SEQ AFL Div 1 under 17 girls footy: Fire fighters tribute, Surfers explode, Vic Point, Gorillas surge
SEQ AFL Div 1 under 17 girls: The finals’ hot shots were glimpsed on Sunday in an emotional round which saw a firefighters tribute by the Roos and Magpies. See who we are talking about, along with the round’s best players.
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The premiership hot shots were glimpsed today in an emotional round of under 17 Div 1 footy which also saw an emotional tribute to firefighters by the Roos and Magpies.
Sandgate Hawks coach Shane Watterson believed he saw the team to beat after watching his under strength side well beaten but not disgraced against the powerful Surfers Paradise.
And he also saw one of the best players in the competition, Aasha Elliott, who appropriately wore No.1 on her back in her first match of the season.
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Surfers, recent victors over premiers Burleigh, won well 10-9 to 0-1.
In other results
Wilston Grange 5-7-37 defeated Southport 3-3-21.
Coorparoo 4-1-25 drew with Sherwood 4-1-25.
Wests Juniors 32 def Broadbeach 25
Victoria Point 7-6-48 def Burleigh 1-4-10.
And in Div 2, Northern Rivers defeated Mt GRavatt-Jindalee, while Morningside had another hard fought 8.3.51 to 3.2.20 win over Redcliffe.
Watterson could not have been more impressed with Surfers Paradise who played so well despite being without one of their best Sunny Lappin.
“They have talent around the ground and when they get it out of the middle, they find space and keep running and surging forward. They were well drilled.’’
Watterson said Elliott was a “very, very good player’’ for Surfers. “They had five or six very good players, but their No.1 (Elliott) just got it, bounced it and ran away.’’
And Watterson was not the only one impressed by Elliott - so was her own coach Chanel Fletcher.
Elliott arrived on the scene like a bolt from the blue, playing her first game for Surfers Paradise after being away for the national championship seven-a-side rugby. She played half back and according to Fletcher “she was sensational’’.
At Sherwood, there was also a wonderful tribute to firefighters when both teams donned red arm bands to honour Acacia Ridge station fire woman Izabella Nash who died at work last week.
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Both the Coorparoo coach Scott Harrison, and the Sherwood ground official are firefighters so both clubs saw it as a fitting tribute to the service.
“Both sides showed their support and respect to Izabella Nash by wearing red armbands who lost her life this week during firefighter operations,’’ Harrison said.
“Each side had players who are daughters of firefighters and it was great to see both teams join as one after a very even contest. There was a fitting end with the final score ending in a draw.’’
And in the late game tonight, Victoria Point won 7-6-48 over Burleigh 1-4-10. More below
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Aasha Elliott (Surfers Paradise)
She had to be the player of the round alongside her teammate Alice Minahan. As mentioned above, Elliott shone like a lighthouse at half back. “Her first possession saw her read the ball for an intercept mark and then explode down the field at least 50m with a few bounces before drilling the ball into our forwards. She did this a few times,’’ Fletcher said.
Elke McCulloch (Burleigh Bombers)
There was a fabulous performance from Elke McCulloch who was her team’s best player. “She provided our midfield with awesome pressure and repeat efforts all game. “Her fourth quarter was the best football she’s ever played. She plucked a number of intercept marks, made multiple tackles and had a number of inside 50s.’’
Alice Minahan (Surfers Paradise)
She kicked a solid five goals playing centre half forward and was unstoppable breaking tackles and charging forwards. “She is coming into some great form,’’ said Surfers coach Fletcher.
Alicia Kennedy (Wilston Grange)
Playing on a wing, Kennedy should consider competing at the Gold Coast Marathon this year because she must be getting fit from all the running she does. “She just kept running and running and running all day and getting lots of the footy and being really smart with her use,’’ coach Jamie Sceney said.
Darcy Cole (Broadbeach)
Cole was Broadbeach’s best on ground. She was awesome across the wing and down toward the backline featuring very strong defence.
Daisy Quin, Lucy Denholm and Stevie Fisher (Wests Juniors)
What a magnificent effort from these three in what was a rousing team performance. Quin and Denholm on the wings gave their side lots of drive, while Fisher was impassable with her defence.
Tiffany O’Keefe, Mia Tempest, Olivia Pertrillo, Makita McIlwain, Olivia Hamilton (Victoria Point).
What a why to bring up your 100th game it was for Vic Point’s Olivia Hamilton who celebrated in style alongside her teammates. Well done to her.
Olivia Wenck (Sandgate)
She is only part-time in the ruck but she finished with BoG for Sandgate. “I only throw her in now and again for relief, but she played a lot minutes in their (on Sunday) and was very good,’’ said Hawks coach Shane Watterson.
Lyla Harrison and Sienna Ibrahim (Coorparoo):
Yet again they were both instrumental around the contest and never took a backward step. They added the main metres gained through the game.
Eadie Fraser (Coorparoo):
Fraser moved into the back line in the second half and had a big impact with intercept marks and stopping Sherwood from scoring further.
Charlotte Thomson, Daisy Minz and Georgia Lwin (Sherwood)
Thomson was a relentless midfield rock while Minz ran all day, stopping multiple goals. She also rucked relentlessly. Lwin was a big, powerful presence in the forward line, providing a focal point for the Magpies attack. She was a real target.
Tykeerah Cobus-Jack (Wests Juniors)
Having the benefit of the Wests midfield getting into their groove over the third and fourth quarters, Cobus-Jack was strong across half forward.
Rhanni Wilson (Surfers Paradise)
Wilson was dominant in the midfield, winning contested efforts time and again.
Chaise Montey and Chelsea Lee (Surfers Paradise)
The girls were awesome starting backs and rotated through the midfield. “As a team our run and carry down the field was awesome,’’ coach Fletcher said. “It is good to see the efforts at training coming into the games.’’
Annie Roach (Wilston Grange)
Centre half back Roach was a force, stopping everything that came her way. “She was really effective in shutting down the key forwards,’’ Sceney said.
Annabel Foat and Harriette Banner (Broadbeach)
Foat played an awesome match in the midfield, chasing hard and contesting while birthday girl Banner played strongly in the ruck, an outstanding effort player for the Cats.
Sophie Allen (Wilston Grange)
Allen was outstanding deep down back and then when she moved to the ruck she helped prevent any forward thrust from the opposition. “We got a lot of run out of defence because of her run and long kick’’ Sceney said. “She is a super player.’’
Imogen Smith, Ava Ambler and Maggie Fraser (Coorparoo)
Smith used her speed across the middle to make impacts at both ends, while Ambler and Fraser had great impact at the stoppages, and spread possession through the middle.
Jaimee Stuart (Broadbeach)
Stuart played well, leading down the forward line. She was super strong in keeping the ball in the contested forward line. It was a really solid game by her.
Brooke Fingland (Coorparoo):
Fingland was able to convert two goals from two marks within scoring range from great ball movement.
Trinity Oxenham and Amelia Cran (Morningside)
Following the Panthers Div 2 win over Redcliffe, coach Alan McGrather said “it was hard to single out any individual players’’. “But the entire back line unit was very solid again, aided by some hard defensive run from our wingers Trinity Oxenham and Amelia Cran.
Summer Hamilton (Wilston Grange)
Up forward Hamilton kicked a couple of goals and threatened to kick a couple more. “She was playing with a bit of adversity, but pushed on and managed to get us over the line.’’
Shyla Bauer, Liz Andrea and Lauren Game (Southport)
Southport were beaten but this terrific trio showed their teammates the way forward. Bauer was dogged in defence, Andres was outstanding as a midfielder and Game was a target up forward.
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Kaetsi-Eva French and Georgia Harrison (Sandgate)
French started in the midfield but ended up in the backline where she “stopped a bit of bleeding down there’’. “She was really good,’’ said her coach Watterson. Harrison spent down back tackling hard against elite competition.
Amy Sharp (Sandgate)
Sharp played fullback and had a busy day. She copped a knock but before that she tried very hard.
Best Mt Gravatt Div 2 players: Jessica Hendry, Sophie Hosack, Jessica Williams and Shae Gordon Goal Kickers: Jessica Williams , Lilly Hendry and Tiana Limperakis
THE MATCHES
Southport v Wilston Grange
Wilston Grange coach Jamie Sceney said he liked the consistent effort across the whole team. “We played for four quarters which is the most complete performance we have put in which is why we got a win.
“We were not relying on our top players. Some of our mid-tier players stepped up and our developing players did as well. It was a complete team effort.’’
Southport co-coach Marcus Gasik said the Sharks produced some great team play in patches but needed to sustain its best brand footy for longer.
Sherwood v Coorparoo
Coorparoo coach Scott Harrison said: “The Roos intent this week was to bring the pressure to the 1st quarter and create contests. Sherwood liked to play a fast game and our intention was to set our own tempo.
“We lost Kameryn Bray early through concussion which changed our midfield structure. Sherwood took advantage of that and kicked away in the first half.
“In the second we had some positional changes which made a positive impact. Our defensive structure improved and we got repeat entries resulting in us matching their score and denying Sherwood any score in the second half. Great improvement from last week against Wests.’’
Sherwood coach Chris Bloor said it was a game of two halves. He said his team got away in the first half, kicking four goals and keeping the Roos scoreless.
But some Coorparoo structure changed at the lone break and turned things around to keep the Magpies scoreless, with the Roos backs pressing up and making it difficult for Sherwood to get out of their half.
Bloor liked his team “worked for each other with energy and effort’’, but he said there were plenty of “leanings’’ for the Magpies’ girls.
Surfers Paradise v Sandgate
Surfers coach Chanel Fletcher said she loved that the girls were continuing to elevate their game and improve each week.
“After halftime we made a few changes to trial some girls in new positions which worked really well and allowed us to continue to develop as a team.’’
Sandgate coach Shane Watterson said his team lost a few midfielders injured and finished with one on the bench against elite opposition, but he was pleased the Hawks played out the game.
He shuffled the backline a bit for the second half and that worked for Sandgate.
Wests Juniors v Broadbeach
Wests Juniors coach Mark McCabe said it was a “gutsy win’’. “Our girls really lifted after halftime with teamwork, work rate and talk.’’
Broadbeach coach James Dofter said his team started really well, but didn’t add the polish and kicked too many behinds. “We back off five per cent and in this comp you will pay for it.’’
But he was able to give some of the 15-year-olds some experience due to having players away in Suns Academy duty.
Victoria Point v Burleigh
Vic Point coach Trevor Mayhew said: “Our defence pressure was sensational. The girls worked really hard to get the ball forward. Up forward our girls were clean with their possession despite the torrential rain at the start.’’
Burleigh of course were under strength due to injury and representative commitments and actually ended up with 15 players on the field, so coach Em Otto was impressed with the club’s tenacity. “They didn’t drop their heads all day,’’ she said.
In Div 2 action, Morningside had a strong first quarter performance to set up its win over Redcliffe.
“It was a real team oriented performance this week with the girls showing high levels of intensity for the entire game, and continuing to work on the structures and style of footy we’re trying to achieve,’’ said coach Alan McGrath.
Mt Gravatt/JIndalee lost but there was a celebration for Jordyn Dornhart in her 50th game, a wonderful milestone moment.
Mt Gravatt/Jindalee ventured to NSW to play the Northern Rivers girls.
“The game was played in good spirits with the Northern Rivers girls playing with a bit more polish,’’ said Mt Gravatt coach Damien King.
“As hard as the Mags would work to get the ball going their way, a Northern Rivers girl would be waiting to receive the ball.
“The Mags girls kept fighting all day but went down to a class team that will be hard to beat at home. The highlight of the day for the Mags was how they played the last quarter. to Northern Rivers: 5-13-43
Mt Gravatt/Jindalee: 3-4-22
Best players: Jessica Hendry, Sophie Hosack, Jessica Williams and Shae Gordon
Goal Kickers: Jessica Williams , Lilly Hendry and Tiana Limperakis
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