Round 14 results:
Coorparoo 8.7 (55) def. Yeronga South Brisbane 8.6 (54)
Coolangatta Tweed 6.5 (41) tied Wilston Grange 6.5 (41)
University of Queensland 20.23 (143) def. Zillmere 0.1 (1)
BYE: Maroochydore
Kings take the throne:
Coorparoo have vaulted into first position on the QWAFL ladder after pulling off one of the greatest victories we’ve seen this season over Yeronga. The Kings were in good form coming into the gruelling match-up, but only just got home by one point at the final siren. The lead swung both ways throughout, with the margin only getting as high as 15 points in the early stages of the second quarter. Yeronga, who has always been unpredictable, sprung a surprise on the unsuspecting Coorparoo on game day by naming Sam Virgo to play. Virgo had been healing from a thumb injury and was not expected to be back for a couple of weeks when she strapped on the boots for Yeronga in their crucial match. Her return from injury would have sent a curveball into the Coorparoo coaching staff’s game plans, but the Kings were able to respond well to get the four points and earn top spot on the ladder.
Close encounters:
While Coorparoo and Yeronga were fighting it out in Brisbane’s west, down on the New South Wales border a similar battle was unfolding between Coolangatta and Wilston Grange. The Gorillas have taken on the label of giant slayers this season, defeating the Bluebirds by 21 points last time they met in round 4, as well as patching up premiership contenders Yeronga a couple of weeks ago by 17 points. But this time, despite Coolangatta getting off to a 13-point lead, the game was a lot tighter and went right down to the wire. The Bluebirds took the lead with just minutes to go when Selina Goodman kicked a remarkable goal off the deck to go up by a solitary point. However, the Gorillas won the next centre clearance and were able to lock the ball in their forward line, only managing a point in the last minutes to draw level for the QWAFL’s first tie of the year (excluding rained out matches and injury-affected results).
The ladder now:
We’ve got a new pace-setter on top of the Bond University QWAFL ladder in Coorparoo on 34 points. After their second loss, Yeronga trail close behind on 32 points, followed by Coolangatta on 30. Wilston Grange’s draw with the Bluebirds brings them up to 28 points in fourth position while UQ’s big win sees them gain a crucial percentage boost in fifth position on 26 points. Maroochydore (10) and Zillmere (0) sit in sixth and seventh position respectively.
The equation:
With just three rounds before finals, the competition is getting tighter than ever at the top. Coorparoo have all but locked in a spot in the finals, only needing one more win to set it in stone. However, the rest of the composition of the top four is still up in the air. Yeronga is next in line to secure their spot, needing to win at least two of their three to lock themselves in. Coolangatta and Wilston Grange both have a bye coming up, giving them two games to play which will be do or die. UQ have three games left to play, and will need to win all three to keep their destiny in their own hands, but can still make it through if they lose one with other results going their way. Maroochydore and Zillmere aren’t a mathematical chance at making finals this year.
By Josh Cheadle
Twitter: @JoshCheadle20
