By Ant Wingard
Records have fallen in Brisbane’s north as Maroochydore rose to the challenge against Aspley to chalk up an emphatic 72-point win.
The Roos led from start to finish to see past the Hornets to claim their first ever back to back wins in the premier female state competition.
It was the Roos fourth biggest win of all time in the QAFLW, following their three dominant wins over Zillmere in their debut 2017 season.
Led by Shannon Campbell, who was thrust forward to finish with two majors in her return game to the club, Maroochydore soared to new heights and now sit third on the ladder.
But unlike the Roos’ Round 3 win over Wilston Grange, it didn’t take long for Maroochydore to hit the scoreboard in the opening term as Ruby McDowell hit home her first of four for the contest.
McDowell’s opener was followed by a second just one minute after before the flood gates opened, and the Roos booted six for the quarter to establish a 34 to nothing lead at the first break.
Aspley’s struggles continued in the second quarter with Tahlia Randall proving her worth behind the play as her intercepting mark repelled many Hornet clearances while also acting as the catalyst for a lot of the Roos’ attacking movements.
Campbell two majors, both in the second term, all but confirmed the Roos’ win before half time before the side added three more goals in each of the final two quarters.
Aspley to their credit, held firm and as the game progressed, slowly worked their way into the contest but couldn’t erase the Roos’ early momentum.
Ashleigh Hales provided a lot of run for the Roos on the outside while debutant Lily Postlethwaite held her own in the midfield. For the Hornets, Lucy Pengelly and Lara Mason were among the bests.
Maroochydore 6.4, 9.6, 12.8, 15.9 (99)
Aspley Hornets 0.0, 1.0, 2.3, 4.3 (27)
GOALS, Maroochydore: R. McDowell 4, C. Chesterfield 2, S. Campbell 2, C. Gregory 2, T. Dale 1, L. Postlethwaite 1, A. Hales 1, J. Dover 1, K. Surman 1. Aspley Hornets: M. Campbell 2, L. Liessi 1, S. Madden 1.
BEST, Maroochydore: R. McDowell, A. Hales, S. Campbell, L. Postlethwaite, C. Gregory, T. Randall. Aspley Hornets: G. Krautz, S. Easton, L. Pengelly, J. Williamson, L. Mason, K. Cantrell.
A first half blitz has helped pave the way for Bond University’s second win of the season in the Bullsharks’ 43-point win over Wilston Grange.
The Bullsharks, bolstered by a plethora of Gold Coast SUNS Academy talent, rose to the occasion to render the Gorillas winless at Hickey Park for the second time in as many games.
Having stormed out of the blocks early with three first quarter goals, it quickly became apparent Bond University had a firm grip on the contest with their ability to spread quickly from the contest
Two further goals, including a steading set-shot from inaugural SUNS signing Charlotte Hammans in the second term helped set up an incredible 35-point lead at the main break.
While Bond University’s scoring ebbed in the second half – the side scoring three goals after the main break to the Gorillas’ two, the Bullsharks’ midfield, led by Kitara Farrar and Serene Watson and Lauren Bella’s dominant presence in the ruck remained steadily ahead of the Gorillas’.
Despite their opening round loss to Yeronga at home – a fate sealed in the game’s final minutes, the Bullsharks are quietly becoming a dark horse in the 2019 QAFLW race.
The win over Wilston Grange has lifted the side to second spot on the ladder and trail first place on mere percentage.
Wilston Grange will host Yeronga next week while Bond University will again face a trip up the M1 to face University of Queensland.
Bond University 3.2, 5.6, 6.8, 8.10 (58)
Wilston Grange 0.0, 0.1, 1.2, 2.3 (15)
GOALS, Bond University: T. Smith 2, C. Hammans 2, K. Reynolds 1, K. Farrar 1, K. Howarth 1, M. Ritson 1. Wilston Grange: S. Wheeler 1, R. Fillmore 1.
BEST, Bond University: C. Hammans, L. Attard, T. Smith, K. Farrar, T. Ahwang, A. Evans. Wilston Grange: C. Svarc, A. Kelly, K. Day, R. Ker, N. Geddes, S. Fuller.
Six goals from University of Queensland midfielder Megan Hunt has helped the Red Lions to their first win of the season against Yeronga South Brisbane at Leyshon Park.
Hunt, who has played in the midfield for most of her 44 games with the Red Lions, proved her ability inside 50 with an equal career-high half dozen to save the Red Lions from falling to bottom in the Bond University QAFLW standings.
Hunt’s heroics were aided by the dominant presence of Red Lions utility Dakota Davidson, who also got the better of the Yeronga defenders at centre half forward.
The western Brisbane derby was the highest scoring game of Round 3 but Yeronga’s slow start to the contest was their biggest undoing with the Devils struggling to match it with their opposition for much of the first half.
University of Queensland’s quick ascendency in the game saw them edge to a four goal to none lead at the first break before extending it to 41 at half time.
Reigning QAFLW Rising Star winner Nat Grider, who will likely feature among the umpire’s votes, and St Kilda midfielder Nat Exon were unparalleled in the midfield even against a rebuffed Yeronga midfield group that had already been a strength for them in the opening two games.
After finding themselves seemingly out of the contest at the main break, Yeronga finally found their footing in the game and rose to the occasion in the second half, even outscoring the Red Lions to round out the game.
The Devils’ 5.3 second half bettered the 5.1 of University of Queensland although their first half lapses ultimately relegated Yeronga to their first loss of the season.
Bond University QAFLW leading goal kicker Courtney McDonnell again was handy in front of goal with three for the Devils while Jacqui Yorston and Gabby Collingwood were among the side’s bests in their club debuts.
University of Queensland 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 13.6 (84)
Yeronga South Brisbane 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 9.3 (57)
GOALS, University of Queensland: M. Hunt 6, D. Davidson 2, J. Henning 1, N. Grider 1, N. Exon 1, R. Vetter 1. Yeronga South Brisbane: C. McDonnell 3, T. Hutchinson 2, J. Yorston 2, M. Suter 1, E. Bates 1.
BEST, University of Queensland: N. Grider, M. Hunt, B. Koenen, M. Martin, J. Stone. Yeronga South Brisbane: J. Yorston, G. Collingwood, V. Hart, J. Ransfield, E. Bates, N. O’Loughlin.
A four goal second term has help Coorparoo notch their first win of the season over Coolangatta Tweed as the Kings ran away 19-point winners at Giffin Park.
After injecting a host of Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast SUNS AFL Women’s players back into their side for the contest, the rebuffed Kings who shone to reinvigorate their 2019 season after a pair of losses in the opening two rounds.
But while the addition of AFLW experience played into the hands’ of the Kings, it was veteran Sally Young who proved her worth with a best on ground performance just two days shy of her birthday.
Young assumed a new role inside 50 for the Kings instead of her usual midfield post where she has for much of her 72 games for the Kings, finding her name on the scorer’s sheer with an equal game-high two goals.
With Young sent forward, Emma Zielke and Jade Ellenger were dominant in the midfield.
The Bluebirds got the jump in the contest in the game’s early stages by making the most of their opportunities inside 50 to nail home two goals to one in the opening term.
But after finding themselves down, Coorparoo willed themselves back into the contest with four unanswered goals in the second including a goal of the year contender to Sherie Sayle.
A tense third quarter ensued, and it was the Bluebirds who again emerged likely to tear the game open but could muster just a string of three behinds for the term – the only score for either side.
Down by three goals at the final break, the Bluebirds required a fast start in the fourth to help bridge the gap and keep their undefeated start intact. But an early goal to Brisbane Lions Best First Year Player award winner Jesse Wardlaw pushed the result into doubt and despite two final terms, the away side couldn’t close the gap.
Coorparoo will face Maroochydore in Round 4 on the Sunshine Coast while Coolangatta will too be on the road against Aspley.
Coorparoo 1.2, 5.3, 5.3, 7.5 (47)
Coolangatta Tweed 2.0, 2.1, 2.4, 4.4 (28)
GOALS, Coorparoo: S. Young 2, J. Govan 2, S. Sayle 1, J. Wuetschner 1, R. Sutton 1. Coolangatta Tweed: H. Mirfield 2, I. Briggs 1, S. Carter 1.
BEST, Coorparoo: S. Young, J. Ellenger, E. Zielke, J. Wuetschner, H. Moore, M. Brown. Coolangatta Tweed: S. Priest, L. Alder, J. Membrey, H. Mirfield, A. Fortescue, L. Turney.
