By Ant Wingard @AntWingard
Yeronga South Brisbane v Wilston Grange
Saturday 4 August, 3:45PM
Leyshon Park Yeronga
Of any QWAFL side this weekend, Yeronga South Brisbane have by far the most the play for in the final round of the season.
Trailing fourth place by a solitary win, the Devils simply need to win to keep their premiership title defence alive.
Yeronga enter the contest with a sublime run of form under their belt having claimed victories in three of their last four.
Players like Demi Leach, Jade Ransfield and Emily Bliss have taken another step-in season 2018, but improvement across their last four contests where the trio have really stood tall has seen the Devils come from the clouds and enter the finals conversation.
Between Yeronga and a place in the finals is perhaps the biggest challenge imaginable for the Devils. Wilston Grange have already clinched the minor premiership this season and have been unquestionably the best team in the competition.
The Gorillas are coming off a bye last weekend with the team fully fresh as they embark on a finals tilt.
Let it not be forgotten also that the Devils were the side to defeat the Gorillas in last year’s preliminary final en route to their premiership triumph over Coorparoo.
Wilston Grange have welcomed back Courtney Daniec, who returns for her first game in nearly a month.
Despite the abundance of experience within the Gorillas’ ranks, Daniec has been among their most consistent performers this year. Along with her nine goals, Daniec has been named in the bests seven times in her ten games; more than any other of her teammates.
Coolangatta Tweed v Coorparoo
Saturday 4 August, 4:45PM
Corpsure Oval, Coolangatta
Coolangatta face the prospect of losing five straight games to conclude their home and away season should the side not win against Coorparoo tomorrow evening.
The Bluebirds, who as recent as a month ago appeared firm favourites to finish third, haven’t claimed the fourth points since Round 12. Despite their poor run of form, Coolangatta still occupy fourth position and loom as a likely finalist, however should results not go their way, the Gold Coast side’s freefall could see them drop to fifth.
While Coolangatta have been able to win the ball out of the centre via the likes of Maddy Roberts, their struggles have been inside 50 with the team without an established tall forward.
Lauren James ranks third in the competition for goals and the most for the Bluebirds, but at times, she has been without support.
Coolangatta are the only side capable of playing finals in 2018 who have failed to score more than 40 points over the last five weeks. If the Bluebirds are to win this weekend and ensure their place in the finals, they’ll need to do that to get past the Kings.
Coorparoo enter the contest with their finals ticket already booked. The Kings can’t move up or down in the QWAFL standings as their focus is firmly on the postseason and the double chance that comes with a top two finish.
The Kings will be without speedster Kayla Geddes however, who will miss the contest after a brutal head-knock suffered last week against the Roos.
But despite the absence of Geddes, and likewise prime mover Emma Zilke, the Kings’ midfield has gelled effectively over the past fortnight. Sally Young, Jade Ellenger and Tori Groves-Little have all continued to improve alongside regulars Jess Wuetschner and Ally Anderson.
Maroochydore v University of Queensland
Saturday 4 August, 4:45PM
Maroochydore Multisports Complex, Maroochydore
Three consecutive wins have propelled University of Queensland into third place in the competition as the Red Lions continue emerge as a genuine dark horse in the premiership race.
With their backs against the wall and in sixth position on the ladder, the Red Lions continued winning over the past month, claiming wins over juggernaut Wilston Grange and the then third-placed Coolangatta to all but ensure their spot in the finals.
The Red Lions could still mathematically miss the finals, but that proposition would require a lot to go against the team in the final round. It’s more likely we’ll see them retain their spot, finishing in either third or fourth.
First though, they face a matchup against Maroochydore; a side who have already gotten the wood over University of Queensland this year.
In the opening round of the season, the Roos chalked their only win of the season against the Red Lions – a twelve-point win in a game where they scored a season-high 71 points.
Maroochydore dominated play in the first and third quarters to seal the win and the result shows the Roos have what it takes to defeat the away side this week.
A Roos win would be the upset of the season and it would end the Sunshine Coast side’s season on a genuine positive.
Red Lions spearhead Sabrina Frederick-Traub, who has booted seven goals over the past fortnight, is an omission from the side. Without her on the field, Maroochydore stopper Rachel Crack will be afforded more ability to float between opponents as general in the defensive half.
Maroochydore’s contest against University of Queensland will be played as part of the Roos’ White Ribbon Round.
