Round 7 results:
Coolangatta Tweed v Yeronga: DRAW (game called off)
Note that on SportsTG website match will show scores at the time match was called off. Teams were allocated 2 points each and percentage based on the final score line.
Coorparoo 13.9 (87) def. Maroochydore 1.3 (9)
Zillmere Eagles 0.0 (0) def. by University of Queensland 17.11 (113)
BYE: Wilston Grange
Coolangatta lose Captain Courageous:
It was halfway through the second quarter when Coolangatta Bluebirds captain Alex Hamlyn suffered a severe break to her right leg. The match was eventually abandoned by the umpires and declared a draw, with Yeronga and Coolangatta both given two points. It was the second time this year the two 2016 grand finalists had their match called off, meaning we will have to wait until round 16 to see the grand final rematch we’ve been waiting for.
Depth tested:
With round one of the NAB AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships kicking off in Sydney on the weekend, many clubs were forced to make multiple changes to their line-ups. Coorparoo, Coolangatta and UQ had to compensate the most, with young stars such as Queensland Under 18 Captain Arianna Clarke, Ruby Blair (Coolangatta), Gabby Collingwood (UQ) and Tahlia Hickie (Coorparoo) all making strong impressions. With the team back in Brisbane now, all clubs will get their share of players back and we could see some interesting selection dilemmas ahead after some inclusions stated their case for an extended run in senior footy.
Many happy returns for Uni duo:
When UQ pair Marnie McGorm and Rachel Anstey ran onto the paddock this weekend, it marked the end of a long road back from injury for both. McGorm, who had taken on the role of manager during her sting on the sidelines, played her first game this year after fracturing her leg back in January. Anstey on the other hand has waited nearly two years to make her comeback. The ex-Zillmere utility tore her ACL in 2015 during an exhibition game between the Lions and Suns at Metricon stadium. The injury forced her to have her third knee reconstruction and in her year away from the game she competed in half and full marathons to help regain knee strength. She managed to get through her return game unscathed and will be looking to the coming weeks to build some form and confidence.
The ladder now:
After Yeronga and Coolangatta’s drawn result on Saturday, UQ have catapulted up the ladder from fourth to first place on 18 points. Their win over Zillmere gave them a percentage boost, but hot on their heels are Yeronga and Coolangatta on 16 points, then Coorparoo and Wilston Grange on 14. While UQ are on top for now, if they lose to Yeronga this week they’ll relinquish top position and could drop down as far as fourth, with the competition as tight as it is unpredictable.
By Josh Cheadle
Twitter: @JCheadle20
