MATCH OF THE ROUND
UQ 3.1.19 DEFEATED BY COORPAROO 7.11.53
Alarm bells should be ringing for the rest of the competition, because the defending premiers have just won three on the trot and are looking very dangerous
While not as dominant as their past two wins, the Navy Roos played another quality game of football on the weekend and were ultimately too strong for a gallant UQ outfit.
This game had a mountain of intensity from the get go and it was clear from the first tackle of the match that neither side was going down lightly.
It was an arm wrestle in the early going and it seemed like an entirety before the first goal came, but Dani Sammut broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, slotting one from 30m out.
Coorparoo continued to break down the Red Lionesses in the second term, kicking another two goals to lead by 30-points and leave UQ scoreless at half-time.
Despite missing their two goal kicking guns in Hannah Sexton and Emma Zielke, the Navy Roos had no trouble finding the sticks on Sunday, with Spence, Lee and Herdman all kicking two.
The Navy Roos blew out to a big 46-point lead mid-way through the final term, but UQ kept fighting and kicked three goals in less than 10 minutes to finish the game on a high.
Bree Koenen was sensational for UQ, playing a huge role in the middle of the ground in what was nearly the performance of the day.
UQ have come a long way in the last 12 months, but Coorparoo were too good on the day, running out 34-point winners.
Coach’s thoughts
Michael Swann – UQ
“We got a bit outmuscled in the first half, we were a little bit timid going at the football and we got found out early on, but it was good to see in the second half the girls bounce back and really lift that intensity up.
“Every time we have played Coorparoo I think the closest we got was 120 points, so to close the gap like today means we are heading in the right direction.
“I think today shows the girls that if they are prepared to run and lift the physicality that they can match it and outplay a great side like Coorparoo, even it is for only a quarter.
“We need to keep up the consistency, if we can keep the same group together and keep improving week after week we can match it against those top sides.”
Bernie Cantrell – Coorparoo
“I thought we were a little bit flat, but I also think that UQ’s pressure on the footy was really really good today, they made us earn absolutely everything.
“I’m really pleased with how the group is coming together, we are starting to get some team unity and the girls are starting to play good footy together.
“We kicked 7.11 so we probably could have kicked a few more goals and made the game a bit more spread, but we didn’t execute well enough.
“We had a few key girls out this week and I thought some girls stepped up in their absence, Bree (Littlejohn) was fantastic through the middle and Ericka (Beattie) really played well.”
GRIFFITH MOOROOKA 0.0.0 DEFEATED BY YERONGA 17.22.124
This game was always going to be an uphill battle for Griffith Moorooka and unfortunately for the Reds it was all but over at quarter time.
The Devils came out firing in the first Friday night game of the season, thrashing Griffith Moorooka around the contest to set up a huge 8-goal to nothing quarter.
Hayley Newberry was massive for the Devils, kicking three in the first term and five for the game in a near best on ground performance.
Heading into the sheds at half-time, Yeronga were well on top and all but assured the four points with a 69-point lead.
To Griffith Moorooka’s credit, their intensity lifted after quarter time and the contest was extremely competitive in the second half.
Klarindah Hudson played another ripping game for the Reds in the midfield, dominating the stoppages and winning her fair share of contested footy.
Tia Broughton and Jade Ransfield were fantastic in the second half for the Devils, booting nine between them to totally open up the Reds.
Although the effort and intensity was there from Griffith Moorooka, the Devils cleaner skills and superior running game was the difference maker as they ran out 124-point winners.
Coach’s thoughts
Glenn Hogetts – Griffith Moorooka
“We we’re pretty good for the last three quarters, we shuffled a few things and I think they (Yeronga) only managed to kick 8 or 9 for the last 3 quarters, which is a good effort.
“From the practice game to now there is considerable improvement, we will try and implement a few more things into training but they are doing all I ask of them.
“The effort was great, we just didn’t get the structures right in the first quarter, but we were still putting pressure on – even though they (Yeronga) kicked a lot of goals they were always under pressure.
“I think we are just 3 or 4 players away from being a competitive side and really scaring some teams.”
Scott Stephens – Yeronga
“Generally I’m happy, there are still things we need to work on, but it was definitely a big step in the right direction.
“To Moorooka’s credit they were first to the football, we responded a lot of times and forced a turnover, but to their credit they got their hands on it first.
“Our halfback line was very good today, Moorooka didn’t go inside the forward fifty too much, I was very happy with that.
“I think at this stage we are heading in the right direction, you never want to be too satisfied with how you’re travelling, but I’m happy with the effort and the work rate and where we are going.”
WILSTON GRANGE 5.6.36 DEFEATED ZILLMERE 4.4.28
It was gritty, low scoring and definitely not pretty, but Wilston Grange grinded out a gutsy 8-point over their north side rivals on Saturday.
Going in as pretty big underdogs, the Gorillas scratched and clawed at every ball, forcing Zillmere to play a slow, physical brand of football.
Although Zillmere were forced to play out of their comfort zone, they dominated the forward pressure early and most of the first quarter was played in the Eagles half.
However, much like previous weeks, Zillmere couldn’t make the most of their time in the forward fifty, missing countless opportunities to blow the game open.
And Wilston Grange made them pay, kicking two late second quarter goals to head into the main break with all the momentum.
Shannon Campbell was sublime in defence for the Gorillas, denying the Eagles talls time after time with some inspired spoiling efforts.
Rachael Ansty was again the Eagles best performer, working her guts out in the middle of the ground to win Zillmere some key clearances.
The Eagles struggled to regain control in the second half and never really looked comfortable, but at three quarter time the game was well and truly in the balance.
Jemma Dutton was superb for the Gorillas across halfback all afternoon, while Heidi Thompson played another cracker in a star performance.
In the closest QWAFL game this season, Zillmere’s wasted opportunities came back to bite them as Wilston Grange held their nerve to take the four points.
Coach’s thoughts
Ron Kemp – Wilston Grange
“I’m absolutely over the moon, that’s probably our first win over Zillmere in three or four years, the girls played really well.
“I asked them to pressure all game and they delivered, we had patience to win the footy and used the ball really well when we got the chance.
“Without doubt Zillmere are a good running side and they opened us up a few times but the girls were accountable and ran with them and slowed up their momentum.
“I think the girls should be proud of themselves and a win like this should give them the confidence that they can compete with the better sides, it demonstrates that they can really play good footy.
Jacob Simmons-Bliss – Zillmere
“I thought we played two quarters of footy that were really good, but our inability to shut the gate behind us and close it out was the difference today.
“We had complete dominance and time in the forward half and did not execute, we let them have a sniff and they took it all the way.
“We definitely had the commitment today, but their was a lot of poor decision making, a lot of their (Wilston Grange’s) possession came from turnovers, we lost the footy match in our opinion.
“Our poor decision making and putting our teammate’s under too much pressure hurt us, we really missed an opportunity and lost four points on the weekend.”
By Grant Hitzman – @granthitzman
