By Daniel Viles
The Southport juggernaut faces a tricky test in this week’s Bond University QAFLW Featured Match when it faces the one team it hasn’t yet managed to steamroll in 2024 – University of Queensland.
Two months ago, the Sharks had looked a step off the pace in losses to last year’s Grand Finalists, Bond University and Aspley, before grinding out an eight-point home win against the Red Lionesses.
From that point on, the Sharks clicked and went on to beat the other six teams in the state league by margins of 78, 59, 83, 26, 67 and 27.
Meanwhile, UQ has endured a frustrating season in which they have pushed the top teams harder than any other club but also suffered losses against teams lower down. Consequently, the Red Lionesses have the fifth best attack and fourth best defence in the Bond University QAFLW but occupy seventh place on the ladder.
Both sides have made five changes from last week’s winning teams. UQ regains Jasmine Dekker, Erin Gilbert and Nickkie Shaw after injury layoffs and recalls the experienced Annie Shewring. Molly Wilson makes her Bond University QAFLW debut having crossed town from Morningside.
Southport loses five players to the Queensland Under 18s playing at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday against Victoria Country and brings in five more teenage representative footballers. Ebony Milne has been around for several years while Scarlett Featherstone, Alicia Gordon and Mikayla Nurse all debuted earlier in 2024. Joining them as a state league footballer is Surfers Paradise and Carrara Saints junior Aasha Elliott fresh off averaging a goal a match in Reserve Grade across June.
Regardless of who’s available, the question for UQ this week will be how to stop Southport in “turbo mode”. You know that button in video games that makes you super strong and fast until your energy wears off? Watch the first nine minutes of their win last week over the previously undefeated Aspley and then tell me that coach Peter “Doc” Doherty does not have one of those.
Every player in the forward 50 is running hard and supporting the ball carrier. When they lose the ball, they shut down the wide exits and force the defence to try to clear through the corridor. When that inevitably doesn’t work, they win the ball and kick a goal. Any of them. Their eight goals last week were scored by eight different players.
No team on earth could sustain that pace for a full match, but when Southport presses “turbo”, no team can stay with them. Four times in 2024, Southport has kicked four or more goals in the opening quarter.
The good news for UQ is they have running power in their side. Charlotte Andrews is a defender with a big engine. Madi Crowley-Long, Josii Hargreaves and Jane Childes are all adept at dropping back to add numbers. And Gabi Simpson has quickly become one of the most difficult players to contain in the Bond University QAFLW since the last strong, imposing netballer UQ added to its midfield.
Going up against Simpson, Childes and Lara Mason will be one of the tougher tests to be faced by the physical and skilful Sharks midfield of Maddy Watt, Steph O’Brien and the very in-form Kierra Zerafa.
Much-loved UQ fullback Jessi Henning, a two-time premier and three-time Team of the Year representative, plays her 100th game tomorrow both for UQ and in the Bond University QAFLW.
Southport’s Jess Maher is currently playing Reserve Grade but the veteran of 70 state league first grade matches for UQ, Bond University and the Sharks also plays her 100th senior match tomorrow.
A potential third century celebration is that Southport midfielder and forward Megan Hunt enters the match on 99 goals in her QAFLW career for Coorparoo, UQ and the Sharks. One of the great traditions of Australian Rules Football is when the crowd storms the field for a player reaching 100 goals in a season. Hunt would become just the eighth player on record (from 2010) to reach 100 QAFLW goals.
The other Round 11 matches, all livestreamed (links below), see Bond Uni hosting Wilston Grange, Aspley hosting Maroochydore, and the 37th meeting of traditional rivals Yeronga and Coorparoo.
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND v SOUTHPORT
Saturday 6 July 2024, 3:45am at Base Architecture Meadows, St Lucia
Live stream with commentary on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 6 – University of Qld won 3; Southport won 3
Head-to-Head at Base Architecture Meadows: Played 1 – University of Qld won 1
Last time they met: 4 May 2024 (Round 4) – Southport 3.5 (23) d University of Qld 2.3 (15) at Fankhauser Reserve
BOND UNIVERSITY v WILSTON GRANGE
Saturday 6 July 2024, 2pm at Bond University Oval, Robina
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 13 – Bond University won 10; Wilston Grange won 3
Head-to-Head at Bond University Oval: Played 6 – Bond University won 5; Wilston Grange won 1
Last time they met: 4 May 2024 (Round 4) – Bond University 6.3 (39) d Wilston Grange 1.2 (8) at Hickey Park
ASPLEY v MAROOCHYDORE
Saturday 6 July 2024, 4:45pm at Zupps Aspley Oval, Carseldine
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 11 – Maroochydore won 7; Aspley won 4
Head-to-Head at Zupps Aspley Oval: Played 5 – Maroochydore won 3; Aspley won 2
Last time they met: 4 May 2024 (Round 4) – Aspley 8.9 (57) d Maroochydore 1.2 (8) at Domino’s Park
YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE v COORPAROO
Saturday 6 July 2024, 4:45pm at Leyshon Park, Yeronga
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 36 – Coorparoo won 20; Yeronga won 16
Head-to-Head at Leyshon Park: Played 17 – Coorparoo won 10; Yeronga won 7
Last time they met: 4 May 2024 (Round 4) – Coorparoo 8.4 (52) d Yeronga 4.5 (29) at Giffin Park
