Round 11 results:
Maroochydore 1.2 (8) def. by Coorparoo 7.9 (51)
Wilston Grange 5.6 (36) def. by University of Queensland 7.5 (47)
Yeronga South Brisbane 27.12 (174) def. Zillmere Eagles 0.0 (0)
BYE: Coolangatta Tweed
UQ reach top four:
It was pegged as the match of the round, and UQ and Grange’s crunch game on Saturday certainly didn’t disappoint. Both clubs were neck and neck on 18 points heading into the match, with a clear spot in the top four up for grabs. UQ led by four at the first change before the Gorillas stormed back in the second to go into the main break five points ahead. However UQ hit back in the third and regained the lead before going on to win by 11 points.
It was a stark contrast to the performance we saw UQ put in last week, where they blitzed Coolangatta to the tune of four goals in the first quarter before going into their shell and allowing the Bluebirds back into the game. Against Grange, the Red Lions put in a consistent four-quarter effort and rarely let themselves fall behind the pace of the game. They also showed they were able to fight their way back into a game, after Grange surged in the second term off the back of Jamie Stanton and Indiah Collings. If UQ can maintain this sort of football heading into finals, they’ll be a real handful for the competition’s top sides.
Sharing the load:
When you kick 27 goals in a match, it’s easy for the forwards to claim a big chunk of those and kick a bag. But that wasn’t the case for Yeronga on Saturday, who had 11 goal scorers on the day, with six of those kicking two or more. This is what makes Yeronga so dangerous, they have plenty of scoring options when moving inside 50 and by spreading the load amongst their midfielders and forwards, have made it extremely difficult for opposition sides to restrict their scoring.
Jade Ransfield has been the most prolific in front of the sticks for the Devils, kicking 25 so far this season, including four on the weekend to extend her lead at the top of the QWAFL leading goal-scorers list. However it was the two Emily’s in Bliss and Bates who had the best return against Zillmere, kicking six and five maximums respectively. With the side having so many scoring outlets, it shows great depth in the Yeronga outfit, which will make them a handful for opposition defences heading into finals.
The ladder now:
For the first time this year we have some separation throughout the QWAFL table. Yeronga have jumped clear in first place on 28 points followed by Coorparoo on 26. After their bye this week Coolangatta have slid down to third on 24 points and UQ’s win pushes them up to fourth on 22. Wilston Grange sit fifth on 18, with Maroochydore (10) and Zillmere (0) trailing behind. UQ, Coorparoo and Zillmere all have a bye next week giving Yeronga and Coolangatta a chance to extend their lead on the rest of the top four.
By Josh Cheadle
Twitter: @JoshCheadle20
