By Daniel Viles
Maroochydore has an opportunity to break the Bond University QAFLW finals race wide open when it hosts Coorparoo in Round 9’s Bond University QAFLW Match of the Round.
While a solitary win in its opening seven matches reliably indicates the team is being built for the future, the manner of the Roos’ upset victory over University of Queensland last week, especially the forwards’ ability to keep the ball moving close to goal, makes whether they can claim another scalp a genuine question.
Coorparoo will be in no mood for charity having dug deep to defeat Wilston Grange last Saturday and demonstrating that their own on-field combinations are finding rhythms.
The Kings have made four changes from last week’s side but, for the first time this year, none will be playing their first top-grade match of the season. Conversely, Kate Deegan, Kayla Geddes, Meg Muir and Jess Watts return to the side after brief absences with a combined 216 Bond University QAFLW matches between them.
Maroochydore do not have access to that kind of experience, but their four changes show they know how to lean into their edge, namely, tall youth. Lilly Baker, playing her first match in 2024, and Monique Corrigan bring a combined age of 34 but a combined height of 365cm to the side. The not-as-tall Marlee Marshall completes a Lions Academy trio while experienced captain and forward Ellen Hopkins ends a four-match absence.
The key position talent in this contest is arguably better than in many matches between higher-ranked teams. New Roos coach Leigh Redpath already has Rose Hughes, Best on Ground last week, as a first-choice ruck option with Jaspar Jordan, sixth in the competition for hit-outs, as an over-qualified second option. It may be that Baker slots into defence and Corrigan into attack without needing to rotate through the middle.
Similarly, Rory Lake has Monique Perry and Abby Critchell taking care of the restarts for the Kings, leaving Chloe Gaunt to boss the forward line and his back pockets patrolled by Jasmine Fretwell and Mia Teubler.
However, in the battle between green and blue, this may all be a red herring. Firstly, as appealing as possible match-ups between Baker and Gaunt or Fretwell and Corrigan are, the defenders best equipped to teach their younger opponents about life in senior footy are Sara-Jane O’Grady (Maroochydore) and Ajla Fetahagic (Coorparoo).
Forget their impressive statistics; O’Grady and Fetahagic know the craft of working a forward out of position, both individually and through organising their backlines, well beyond anything faced at Academy level.
Secondly, Maroochydore and Coorparoo are the top two tackling teams in the Bond University QAFLW. While that statistic can be interpreted back-handedly as indicating time without the ball, in this case, it demonstrates two teams with defensive game plans centred around denying the opposition space.
Abbey Rankin, a Rising Star nominee, and Lucy Schneider, currently the state league’s best winger, have been the main suppliers of goalscoring opportunities for the Roos and Kings respectively this year. Some sides counter them by denying them supply. In this game, they may feel like they’re working in a tanning bed.
Coorparoo knows it holds a finals berth but isn’t safe. Maroochydore knows it’s the underdog but isn’t finished. Fans of Queensland women’s Aussie Rules know this will be worth watching.
The other matches worth watching on Saturday all involve a top-four side against a bottom-four side. The other livestreamed match sees Southport seeking its sixth win on the trot when it travels to Wilston Grange. University of Queensland hosts undefeated Aspley at twilight, while the evening match sees Yeronga visit Le Canal to face the reigning premiers.
All team lists available here and on PlayHQ.
MAROOCHYDORE v COORPAROO
Saturday 15 June 2024, 2pm at Domino’s Park, Maroochydore
Live stream with commentary on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 18 – Coorparoo won 12; Maroochydore won 6
Head-to-Head at Domino’s Park: Played 9 – Maroochydore won 5; Coorparoo won 4
Last time they met: 6 Apr 2024 (Round 1) – Coorparoo 10.5 (65) d Maroochydore 5.4 (34) at Giffin Park.
WILSTON GRANGE v SOUTHPORT
Saturday 15 June 2024, 2pm at iiNergy Oval, Stafford
Live stream on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 5 – Southport won 5
Head-to-Head at iiNergy Oval: Played 1 – Southport won 1
Last time they met: 6 Apr 2024 (Round 1) – Southport 12.7 (79) d Wilston Grange 1.2 (8) at Fankhauser Reserve.
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND v ASPLEY
Saturday 15 June 2024, 3:45pm at Base Architecture Meadows, St Lucia
Head-to-Head: Played 11 – UQ won 9; Aspley won 2
Head-to-Head at Base Architecture Meadows: Played 3 – UQ won 2; Aspley won 1
Last time they met: 6 Apr 2024 (Round 1) – Aspley 9.4 (58) d University of Queensland 4.3 (27) at Zupps Aspley Oval.
BOND UNIVERSITY v YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE
Saturday 15 June 2024, 4:45pm at Bond University Oval, Robina
Head-to-Head: Played 14 – Bond University won 9; Yeronga won 5
Head-to-Head at Bond University Oval: Played 7 – Bond University won 4; Yeronga won 3
Last time they met: 6 Apr 2024 (Round 1) – Bond University 13.13 (91) d Yeronga South Brisbane 0.1 (1) at Leyshon Park.
You can watch all matches in the Bond University QAFLW by visiting the Official AFLQ YouTube channel.
