by Daniel Viles
WILSTON GRANGE v YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE
Saturday 3 June 2023, 5pm at iiNergy Oval, Stafford
Live with commentary on YouTube
Head-to-Head: Played 22 – Yeronga South Brisbane won 18; Wilston Grange won 4
Head-to-Head at iiNergy Oval: Played 9 – Yeronga South Brisbane won 8; Wilston Grange won 1
Last time they met: 15 April 2023 – Wilston Grange 4.3 (27) d Yeronga South Brisbane 2.12 (24) at Leyshon Park
For the first time in two years, Wilston Grange enters a Bond University QAFLW match as favourites when they take on Yeronga at iiNergy Oval in the Match of the Round on Saturday evening.
Wins over Coorparoo and Maroochydore saw the Gorillas enter the bye round inside the four. Another win on Saturday will not only see them maintain that position, but would be the first time Grange has won three consecutive QAFLW matches since a five-victory streak from Round 15, 2018 to Round 1, 2019.
Yeronga will remember that iiNergy Oval was where they gained their first win in 2022 with Ebony Milne (currently in Melbourne with the Lions Academy) putting on a midfield masterclass in the mud.
Both sides are remarkably settled with Wilston Grange making just the one change, Maegan Dick coming in for defender Ash Moloney, and Yeronga’s four changes appearing to be primarily caused by managing the workload of the younger players
Former Gorillas captain Jess Matthews returns from injury for the Devils, and former Lions Academic and Mt Gravatt junior Charlotte Millen makes a much-anticipated state league debut.
Both the QAFL and Bond University QAFLW matches at iiNergy Oval on Saturday will be played in support of Legacy Australia. Ceremonies will be conducted on the field before each match.
WILSTON GRANGE
FB | 4 Megan Boscoe | 49 Shania Jones
HB | 17 Kylie Welsh | 21 Jacinta Ens | 51 Gemma Donataccio
C | 5 Keyshia Matenga | 7 Chloe Litherland (c) | 26 Uma Brennan
HF | 9 Mia Geere | 35 Charlize Anderson | 27 Naomi Celebre
FF | 15 Daisy Carter | 33 Ella Smith
FOL | 8 Kalista-Jayne Shiner | 1 Mackenzie Findlay | 52 Grace O’Donnell
IC | 2 Abbey Brokken | 18 Siobhan Senior | 25 Maegan Dick | 29 Caitlyn Rawding | 40 Jayme Winter
EMG | 3 Eloise Ayre | 16 Tarin Moke | 23 Caitlin Gunn
Coach: Brenton Meddings
IN: Maegan Dick
OUT: Ash Moloney
YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE
FB | 49 Laura Wagner | 3 Georgia Carmody
HB | 5 Jess Matthews | 8 Lucy Bellinger (c) | 22 Kara Stock
C | 4 Camilla Burnett | 7 Tiarnah Isua | 55 Jamie Howell (vc)
HF | 6 Courtney McDonnell | 30 Peppa Poultney | 35 Sophie Wheeler
FF | 46 Briony Black | 38 Emily Bleney
FOL | 14 Madison Goodwin | 10 Madi Twin | 34 Chelsea Winn
IC | 1 Stephanie Rosenthal | 15 Jessie Baltus | 16 Clancey Sutton | 17 Charlotte Millen^ | 28 Emily Rogers
EMG | 2 Georgia Hewett | 18 Madie Satyasiv | 20 Kasey Holleran | 31 Holly Mills
Coach: Lisa Milne
IN: Jess Matthews; Charlotte Millen; Emily Rogers; Laura Wagner
OUT: Sophie Dunne; Stephanie Field; Georgia Hewett; Holly Mills
SOUTHPORT v UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
Saturday 3 June 2023, 3pm at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
Head-to-Head: Played 4 – University of Queensland won 3; Southport won 1
Head-to-Head at Fankhauser Reserve: nil
Last time they met: 15 April 2023 – Southport 15.10 (100) d University of Queensland 1.5 (11) at Brighton Homes Arena
University of Queensland becomes the first team in the 2023 Bond University QAFLW to have a second chance at working out how to stop the Southport train at Fankhauser on Saturday.
Southport is yet to concede more than two goals in one match; indeed, the 11 points scored by UQ in the opening round is the second highest score against them in 2023. Even when Coorparoo went inside their 50 on 41 occasions, the Sharks defence, minus Selina Priest, leaked only nine points.
Priest remains unavailable this week due to coaching commitments, and Southport somehow managed the anatomically impossible feat of losing three wings at once, but they are bolstered by the returns of defender Jess Maher, midfielder Carly Remmos and forward Maggie O’Connell.
The Sharks also introduce one of the most experienced debutantes in state league history with SANFLW legend, former Carlton VFLW captain, and Adelaide United W-League goalkeeper Kristi Harvey arriving at Fankhauser Reserve.
UQ is a notably different side from the one which endured a horror opening to the season. Their younger players are now more experienced against physically larger opponents, and the team’s overall kicking accuracy and contested ball wins see them frequently entering the attacking third.
In keeping with the ‘South Australian influx’ theme, Jackie Chan Tie makes her top-grade debut after stints with Amber Vale in the Adelaide Footy League and both University and Northern Beaches in Townsville.
SOUTHPORT
FB | 4 Hannah Davies | 46 Maddy Baldwin | 61 Kialla-Skye Bailey
HB | 11 Leigh Alder | 35 Jess Maher
C | 47 Georgia Breward | 14 Maddy Watt | 12 Tamsin Perry
HF | 43 Darcie Davies | 58 Peyton Mackie
FF | 36 Maggie O’Connell | 32 Tayla Gregory | 5 Jess Malouf (c)
FOL | 29 Lilly Pearce | 7 Steph O’Brien | 10 Carly Remmos
IC | 1 Kristi Harvey^ | 17 Serina Balanda | 30 Matisse Hunter | 45 Maddie Gault | 57 Ruby Mitchell
EMG | 6 Avalon Pearce | 24 Alessia Smythe | 56 Paris Couzijn
Coach: Peter Doherty
IN: Kristi Harvey; Jess Maher; Maggie O’Connell; Carly Remmos
OUT: Poppy Boltz; Sarah Ingram; Abbie Pluples; Rianna Schipp
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
FB | 21 Jessi Henning | 10 Jacinta Fisher
HB | 7 Madi Crowley-Long (c) | 20 Indiya de Jonge | 19 Jasmine Dekker
C | 2 Jane Childes | 9 Lara Mason | 3 Lucy McCormick
HF | 4 Kadie Fletcher | 14 Harriet Knijff | 23 Elka Barnett
FF | 17 Edie McCabe | 1 Gracie Champion
FOL | 18 Lucy Hicks (vc) | 16 Ava Seton (vc) | 6 Lauren Middleton
IC | 5 Meagan Cook | 22 Julia Dawson | 24 Jackie Chan Tie^ | 15 Kate McKenna | one may be added
EMG | nil
Coach: Ross Clayfield
IN: Jasmine Dekker; Jackie Chan Tie
OUT: Charlotte Andrews; Rieley Bloor; Caitlin Laycock
ASPLEY v COORPAROO
Saturday 3 June 2023, 4:45pm at Zupps Aspley Oval, Carseldine
Head-to-Head: Played 9 – Coorparoo won 6; Aspley won 2; Drawn 1
Head-to-Head at Zupps Aspley Oval: Played 3 – Coorparoo won 3
Last time they met: 15 April 2023 – Coorparoo 6.5 (41) drew with Aspley 5.11 (41) at Giffin Park
In a match with major bearing on final Bond University QAFLW ladder positions, Aspley and Coorparoo meet this Saturday for the first time since their thrilling draw on the opening day of the season.
Aspley’s issues with slow starts resurfaced in their win over UQ having seemingly buried them against Bond with four opening-term goals. They have compensated for this with accuracy in front of goal, currently the only team in the competition with more goals than behinds. Even without sharpshooter Rachael Vetter, half-forward Hanna Brennan has maintained the teams’ accuracy standard and also provided a straight-running style that complements the strong target of Jess Stallard and the unpredictable runs of Louise Tyson.
Mackay City Hawks’ premiership winner Hannah Giles is named in the forward pocket for her QAFLW debut, while Gabby Roberts debuts from the pine having been rewarded for series of strong performances in Reserve Grade.
Coorparoo is having a somewhat anti-synergistic season in that the sum of the parts, i.e. statistical dominance across most areas of the field, has been less than the whole, i.e. the final scores. One large reason for this has been the unavailability of experienced forwards Macie Brown, Jenae Govan and, last year’s leading goalscorer for the Kings, Chelsea Chesterfield converting possession into points. One third of that problem is now solved with Chesterfield returning from injury. She is joined by Jasmine Fretwell for her first QAFLW game in 2023 which also gives the Navy Blues another ruck option.
ASPLEY
FB | 13 Lucy Thompson | 20 Emma Pittman
HB | 5 Lucy Pengelly | 23 Ange Lingard (c) | 15 Jaimie Bryant
C | 38 Finn Davies | 25 Jess Stallard | 54 Emma Lendrum
HF | 9 Louise Tyson | 19 Hanna Brennan | 17 Ella Smith
FF | 45 Hannah Giles | 12 Lucia Liessi
FOL | 28 Anais Kirvan | 30 Mikayla Martin | 4 Courtney Daniec (c)
IC | 8 Maddy Kawa | 10 Morgan Lanigan | 29 Ellyse McNiven | 31 Jaida Tabb | 33 Gabby Roberts^
EMG | nil
Coach: Luke Glacken
IN: Hannah Giles; Emma Lendrum; Ellyse McNiven; Gabby Roberts; Jaida Tabb
OUT: Silvana Goldbach-Eggert; Tarryn Meyer; Holly Mirfield; Charlie Mullins; Anna van de Wiel
COORPAROO
FB | 45 Bonnie Farrell | 23 Charlotte Edmunds
HB | 36 Ayla Fraser | 15 Ajla Fetahagic | 30 Taya Oliver
C | 26 Chelsea Chesterfield | 3 Sally Young (c) | 47 Laura Blue
HF | 22 Binta Lamin | 54 Chloe Gaunt | 31 Jasmine Fretwell
FF | 4 Jess Watts | 32 Emily Robinson
FOL | 59 Coco Garton | 24 Hannah McLaughlin | 18 Lucy Schneider
IC | 13 Gabby Fares | 27 Megan Evans | 35 Kalei Brighton | 40 Rose Collins | 51 Hannah Sexton
EMG | 1 Bridget Taylor | 8 Mel Sweeney | 55 Courtney Alder
Coach: Rebecca Randazzo
IN: Chelsea Chesterfield; Megan Evans; Jasmine Fretwell; Coco Garton
OUT: Courtney Alder; Kelsie Crosbie; Adair Henderson; Bridget Taylor
MAROOCHYDORE v BOND UNIVERSITY
Saturday 3 June 2023, 4:45pm at Domino’s Oval, Maroochydore
Head-to-Head: Played 10 – Bond University won 9; Drawn 1
Head-to-Head at Domino’s Oval: Played 4 – Bond University won 3; Drawn 1
Last time they met: Bond University 15.14 (104) d Maroochydore 1.0 (6) at Bond University Oval
Bond University travels to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday looking to cement its place in the top four of the Bond University QAFLW, while hosts Maroochydore aim not to lose touch with it.
The Bull Sharks dominated their last match at home against the Roos, but the hosts can draw inspiration from the last time they hosted Bond at Domino’s Oval and came away with a share of the points.
Maroochydore has named key defender Sara-Jane O’Grady in the centre, presumably to face the threat of Bond’s inside midfield as directly as possible. The ready-made rotation comes via the return from injury of Dakota Hooper, named in O’Grady’s usual halfback position.
AFL Wide Bay Grand Final winner and goalscorer Kasey Stone takes advantage of Across the Waves’ bye to make her QAFLW debut for the Roos.
Bond has one week left of its de facto role as the Suns Academy’s feeder team before its young stars become available for QAFLW duty. This week, Lily Tarlinton’s absence allows tall forward and ruck option Paige Price to make her Bull Sharks’ debut after playing four matches for the other Sharks in 2022.
Midfielder Christy Landwehr adds to a career that includes a VFLW season for Williamstown and a Northern Territory representative guernsey to join Courtney Sexton and the very in-form Georgia Johnson in an imposing on-ball trio.
MAROOCHYDORE
FB | 52 Kiara Hillier | 7 Demi Norton | 39 Imagen David
HB | 15 Dakota Hooper | 55 Kiah Thompson
C | 13 Jya Epstein | 25 Sara-Jane O’Grady | 22 Lily Logan
HF | 32 Alyssa Armstrong | 1 Jessee Sills | 24 Grace Perry
FF | 23 Ebony Otto | 47 Hayley Edgar
FOL | 48 Renee Teys | 2 Kelsee Sills (c) | 28 Zara Hurley
IC | 21 Anneka Williams | 42 Kasey Stone^ | 50 Tara Muir | two may be added
EMG | nil
Coaches: Dave Hume and Hetti Malone
IN: Dakota Hooper; Kasey Stone; Kiah Thompson; Anneka Williams
OUT: Naomi Fitzpatrick; Kate Fowles; Madalyn Hennessy; Jesse McMillan; Chloe Turner
BOND UNIVERSITY
FB | 24 Mackenzie Farmer | 10 Grace Moodie
HB | 20 Paris Lightfoot (c) | 29 Jemma Blair | 3 Shannon Nolan
C | 40 Charlotte Taylor | 2 Georgia Johnson | 11 Georgia Hutton
HF | 9 Bella Iverach | 62 Paige Price† | 18 Mikayla Pauga
FF | 14 Gabby Deller | 58 Issy Lowe
FOL | 50 Jasmyn Davidson | 17 Christy Landwehr^ | 7 Courtney Sexton
IC | 12 Sally Evans | 31 Tobi Chapman | 44 Sophie Balcombe | 54 Ashleigh Russell | 55 Lexi Samuels
EMG | nil
Coach: Andy Lovell
IN: Sophie Balcombe; Christy Landwehr; Shannon Nolan; Paige Price; Ashleigh Russell
OUT: Andria Heard; Leah Kaslar; Piper Phelan; Jasmine Single; Lily Tarlinton
^ denotes QAFLW debut; † denotes QAFLW club debut
You can watch all matches in the Bond University QAFLW by visiting AFL Queensland on YouTube.
