MATCH OF THE ROUND
ZILLMERE 9.6.60 DEFEATED WILSTON GRANGE 2.1.13
Finals football.
That was the prize on offer for both clubs on Saturday, and it was Zillmere who earned themselves a place in the final five, defeating Wilston Grange by 47-points.
The Eagles have trailed Wilston Grange on the ladder since their 7-point defeat to the Gorillas in round 6, but when it came down to the crunch, Zillmere delivered in spades.
A few structural mismatches had Wilston Grange behind the eight ball early, and Zillmere took full advantage, blitzing the Gorillas from the centre contest.
Monica Allen and Donna Davis provided a spark for the Eagles early, kicking a goal each in the first five minutes to give Zillmere the perfect start.
Wilston Grange slowed the pace of the game down after their sluggish start, grinding the Eagles down to put a stop to their deadly run and carry.
The Gorillas looked dangerous in the final 10 minutes of the quarter, but a soaring pack mark in the goal square to Tayla Harris undid Grange’s hard work, giving the Eagles a 19-point quarter-time lead.
Zillmere’s speed continued to give the Gorillas problems in the second-quarter, and after just three minutes, Mikayla Anderson booted another to push the Eagles lead out to 25-points.
Without any score on the board nearly 30 minutes into the game, Wilston Grange needed to score quickly to give themselves any chance of a comeback.
Kate Lutkins and Hiedi Thompson combined beautifully through the corridor to find Katie McGlade all alone just moments later, and McGlade made no mistake, nailing the goal from 30 metres out.
The Gorillas intensity clearly lifted after their opening goal and they started to find some run, moving the ball beautifully out of their back-half.
Wilston Grange threatened several times in the closing minutes of the second-quarter, but some poor entries left the Gorillas wondering.
Shaliese Law made the Gorillas pay for their mistakes, selling some candy to kick one of the goals of the season from 35 metres out on the run.
Trailing by 26-points at the main break, the third quarter had to be huge for Wilston Grange to mount a comeback, but they couldn’t deliver.
The Eagles moved the ball expertly around O’Callaghan Park in the third term, using every inch of the ground’s size to kick two classy goals for the quarter.
Tayla Harris bagged another two goals in the second half in a near best on ground display to steer the Eagles to a comfortable win.
Ali Anderson and Kylie Lawrence were also among the Eagles best in what was one of Zillmere’s best games of the season.
The win for the Eagles guarantees them finals action in 2015 and sets up an Elimination Final grudge match with Yeronga next weekend.
Coach’s thoughts
Jacob Simmons-Bliss – Zillmere
“We are really ecstatic that the girls have come out and delivered a performance that we have been expecting all season.
“We said that we were going to be playing our best football at this time of the year and we believe we’ve done that tonight and obviously going into finals we will take it to another level.
“A lot of players played their best game of the season and that’s probably the perfect timing for them at this time of the year.
“The amount of space that we found tonight on O’Callaghan Park was absolutely brilliant and I think we achieved all of our key goals heading into finals.”
Ron Kemp – Wilston Grange
“Zillmere worked a lot harder than we did, they ran and were a lot cleaner and efficient with the footy.
“We got our hands on it, we just turned it over too much and you can’t do that against a quality side – they’ll hurt you every time.
“I think we got a little bit lost early, there were a few structural changes I wanted done but it just didn’t happen quick enough and they got a few on us quick.
“I give it to Zillmere, they just worked a bit better with the footy.”
YERONGA 21.26.152 DEFEATED GRIFFITH MOOROOKA 2.2.14
If Yeronga weren’t already on top of the world after last weekend’s win over Coolangatta, then a 138-point drubbing of Griffith Moorooka on Saturday should have the Devils on top of the world.
It was a clinical display by Yeronga, who kicked 5.8 in the opening term to totally open the Reds up before the game could get going.
Utilising just 17-players for most of the afternoon, the Devils were sublime at Leyshon Park, using their exceptional pace and ball skills to dominate possession.
Jordan Zanchetta and Emily Bates again led the way for Yeronga in the first half, controlling the midfield and half-back line to keep the footy in the Devils attacking zone.
Multiple goals to Ransfield, Newberry and Bell in the second quarter saw the Devils surge even further ahead, and at half-time Yeronga lead by a whopping 77-points.
Griffith Moorooka lifted their intensity in the second half and some excellent tackling pressure led to the Reds first goal from debutant Emma Parker.
That was all the offence the Reds saw for the third-quarter however, as Yeronga continued to bomb the sherrin inside fifty for 11 more scoring shots.
Emily Bliss played a sensational utility role for the Devils on Saturday, working hard on the wing and half-forward to consistently set-up Yeronga’s talls.
Wendy Ng snagged a consolation goal for Griffith Moorooka in the final minutes to give the Reds something to celebrate, but by then the game was well and truly over.
Hayley Newberry was the star of the afternoon, booting a lazy seven to bring her count to 52 goals for the season and win the QWAFL leading goal kicker award in the process.
Nat Thomas and Jade Ransfield were again excellent, kicking three each, while Jordan Zanchetta chipped in with two.
Yeronga will now square-off with Zillmere in a do-or-die Elimination Final showdown next weekend, in what is sure to be a cracking contest.
Coach’s thoughts
Scott Stephens – Yeronga
“We played a good four quarter game again which is what we wanted to do, we probably could have kicked a bit straighter but overall the job was done.
“The most pleasing thing was that for three quarters we only had 17 players and to play the way we did was excellent.
“We were able to dominate with limited numbers and the intensity was there for four quarters which makes it two great performances in a row.
“I was really impressed with Moorooka at how they kept the intensity up and kicked a few goals – Glenn has done a great job with their approach and attitude.”
Glenn Hogetts – Griffith Moorooka
“We were probably a little slow to start the game, but credit to the girls in the second half, they stuck it out and kicked a few goals.
“Yeronga are well drilled and to do what they did with only 17 players was pretty good I thought.
“I think everyone’s minds were in other places for a lot of the game, but we made it a reasonable contest and I’m quite proud of them.
“Jenna was again great at fullback with the amount of entries that went in and Emma Thompson was nearly our best on.”
COORPAROO 13.17.95 DEFEATED UQ 2.3.15
Coorparoo might have secured the minor premiership for 2015, but that didn’t stop the Navy Roos putting on another show at Giffin Park against a spirited UQ outfit.
The Navy Roos have been used to getting quick starts to their games this season, but it was the Red Lionesses who started hot on Sunday, kicking the first goal of the clash.
It was a fierce opening five minutes, and UQ were showing why they have been tipped to be a real threat next season, making Coorparoo work for every inch.
Kaitlyn Cantrell steadied the ship for Coorparoo after a sluggish start, and then three more majors followed to give the Navy Roos a 26-point quarter time lead.
UQ continued to attack the footy with intent in the second term, but Coorparoo were able to weather the storm, forcing the Red Lionesses into a few loose turnovers.
Emma Zielke was sublime in the second quarter, racking up a heap of touches in the middle before slotting through two goals to swing the momentum Coorparoo’s way.
Anna O’Keeffe managed to pinch one back for UQ, but at the main-break the Red Lionesses trailed by 42-points.
Coorparoo continued to dominate the midfield in the third-term, mostly due to some sensational ruck work from Sheena Sidin.
The Navy Roos peppered the goals in the third-quarter, but some inaccurate goal-kicking resulted in just 1.7 for the term.
Leading by 53-points at the final change, the last quarter was all but a formality for Coorparoo, but they continued to put on a show nevertheless.
Two more goals to Emma Zielke handed the Coorparoo captain six majors for the afternoon, while some audacious play on the wing from Hannah Sexton was some of the best football of the day.
Bree Koenen was again UQ’s best on ground for the afternoon, kicking a class goal and racking up countless touches in the guts.
In the end, Coorparoo were simply too good for UQ, kicking four goals in the final term to run out 80-point winners.
The Navy Roos will now meet Coolangatta in a qualifying final matchup next week to determine which club is guaranteed a grand final appearance in 2015.
Coach’s thoughts
Bernie Cantrell – Coorparoo
“I thought the girls played really well, we started slow but we recovered and went on with it which was pleasing.
“UQ really brought it, they pretty much ran over us in the first five minutes and it took that for the girls to wake up – I think they will be a very good side very shortly.
“The man on man and pressure was there again this week which is what I wanted heading into finals.
“Sheena Sidin absolutely dominated in the ruck which gave us a lot of footy, but overall it was a good group effort.”
Michael Swann – UQ
“There is lots for the girls to improve on, but in patches they have shown that they can match it with the best, from here they just have to keep working hard.
“We really wanted to take the game on today, they are a really strong side so there wasn’t much point trying to lock down.
“We wanted to kick a score of our own, which didn’t quite happen, but we played an attacking brand of football and in patches we looked really good.
“The goal has always been to build a side to win a premiership, and I think we are closing the gap pretty quickly and just need a bit more polish.”
By Grant Hitzman – @granthitzman
