QAFLW’s best 28 players from the season revealed
Celebrate the greatest grand final in QAFLW history, we name the best 28 women’s footy players from across the eight clubs.
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University of Queensland won the greatest Bond University QAFLW grand final in its history, claiming an overtime thriller 5-1-31 to 3-6-24 over a gritty Southport on Sunday.
It was an extraordinary finale to another wonderful season of footy, a celebration of women in sport.
Here we toast the best of the best, our finest 28 players from the season.
UQ
Steph O’Brien
A renowned inside midfielder who filled in at the ruck from the final round right through the finals’ series. A tall, strong inside midfielder who played Sapphire series netball before concentrating on footy three years ago.
Megan Hunt
An inside midfielder nicknamed the conductor, she is brilliant standing out the back of the contest, getting herself into space and directing play like a quarterback. She arrived back late from an ACL injury and made every post a winner.
Ava Seton
The Queensland under 18 representative was a BOG contender. She is tough and knows where the goals are, kicking the first and fourth goals on grand final day.
Jessi Henning
Fullback Henning is a tall key position player who has a thumping kick and great anticipation. She also has a sunny, friendly personality.
Jacqui Russell
The ruck won the ANZ Championship with the Queensland Firebirds in 2011 and Suncorp Super Netball with Sunshine Coast Lightning in 2018 and is now a footy supremo. She has elite fitness, a superb vertical leap and then does her own roving as well. What a player.
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SOUTHPORT
Britt Perry
A former Adelaide Striker in the WBBL but now a full-time footy player, she was drafted to Port Adelaide mid-season but made a lasting impact on the competition before she left. She was one of the best overhead markers in the competition and a very good shot for goal.
Poppy Boltz
Part of a midfield trinity, she is renowned for being able to crash through contests and get possessions away. But she also learned how to distribute from the back of the contest. She is a former Cairns competition B and F winner.
Bree McFarlane
The half-forward is incredibly agile, takes spectacular marks and is also arguably the most reliable set shot in the competition.
Selina Priest
This year she played fullback, wing, full forward and ruck. She is brilliant all over the ground and is a marvel at fullback in organising the defence around her. She has great vision and has manic energy.
Georgia Breward
An inside midfielder who is able to do the dirty work to win the ball, and then distribute cleanly. She started like a house on fire and was best on ground in the preliminary final.
BOND UNI
Mikayla Pauga
She is a Lions squad member who last year successfully adapted to a roving role. Pauga displayed terrific ball skills and is a good chance for an AFLW debut soon.
Jess Maher
A fullback but also a winger and a forward, she is a classy left footed ball distributor with silky skills. She is both reliable and creative.
Krystal Scott
An imposing physical presence at centre halfback, Scott is an expert at winning the ball and then releasing Bond’s speed out wide.
Courtney Sexton
Another inside midfielder who has developed from a ground dwelling ball winner into a more of distributing ball winner in 2022.
MAROOCHYHDORE
Chloe Gregory
Last year’s QAFLW MVP, Gregory is a left foot midfielder who is able to find a teammate from 30m while being tackled and off-balance. She is an elite, precise passer.
Lily Postlethwaite
Injuries have kept “LilPoss” to just 11 games in three seasons with the Lions, but the
halfback/midfield exponent starred for the Roos in 2022 as both a ball-winner and elite passer, especially entering the forward 50.
Mikayla Martin
Last year’s UQ premiership winner, she moved north to the Coast and shone as a centre half forward who goes looking for the ball and gets lots of inside 50m passes.
Kelsee Sills
A back pocket with a natural sense who often arrives where the ball is going. The left handed skills is also a strong tackler.
COOPAROO
Laura Blue
“Bluey” is a defender who has the longest kick in the competition with both feet and a fierce tackler. Athletic,She is a fierce tackler who would be at home in any AFLW set up.
RELATED LINKS
QAFL’S BEST 22 PLAYERS AGED 22 YEARS OR UNDER
QAFL’S SQUAD OF THE MONTH FOR MAY
QAFL’S SQUAD OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE
Sally Young
Young was one of the Coorparoo founders of the women’s footy, an inside midfielder with a high footy IQ who knows the play three moves ahead.
Jenae Govan
The midfielder and forward and a Muay Thai exponent, she started her career as a prolific goal kicker who is now a strong and reliable centre.
ASPLEY
Courtney Daniec
The Hornets captain and Gorillas premiership winner in 2018, Daniec is an inside midfielder and half forward who regularly scores from mid field. He has a knack of knowing where the goals are.
Charlie Mullins
An inside and outside midfielder who was drafted by the Lions, Mullins is strong in the contest with a strong overhead marker and tackler.
Rachael Vetter
The forward was a UQ premiership winner who, at Aspley, is one of this year’s leading goal kickers who has a way of finding space in a contest.
YERONGA
Madison Goodwin
A tall inside midfielder, she is very strong in the contest renowned for her vertical leap. When she is on, it is tremendous to watch.
Lucy Bellinger
The halfback who can also play half forward, she is a former Lions player who is a fluid runner who always has time on the ball. She is good at finding space and putting teammates into space.
WILSTON GRANGE
Mackenzie Findlay
The inside mid and halfback, Findlay is a tackling machine and as a 20-year-old, showed great leadership to keep the side motivated and up in a demanding season.
Chloe Litherland
A former Sapphire Series netball who racked up possession across key positions, Litherland is strong in the tackle and a good marker in the contest.
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