Panthers women shore up second place on AFL Capricornia ladder

Co-captain Laura Jonassen reveals the key to the team’s solid form in the AFL Capricornia competition this season. See which players she says have helped drive the team’s on-field success.

Panthers’ co-captain Laura Jonassen with her teammates after their 59-point win over BITS Saints last Saturday.

They have shored up second place on the AFL Capricornia ladder but the best is yet to come from the Panthers women, according to co-captain Laura Jonassen.

The Panthers have dropped just two games this season - in Rounds 9 and 10 to Yeppoon and Glenmore respectively.

The side returned to the winner’s circle in emphatic fashion in the past two rounds, keeping opponents Brothers and BITS scoreless in both games.

They are just one win behind competition leaders and reigning premiers, Yeppoon, who they play this weekend.

See the photos from the Round 12 game between Panthers and BITS here

Jonassen said the team was determined to finish the regular season strongly.

“Our goal was to make top two and for us, if we’re in the top two we give ourselves a solid chance,” she said.

“We’ve trained really hard but we’re still not feeling like we’re hitting our straps yet, which I think is quite exciting.

Panthers are preparing for a top-of-the-table clash with Yeppoon this weekend.

“Our main goals will be to continue playing some really positive football and take some risks.”

Jonassen said the team had a “multitude of good players” but nominated three who had been standouts so far this season.

She said Kiz Costelloe had been dynamic on the wing, Aleisha Mills was solid as a rock at fullback and Amy Mill, a two-time North Queensland representative, was a workhorse in the middle and never stopped running.

Jonassen said there was a great culture within the playing group, which contributed to their on-field success.

“We’re all good friends and we all spend some time together and I think that’s one of the most important things about our team. We stick together,” she said.

Amy Mill has been one of Panthers’ best again this season.

Defence has been the cornerstone they had built their game on.

“We set up really nicely behind the football and we have a very, very solid backline,” Jonassen said.

“Anytime a team doesn’t score against us is a tick in the box.

“We’ve got a good group of fit girls, and we pride ourselves on really pushing through to the contest.”

The Panthers play Yeppoon at the Rockhampton Cricket Ground at 11.10am Saturday.

In the other Round 13 fixtures, BITS host Glenmore and the Gladstone Suns play Glenmore at Clinton Field, with both games at 2.20pm.