By Daniel Viles
Question: If Bond University can beat Maroochydore by 73 points, and Maroochydore beats Coorparoo, but Coorparoo has beaten Bond University the last two times they met, then who wins when they play again on Saturday? Such is the poser created by the Featured Match of Round 10 in the Bond University QAFLW.
The history of state league footy between the Navy Blues and the not-quite-Navy Blues is complicated. Each has lost to the other in a premiership year, and while Bond leads the head-to-head record 9 wins to 5, two of Coorparoo’s victories were so large, including the record 76-point mauling in the 2019 Grand Final, that the Kings hold an 8-point lead in the aggregate points score (67.66-468 to 64.76-460).
Recent form is a useless predictor. Immediately before Bond’s last two losses to Coorparoo, they had defeated top-three sides Aspley and Southport, while Coorparoo had narrowly scraped past non-finalists Wilston Grange the first time and fallen to them the second.
The Bull Sharks’ form, says common wisdom, depends on whether their armada of teenage starlets is available. Suggest this to any Kings players or coaches and they will tell you patiently through gritted teeth that their Anzac Day victory was without Grace Roberts-White, Chloe Gaunt, Emma Zielke, Emily Bleney, Bonnie Farrell and Grace Perry.
The good news for Coorparoo is that all but Farrell are available at The Castle this Saturday evening. Coach Rory Lake has also brought back Alyssa Gall after a one-week absence and Sammy Nunn for the first time since that Anzac Day win.
Andy Lovell has made three changes to the Bond side that defeated Yeronga. Annabelle Foat wins a Bond University QAFLW debut following a run of five goals in three Reserve Grade games. Evy Reeves plays her first top-grade game since her stunning goal in last year’s Reserve Grade Grand Final victory. Leah Kaslar has a Wikipedia entry; do your own research.
The key to this game might not be the new inclusions, but the growth and development of players since Anzac Day. In that match, Coorparoo mids Jess Watts and Lucy Schneider cleverly put the ball inside forward 50 without giving away intercept marks. However, Bond’s centre halfback that day was Jasmyn Davidson in just her third game in that position. This Saturday, that position will be filled by Queensland centre halfback… Jasmyn Davidson, a very different proposition. Although this time, Davidson will need to cope with the height and strength of Gaunt, also a very different proposition.
Towards the other end, Ella Calleja was brilliant as a ball-winner but that left Bond without its favourite forward marking target. Thus leaving Ajla Fetahagic in her preferred ‘sweeper’ role without as much pressure as she would otherwise have faced. Moving Calleja forward would make defending The Castle that much more difficult.
That ignores the development of Grace Roberts-White who now knows that her ability to win and distribute the ball can succeed at both club and state level. Likewise, Kaitlyn Zelinski is getting more confident in her creativity by the week. Does their progress require Bond to bring Calleja back out of the forward line?
Of course, there is a certain Havana Harris who can take high marks and kick fifty metres. The recent ruck form of Maisy Evans frees Harris to stay forward longer.
But this is one match where the key battle may be right in front of the spectators. Both Coorparoo and Bond move the ball wide. Tahlia Meyer and Lucy Schneider were brilliant on the wings for Queensland against Tasmania last Saturday. Actually, they were brilliant on both wings, regularly switching and stretching the defence. Whether they temporarily or permanently match up on Saturday may depend on which one gets the better start, or possibly which coach blinks first.
Both clubs reach historical milestones in this match. Coorparoo plays its 75th match in the Bond University QAFLW at Giffin Park (not including five matches played on its no. 2 oval) and has 49 wins from those matches. Bond University brings up its 100th match in the state league and will be seeking its 70th victory.
All remaining matches in the 2024 Bond University QAFLW will be live-streamed. This Saturday, Wilston Grange hosts a morning match against University of Queensland so that its players can participate in its Ladies Day. In the traditional afternoon slot, Maroochydore will hope to continue its unlikely run to the top four when it travels to Yeronga, and Southport hosts Aspley in the last realistic chance for any team to prevent the Hornets from securing the minor premiership.
COORPAROO v BOND UNIVERSITY
Saturday 29 June 2024, 4:45pm at Giffin Park, Coorparoo
Live stream with commentary on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 14 – Bond University won 9; Coorparoo won 5
Head-to-Head at Giffin Park: Played 6 – Bond University won 4; Coorparoo won 2
Last time they met: 25 Apr 2024 (Round 3) – Coorparoo 3.4 (22) d Bond University 2.4 (16) at Bond University Oval.
WILSTON GRANGE v UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
Saturday 29 June 2024, 10:45am at Hickey Park, Stafford
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 24 – University of Qld won 16; Wilston Grange won 8
Head-to-Head at Hickey Park: Played 10 – University of Qld won 9; Wilston Grange won 1
Last time they met: 27 Apr 2024 (Round 3) – Wilston Grange 6.1 (37) d University of Qld 4.5 (29) at Leyshon Park.
SOUTHPORT v ASPLEY
Saturday 29 June 2024, 2pm at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 6 – Southport won 3; Aspley won 2; Abandoned 1
Head-to-Head at Fankhauser Reserve: Played 2 – Southport won 1; Aspley won 1
Last time they met: 27 Apr 2024 (Round 3) – Aspley 5.5 (35) d Southport 3.3 (21) at Zupps Aspley Oval.
YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE v MAROOCHYDORE
Saturday 29 June 2024, 2pm at Leyshon Park, Yeronga
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 15 – Maroochydore won 8; Yeronga won 6; Drawn 1
Head-to-Head at Leyshon Park: Played 5 – Yeronga won 2; Maroochydore won 2; Drawn 1
Last time they met: 25 Apr 2024 (Round 3) – Maroochydore 10.7 (67) d Yeronga 3.3 (21) at Domino’s Park.
You can watch all matches in the Bond University QAFLW by visiting the Official AFLQ YouTube channel.
