Match of the round:
Saturday 4:45pm – Yeronga South Brisbane Vs. Wilston Grange (Leyshon Park, Yeronga)
They’ve had to wait until Round 12, but undefeated Yeronga finally get a chance to challenge Wilston Grange for the first time this year. The Devils have gotten through a turbulent first half of the season with all three of their byes coming in the first ten rounds, but now have a clean streak of six games in a row heading into finals.
This week Yeronga boast a strong team with the return of Under 23 Queensland representatives Renee Cowan and Emma Aeschlimman. Cowan has been in superb form stretching back to the end of last year and will provide crucial stability off half-back. The Devils will be without speedy winger Kate McCarthy and possibly a few other Lions players pending availability and minor injury niggles.
Wilston Grange has been in good form lately, but took a blow after last week’s loss to UQ. It was a big game for Grange with finals looming, but the loss means they will now have to work even harder to lock down a finals berth. Usual suspects Kate Lutkins, Jamie Stanton and Tahlia Randall stood up for the Gorillas last week, and will need to be at their highest level again if Grange is any chance to cause a major upset.
Zanchetta tracking towards return:
She won’t be taking to the field this week, but 2015 QWAFL Best and Fairest Jordan Zanchetta is triple-checking every box on her way to a return to footy. Zanchetta tore her ACL in round two of the QWAFL last year, which robbed her of a chance to get onto an AFLW list. After a major knee reconstruction and a year without footy, the 22-year-old is back to full contact training and nearing a return through Yeronga’s QWFA Division 1 side. Known as one of the state’s most prolific hard ball winners, Zanchetta is the type of player to shake the mental demons off quickly when she returns to the field and stake her claim for a position on an AFLW list in 2018.
Coolangatta trio attend AFLW camps:
Three Coolangatta women will be in talks with interstate AFLW clubs after training camps taking place this week and next. Sprinter turned footballer Brittanny Brimer isn’t yet in the Coolangatta senior side, but attended the Melbourne Demons open tryouts on Wednesday where she impressed with her sheer speed and explosiveness. Brimer is possibly a year or two away from her best footy but is expected to land a permanent spot in the senior Coolangatta team next season. Two more Bluebirds will be attending the Western Bulldogs training camp on Monday in Shinae Barnett and Emily Hagan. Both women are first-year players for Coolangatta but have the potential to one day play AFLW footy if they apply themselves and develop in the QWAFL.
Round 12 Matches:
Saturday July 1
4:45pm – Coolangatta Tweed Vs. Maroochydore
Venue: Coolangatta Tweed – Peak Oval
4:45pm – Yeronga South Brisbane Vs. Wilston Grange
Venue: Yeronga – Leyshon Park
BYE: Coorparoo
BYE: University of Queensland
BYE: Zillmere Eagles
By Josh Cheadle
Twitter: @JoshCheadle20
