SQUAD ANALYSIS: 2024 North Queensland women’s Aussie rules representative side
North Queensland has gathered the region’s greatest female Aussie rules footballers to take on their southern rivals in the annual representative clash. Read more about every NQ player.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
North Queensland has gathered the greatest female Aussie rules footballers from every region as they make plans to flip the narrative on their southern rivals in the annual North Queensland v South Queensland Representative Clash on Saturday.
Last year NQ were humiliated on home turf in Cairns, failing to score a point as they went down 10.14 (74) to 0.0 (0).
But 12 months on, and now with former Collingwood AFLW head coach Wayne Siekman at the reins, things are looking good for North Queensland’s chances.
Siekman coached the Magpies for their first three seasons of AFLW before moving to Cairns, where he embedded himself in the footy community at the Manunda Hawks.
He said it was testament to the growing female game that each region was so evenly represented in a team usually dominated by players from the Cairns area.
“I love the women’s game and I’ve been involved with it for a long period of time,” Siekman said.
“It’s really good to see that there’s a good spread of players; there’s four from Mackay, five from Townsville, five from Capricornia and seven from Cairns, so it’s good to see that the quality and depth is getting to the other three regions.
“This year the competition and the talent has improved in each area which is fantastic for NQ as a whole, and it hopefully will give some greater opportunities for those players in the regions to understand that you are getting noticed and recognised if you keep performing well.”
North Queensland’s shocking loss last year seemingly came out of nowhere as the team were 6.5 (41) to 3.6 (24) victors in 2022 in a game held in the Gold Coast.
Siekman said he was picking players based on their fitness as well as footballing talent after SQ’s elite running game allowed them to dictate last year’s clash.
“Last year South Queensland came up to Cairns and they had a pretty good running team and they destroyed us,” Siekman said.
“That was a pretty poor performance from us and to not score was a little bit humiliating, so it’s given me a good indication of which players to pick.
“Yes, they’ve got to be skilful and talented, but ultimately they’ve got to be able to run. If you can’t run and move well, then you’re going to struggle in such a representative game.”
North Queensland take on South Queensland on Saturday June 22, with the women’s match at 4:15pm and the men’s at 6:15pm. Both matches will be livestreamed on AFL Queensland’s YouTube channel.
NQ WOMEN’S SQUAD 2024
TIARNE SPARKS
Position: Midfield
Club: Manunda Hawks
Sparks is an exceptional leader who is very fit and determined. A regular in AFL Cairns representative teams who has six best player points from eight games for the Hawks in 2024.
SOPHIA FOWLER
Position: Back
Club: Manunda Hawks
New to representative footy but she has come in leaps and bounds. Fantastic at winning one-on-one contests and can be considered one of the squad’s bolters.
JADE RANSFIELD
Position: Forward
Club: Centrals Trinity Beach
An exceptional forward with a great marking ability. Ransfield reads the play well and she’s got a great kick, making her a key forward for NQ.
AMALIYA DAVIES-SCHERER
Position: Midfield
Club: Cairns City Lions
Probably the form midfielder of the AFL Cairns season, Davies-Scherer can use her left and right foot and she has been exceptional for the Lions. A hard worker who wins the footy in contests.
SODYLA KRIS
Position: Back
Club: North Cairns
Kris has an impressive ability to read the ball. She is a good decision-maker with a great kick.
HANNAH HILLMAN
Position: Ruck
Club: North Cairns
Hillman is a tall ruck, but it’s almost like having another midfielder due to her ability to win a lot of her own balls.
JENNIFER WREN
Position: Forward
Club: Manunda Hawks
The 2023 Jo Butland Medallist – the award for AFL Cairns’ best and fairest – has lethal speed to burn and x-factor in spades. Definitely one to watch.
ELLIE FARRANDS
Position: Forward
Club: Hermit Park Tigers
Farrands is just about the complete package for a forward. She is very fit, has really good pace, great agility, a good kick and plenty of x-factor.
MAGGIE EVANS
Position: Back
Club: Hermit Park Tigers
Evans will cause SQ forwards headaches with her impressive fitness and great pace. Her versatility means you can play her in numerous positions.
MEAGAN RICKERTT
Position: Forward
Club: Hermit Park Tigers
Rickertt is NQ’s forwards coach as well as a player. A very athletic player with a great pair of hands and an excellent kick. Good leadership and communication skills make her a fantastic asset for the team.
OLIVIA MEAGHER
Position: Midfield
Club: Thuringowa Bulldogs
Arguably the best player in Townsville. An excellent footballer who can use both sides of her body, she’s got a good pair of hands and she has improved her fitness. Will be one of NQ’s most important players.
DELMA GISU
Position: Outside (wing, half-forward)
Club: Curra Swans
The former GWS Giants AFLW player has elite fitness and possesses an impressive boot. Her football IQ is excellent and she’s technically very good.
SARAH LARKINGS
Position: Midfield
Club: North Mackay
One of the top midfielders in her local competition, Larkings often wins her own footy and has good skills and fitness.
TILAYNA NISSEN
Position: Forward
Club: Mackay City Hawks
Nissen can impact the scoreboard with her impressive kick and she makes good decisions in front of goal.
INDIANA BROUGH
Position: Back
Club: Bakers Creek Tigers
Great one-on-one player who offers a bit of versatility to the squad. Brough is also very fit.
CLEO DICKIE
Position: Wing / Forward
Club: Whitsundays
A good runner that can take players on and burn them with her skills. Dickie makes good decisions and has a good kick on her.
AMY MILL
Position: Midfield
Club: Rockhampton Panthers
Mill returns to the NQ side after being one of the captains in 2023. A good leader and footballer who is expected to shine in the midfield.
KIRALEE COSTELLO
Position: Outside
Club: Rockhampton Panthers
Costello is a good runner with great skills. A very athletic player who does her best work in the wider channels.
RACHEL LAWSON
Position: Back
Club: Glenmore Bulls
Lawson is a versatile defender who reads the play well and has the skills to make her impact felt during the game.
LEANNE FOLEY
Position: Forward
Club: Glenmore Bulls
Foley brings her Irish flair to the NQ squad. She’s a player with amazing skills and a bit of x-factor.
DANIELLE FENWICK
Position: Back
Club: BITS Saints
Fenwick can play in numerous positions, but she’ll most likely start down back. However there’s a chance she will move up forward later in the game depending on how things are going. In good form heading into the game.
More Coverage
Originally published as SQUAD ANALYSIS: 2024 North Queensland women’s Aussie rules representative side
The 10 young guns you need to watch at NQ U15 Cricket Championships
The region’s top under-15s cricketers will be in Townsville this week battling for NQ supremacy. Find out which players from NQ, Far North and Mackay-Whitsunday are simply unmissable.
Regional Queensland Gridiron League Season Draw revealed
Regional Queensland’s American football stars believe future Olympians will be among the league’s rookie class of 2024/25 when gridiron action returns from November 2. See the full season draw: