-Australian selections in Arianna Clarke (captain), Kalinda Howarth and Ruby Blair while Georgia Breward was also selected for NSW/ACT. Congratulations to the young QWAFL stars for their achievements.
Eagles’ nest re-opening:
Starting at 8am tomorrow, the Zillmere Eagles will be celebrating 10 years of women’s football at the club when they re-open a brand new clubhouse at their home ground, O’Callaghan Park. It’s been over a year in construction, but the clubhouse is finally ready to use and will be officially opened from 11:30am to 3:00pm, with the QWAFL match kicking off at 2:00pm. There will be plenty of past, present and future players of the club in attendance for the historic day, with plenty of old memorabilia and hidden treasures on display for a nostalgia trip. In what will be the Zillmere QWAFL side’s second-last match of 2017, the club will be looking to get plenty of fans along to support the women through the end of their season.
Round 15 Matches:
Saturday July 22
2:00pm – Zillmere Vs. Coorparoo
Venue: Zillmere – O’Callaghan Park
4:45pm – University of Queensland Vs. Yeronga South Brisbane
Venue: UQ (Oval 9) – St Lucia
4:45pm – Wilston Grange Vs. Maroochydore
Venue: Bendigo Bank Oval – Wilston Grange
BYE: Coolangatta Tweed
By Josh Cheadle
Twitter: @JoshCheadle20
