2023 QAFL, QAFLW mid year review and finals predictions
The QAFL and QAFLW season has flown by as we take a look at how each team is faring, reveal our end of season predictions and who’s atop the MVP and rising star leaderboards.
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After more than 10 rounds of enthralling Aussie rules football across South East Queensland, we’ve reached the halfway point of the 2023 QAFL and QAFLW seasons.
With just six rounds in the QAFLW and nine in the QAFL season remaining, teams are still battling it out for their place in the finals.
In a rollercoaster season of unpredictable results from both divisions, we’ve crunched the numbers to predict who will emerge victorious by the end of the season.
Read below to see how each team is tracking plus our end of season predictions and find out who is topping the MVP, goalkicking and rising star leaderboards thus far.
QAFL
Aspley: 1st
Wins: 10 Losses: 0 Draws: 1 Pts: 42
In their quest for back-to-back premierships the undefeated Hornets have hardly put a foot wrong through the first half of the season.
An opening season draw against Broadbeach was just the ‘slap in the face’ they needed, going on a dominant win streak and cementing themselves six points clear on the ladder.
It’s fair to argue that this year’s team is even better than last year’s QAFL premiership-winning side with standout recruits, the return of a few key players and standout performances from Liam Dawson, Jordan Hayden and Connor Stackleberg.
The final few games of the regular season will be key in Aspley’s grand final surge, playing key contenders Broadbeach, Redland Victoria Point and Surfers Paradise.
At this rate, it’s hard to see anyone stopping them.
Redland Victoria Point: 2nd
Wins: 9 Losses: 2 Draws: 0 Pts: 36
The Sharks started the season very well with five wins before two tough losses at home to Palm Beach Currumbin and Aspley.
They’ve bounced back with convincing wins over Noosa, Labrador and Morningside and their away victory against Surfers Paradise on the weekend has helped cement their claims as grand final candidates.
Redland Victoria Point have been kings at sharing the footy this season with Caleb Franks, Adrian Williams, Brock Aston and Jack Rolls all breaking onto the MVP leaderboard plus leading competition goalkicker Matt Hammelmann booting 56 goals in 11 matches.
If they can cling onto second spot it will go a long way come finals time and there’s no reason why the Sharks can’t push on to the grand final where everyone knows, anything can happen.
Broadbeach: 3rd
Wins: 7 Losses: 3 Draws: 1 Pts: 30
Following a tough run of injuries the Cats almost looked like a team on the way out of premiership contention but three straight wins has the clubhouse bouncing and the team’s season back on track.
The 2021 premiers seemed in a spot of bother but proved many wrong with key away victories over Maroochydore and Noosa and will now face PBC in round 13.
This weekend’s fixture is an all important guide for where both teams sit in the top six but it all looks like business as usual for head coach Craig O’Brien who is ready to embark on another strong finals campaign led by on-field stars Kasey Nicholas and Blake Erickson.
Wilston Grange: 4th
Wins: 7 Losses: 4 Draws: 0 Pts: 28
Some solid wins against Broadbeach and Morningside in recent weeks, without key players, saw the Gorilla’s put the league on notice.
They looked in red-hot form before their 70-point loss against Aspley but it’s still too early to count Wilston Grange out of silverware success.
A win over the Tigers this weekend can help lock up a finals place for the Gorillas which is right where they’d want to be before the round 14 bye.
Surfers Paradise: 5th
Wins: 6 Losses: 5 Draws: 0 Pts: 24
On average the Demons points differential in games this season has been 17 points, and their round 13 match against Labrador is arguably one of the biggest matches of the season.
Both sides are fighting for a spot inside the top six and their match earlier in the season finished 4.11.35 to 3.9.27 in favour of Surfers Paradise who were at home.
Head coach Matt Lappin is building something special for the back half of the season and the Demons are rightfully out to prove that they're not an easy stepping stone.
Brodie Haberfield is having a standout year with the footy and should help guide the Demons to at least two wins in their next four matches.
Palm Beach Currumbin: 6th
Wins: 6 Losses: 5 Draws: 0 Pts: 24
The past five or six weeks have become an interesting summary of PBC’s 2023 season.
An expected loss to Aspley was fair but the Lions seemed to let one slip at home against Noosa before bouncing back with a big win over Morningside last round.
That win dragged them from eighth to sixth on the ladder but it all means nothing if they can’t get the job done over Broadbeach away in round 13.
If Jess Sinclair and his men can record the win this weekend it should go a long way in helping secure their spot in the finals especially with a regular season run home against Maroochydore, Sherwood and Mt Gravatt.
It’s looking more and more likely that both Surfers Paradise and PBC enter into the finals tied on points.
Labrador: 7th
Wins: 5 Losses: 6 Draws: 0 Pts: 20
It’s been an up and down run for the Southern Tigers and their next four games are massive if they have any hope of keeping their finals dream alive.
The men in yellow and black scored a big away win over Maroochydore in round 11 but will arguably need to pick up at least three wins from their next four matches where they play Surfers Paradise, Noosa, Sherwood and Palm Beach Currumbin.
They finish the regular season playing three of the current top four teams which seems a big ask but a hot month of footy could be the key factor for head coach Clint Watts and his team.
Morningside: 8th
Wins: 5 Losses: 6 Draws: 0 Pts: 20
Four straight losses might be the writing on the wall for Paul Egan and his side going down to Labrador, Wilston Grange, Redland Victoria Point and Palm Beach Currumbin in recent weeks.
The Panthers now play undefeated Aspley in round 13 and would need to improve in a big way if they’re to keep the finals candle lit.
New recruit Mitch Robinson has been great for Morningside this season and the club look to have some solid emerging talent in Hugo Crawford, Matthew Robson and Charlie Cole for years to come.
Mt Gravatt: 9th
Wins: 4 Losses: 7 Draws: 0 Pts: 16
It’s been a story of thereabouts, but just not enough for the Vultures this season.
In the month of June, Mt Gravatt will finish with Maroochydore away which could see them come away with a 2-2 performance or fall to a 1-3 record in their past four games.
Either way it just seems too big of an ask for the Vultures to claw their way back into the top six but that doesn’t take away from the performances of Joal Leahy and Dylan Smith who have been in solid form this season.
Maroochydore: 10th
Wins: 3 Losses: 8 Draws: 0 Pts: 12
Tough, close losses to Broadbeach and Labrador at home have all but sealed Maroochydore’s 2023 season.
The Roos play Mt Gravatt before the bye where they could easily split their past four game record but they follow that up with an extremely tough run against Aspley, Surfers Paradise and Wilston Grange.
To wrap it up it’s been a clunky, promising and sometimes plain season for the Roos who after missing out on the finals by one spot last season were rightfully out for finals footy.
They’ve truly had their ups and downs this season but after recruiting well and only losing two players in the off-season, many were expecting more from the green and gold outfit.
The Roos should collect at least two more wins from their remaining seven matches.
Noosa: 11th
Wins: 3 Losses: 8 Draws: 0 Pts: 12
It was always going to be a tough ask from Chris Rourke and his squad this season after losing more than half of his starting side from last year’s elimination final.
They’ve been a team impossible to predict week-to-week but have played an exciting brand of footy against top half teams this season.
It’s easy to see the two Sunshine Coast rivals finishing on the same points this season but Noosa will be out for end of season bragging rights when they square off against Maroochydore at home in the final round.
Sherwood: 12th
Wins: 0 Losses: 11 Draws: 0 Pts: 0
Sherwood has been absolutely rocked with injuries this season, far worse than any team in the competition.
In his first of three seasons, Jarad Marsh has lost more than a dozen players from his top 22 which also saw many reserve players step up and sadly also get injured throughout the season.
Each week the Pies have still shown up and given their all from start to finish against what is a hotly contested QAFL competition.
Everyone loves a David vs Goliath upset or even just a shock result and Sherwood are very much capable of stealing some points at the back end of the season.
QAFLW
Southport Sharks: 1st
Wins: 9 Losses: 0 Draws: 0 Pts: 36
There is only one word you can use to describe Southport’s 2023 QAFLW season: perfection. After nine rounds and a bye they have remained undefeated with a crazy points percentage of 684.34 per cent.
Now all they need to do is continue this streak into the back half of the year and finish on an ultimate high.
In the meantime, four athletes have made it onto the MVP leaderboard including Carly Remmos and Madeleine Watt with six votes each, Step O’Brien with 16 votes and Georgia Breward with 18 votes. Young gun Georji Davies and teammate Peyton Mackie meanwhile have made their mark via the rising stars list.
Southport’s kicking game is extra strong thanks to Maggie O’Connell and Darcie Davies’ combined efforts.
Bond University Bull Sharks: 2nd
Wins: 7 Losses: 2 Draws: 0 Pts: 28
Two wins is all that separates the Bond Uni Bull Sharks from ladder-leading Southport. The fellow coastal side have let slip games to the Sharks and the Aspley Hornets but are eager to finish strong the second time around.
Round 11 against Southport will be a telltale for how much they have improved this season before the bye will give way to some rest.
Georgia Johnson and Tara Harrington have undoubtedly been their best players, and in turn sit 9th and 10th respectively on the MVP leaderboard. Ava Usher and Isabella Iverach have both received votes for the rising stars list. It would be no surprise if more Bond names make their way into the sheet in coming weeks.
To get to the top, the Bull Sharks will need to play consistently and as a team with every player doing their job. As long as they can come out on top in their round 13 clash against Aspley, there is no doubt we will witness an all-coast final.
Aspley Hornets: 3rd
Wins: 6 Losses: 2 Draws: 1 Pts: 26
Coming in hot on Bond’s trail are the Aspley Hornets, who are sitting third at the moment but are eager to surge ahead. Their best chance will come in round 13 when they come face-to-face with Bond. At this point in the season, Aspley boast a win/loss record of seven to two.
But the real challenge will come later when they suit up against the undefeated Southport Sharks. If the Hornets can keep their cool until then, it might be the perfect sting.
Credit ought to be given to Louise Tyson and Mikayla Martin, who have earnt 14 and nine MVP votes respectively. Tyson’s performance has put her third on the MVP leaderboard.
In terms of rising stars, the Hornets are yet to make the board, though the likes of Gabrielle Roberts might just squeeze in after joining the seniors a few weeks ago. Her track and field background makes her a naturally talented player.
Coorparoo Kings: 4th
Wins: 4 Losses: 4 Draws: 1 Pts: 18
After 10 rounds Coorparoo are sitting mid-pack with a four and four win/loss record holding them back from full potential.
The Kings’ struggles have nothing to do with talent, since the side have plenty of it in their ranks. One of their star players Laura Blue is making a huge impact with 10 MVP votes and is sitting fifth on the leaderboard while up-and-coming Jacinta Baldwick has earned her spot on the rising stars list.
Perhaps it is a combination of nerves and strong competition that is getting in their way. For the second half of the season, Coorparoo are expected to combat their faults and make big improvements to structure. If they can hold their own against Bond and Aspley, it is fair to say we could see them in the grand final.
Wilston Grange Gorillas: 5th
Wins: 4 Losses: 5 Draws: 0 Pts: 16
The Wilston Grange Gorillas are in a funny position after 10 QAFLW rounds, having put on a mixed bag of performances. While their start to the season was slow, the Gorillas have managed to hustle a win in three of their last five matches including Coorparoo. It is possible the success of late will manifest into a comeback of the year, and the Gorillas may just sneak into finals.
Two players to keep an eye on are Keyshia Matenga (eight votes) and Zimra Hussain (seven votes) who are sitting mid-pack on the MVP leaderboard. Meanwhile, the name Mia Geere should ring a bell since the young gun is part of the Lions Academy and was recently named in the All-Australian under-16 side. What’s more, she earnt herself a spot on the rising stars list in round four.
Maroochydore Roos: 6th
Wins: 3 Losses: 6 Draws: 0 Pts: 12
They may be second to the wooden spoon on points, but the Roos have put up a tough fight week in-week out and do not seem to be giving up. The 98-point loss to Bond in round one stumped them, but deja vu was avoided in round eight when the side got within four goals.
Among their ranks is up-and-coming talent Renee Teys who found her way onto the MVP leaderboard with six votes. While the Roos struggle to put big numbers on the board, Grace Perry will likely continue as their leading goal kicker.
In the meantime keep an eye on Kelsee Sills, the underdog of the team according to head coach Dave Hume.
University of QLD: 7th
Wins: 2 Losses: 7 Draws: 0 Pts: 8
The University of Queensland’s QAFLW side have a power house up their sleeve and her name is Ava Seton. She has been pivotal in the team’s season so far, gaining 12 MVP votes and a spot on the rising stars list. But her top notch performances have not been enough to secure UQ a stable track record. They have so far lost seven out of nine games and are struggling to find a groove.
The side will have to centre themselves against Wilston Grange in round 11 and Yeronga in round 13 before the real hard work kicks back up. Based on ladder standings, it is fair to say both games will give UQ a shot at improving their status, but every woman will need to bring her A-game.
Yeronga: 8th
Wins: 0 Losses: 9 Draws: 0 Pts: 0
At the halfway mark of the season, Yeronga are yet to claim a win and are hungry for something to celebrate. But it’s not all bad news, since the side is making clear improvements as individuals in their skills. Head coach Lisa Milne believes Kara Stock and Holly Mills are some of the best up-and-coming players who are getting better each game.
In four rounds they will face the University of Queensland who are closest on the ladder and only stole the win by two goals when the sides came up against each other in round five. A bye in round 12 will give them a chance to centre and come out firing for the match.
Yeronga doesn’t have a representative on the MVP leaderboard but it’s clear Madison Goodwin is getting a lot of attention for her consistent performances in recent weeks, while Courtney McDonnell continues to kick a majority of her team’s goals.
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