UQ 5.4.34 defeated by Zillmere 9.8.62
Zillmere just sent their biggest message of the season to the rest of the competition.
UQ came out of the blocks firing, kicking four goals straight in the first 15 minutes of the game.
But a late goal in the first term to Amanda Whitehead gave the Eagles the kick-start they needed to run out the remainder of the match.
The contest was close and physical in the second quarter with each side adding just one goal to the tally.
At half time, the challenge was set to the Eagles to tidy up their first half errors and came back with a bang.
And they did just that, piling on five goals and keeping the Red Lionesses scoreless.
Ally Anderson led her side to an emphatic victory over their ladder rivals, giving the Eagles the belief that come finals time it’s really anyone’s game.
Final Score:
UQ 4.1, 5.1, 5.1, 5.4 (34)
Zillmere 1.2, 2.3, 7.4, 9.8 (62)
Goals:
UQ S. Webb 2, D. Herdman 2, A. Mack
Zillmere M. Allen 2, S. Law 2, P. Parker 2, A. Whitehead, A. Anderson, T. Harris
Best:
UQ M. Hunt, E. Zielke, S. Webb, M. McGorm, J. Wiggan, D. Herdman
Zillmere A. Anderson, N. Clark, R. Busch, S. Law, S. Klose, A. Gaur
Ladder Review: UQ 3rd (8 Wins), Zillmere 4th (6 Wins)
Coach’s Thoughts:
Jacob Simmons-Bliss, Zillmere
“We definitely got the win that we deserved, after all the hard work we’ve put in.
“We had to do it the hard way, which makes it even more pleasing.”
“The second quarter was much improved on the first, but still wasn’t good enough.”
“So at half time we gave the team a list of items that they needed to clean up and execute better, and they did that superbly.”
“We needed to improve our decision making and foot skills, and we had to not let UQ be the first to the football.”
“The girls have the confidence, we all buy into the plan, and we know we can win.”
Coolangatta 15.11.101 defeated Wilston Grange 1.5.11
It was a feeling of deja vu for Coolangatta on Saturday, with the Bluebirds managing to notch up a score of 101 against Wilston Grange for the second week in a row.
This time, they kept the young Gorillas to just one goal and five behinds. The match started out much the same, with only five points separating the two at the first break.
Cooly broke away in the second term, kicking five unanswered goals.
It was too hard for the Gorillas to come back, being outstaffed by a classy and hungry Coolangatta side.
Jordan Membrey returned with a bang, booting five goals in a best-on-ground performance.
As usual, Leah Kaslar led her side in defence, with the Bluebirds adding to their ladder percentage from a handy fifteen goals.
Final Score:
Coolangatta 2.2, 6.8, 9.9, 15.11 (101)
Wilston Grange 1.3, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (11)
Goals: Coolangatta J. Membrey 5, L. James 2, C. Butler 2, R. Blair 2, A. Clarke, S. Goodman , K. Howarth, T. Houchen
Wilston Grange K. McGlade
Best: Coolangatta J. Membrey, L. Kaslar, J. Stanton, M. Roberts, N. Wallace, H. Sexton
Wilston Grange S. Hewitt, G. Mooney, A. Pittendreigh, K. McGlade, M. Sagaukaz, K. Wicks
Ladder Review: Coolangatta 1st (10 Wins), Wilston Grange 6th (1 Win)
Coorparoo 3.3.21 defeated by Yeronga 14.9.93
Yeronga well and truly have their mojo back, following an impressive win over a hungry Coorparoo side.
Demi Leach couldn’t have started the match any better, booting three straight goals for the Devils in the opening term.
Last time these two met, Coorparoo put relentless tackling pressure on the Devils. This time, Yeronga were too fast and too skillful, with their runners such as Kate McCarthy getting on the outside and doing what they love best.
The Devils went in to the halftime break with a five-goal lead and never looked back. Sam Virgo, a contested ball magnet, worked tirelessly to win the inside ball for Yeronga all night.
Annamieka Mole kicked two goals for Coorparoo, with Brooke Spence also making a noticeable contribution.
Final Score:
Coorparoo 0.1, 1.2, 3.2, 3.3, (21)
Yeronga 4.1, 6.5, 9.8, 14.9 (93)
Goals:
Coorparoo A. Mole 2, E. Gibson
Yeronga D. Leach 6, J. Ransfield 3, K. McCarthy 2, B. De La Cruz 2, E. Fowler
Best: Coorparoo B. Spence, S. Crew, H. Cornish, R. Crack, A. Duxfield, A. Molloy
Yeronga S. Virgo, D. Leach, D. Kimmince, E. Bates, C. Collins, K. McCarthy
Ladder Review: Coorparoo 6th (1 Win), Yeronga 2nd (10 Wins)
Coach’s Thoughts:
Scott Stephens, Yeronga
“She’s (Demi Leach) been building up to that a while, it was a brilliant effort, and she’s hitting some good form.”
“We have been working on getting our game plan right and playing out the full four quarters.”
“The girls combined really well, throughout the whole length of the field, and that was the most pleasing thing yesterday.
“The girls really looked after each other yesterday, they were shepherding, they had each others back and they were talking.”
“There was a lot of pressure applied and good numbers around the contest.”
“We were giving good delivery to our forwards which was something that we haven’t been doing to well in our last few weeks.”
“We want to focus on our structures and everything else involved with that, but obviously top spot is something that we want to achieve.”
3 Things We Learnt:
- Zillmere break the ‘close, but not close enough’ curse
Saturday’s 28-point victory over UQ could not have come at a better time for Zillmere.
The Eagles have experienced multiple games this year, where they’ve come agonisingly close to knocking off the teams that sit above them on the ladder. L
ess than 20 points has been their losing margin on many occasions, but the Eagles managed to overturn a 24-point first quarter deficit on Saturday and beat ladder rivals, UQ.
It definitely would have sent a strong message to anticipated finals competitors Coolangatta, Yeronga and UQ.
The Eagles are peaking at the perfect time of the season, with the prospect of a sudden death final only exciting the girls from the north.
- Coolangatta bridging the gap at the top
Last week, it was 78-point victory, and this week it’s a 90-point comprehensive victory over the Gorillas.
The Bluebirds are now 50 percentage points above archrival Yeronga, who share the same win-loss record so far this season.
The run home looks a little bit brighter for the Devils, but it’s going to take a mammoth effort over the remaining four rounds to overtake Coolangatta.
I wouldn’t call it impossible, but with they way Coolangatta are playing at the moment, I can’t see anything stopping them in their tracks.
It may not just come down to percentage with UQ and Zillmere determined to spoil the party in the coming weeks.
- Sam Virgo, one of the QWAFL’s most courageous
Week in, week out, Sam Virgo gives absolutely everything when she steps on the football field.
She’s had a breakout season in her first year as a Devil, playing one of the most important roles for her side.
She is tough, competitive, hungry, combative and you’ll probably never come across another player quite like her.
In one match, I’ve seen her work so hard that she only came off the field to be sick, and then run straight back on fifteen seconds later.
When she’s listed in the best six for her side, you know full well she’s pulled off another effort where she can barely walk off the field come the final siren.
It’s the women like Sam Virgo that are going to be the difference for Yeronga come finals, because she’s not only a powerhouse but an experienced leader.
By Jess Stewart
