SEQ AFL under-17 girls footy latest
SEQ AFL under 17 girls footy race for finals heats up as one Gold Coast forward booted eight goals. Here’s the latest news, best players including a 50 game milestone.
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Finals fever is looming, with one more round to go before the top eight play off against each other.
But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s look at what unfolded this weekend in another celebration of under 17 girls footy which included Jamie Stuart’s 50th game for the Cats.
And Burleigh Bombers forward Allanah Welsh kicked eight goals while also providing a great presence across the half forward line.
Results:
Surfers Paradise defeated Southport
Wests Juniors 7-8-50 to 3-1-19 (Moreton Bay)
Marcoochy won by two points, 9-7 over Sandgate
Broadbeach defeated Cooparoo 34-9
Tweed Coolangatta defeated Sherwood
Burleigh 124 defeated Yeronga 13
Victortia Point 4-7-31 to 1-6-12 over Wilston Grange.
The Northern Rivers Tigers rookies from the under 17s also had a chance to play in their age group – the under 15s – at the weekend. More on their efforts in this story.
And in more Div 2 news, Mt Gravatt/Jindalee 5-4-34 had a thrilling victory over Kenmore: 3-12-30. Again, more news down in this story.
Players of the Round
Aasha Elliott (Surfers Paradise)
Elliott was sensational, starting in the midfield where she was explosive and damaging. She ran through packs and had multiple runs down the field, topping off her performance with some goals.
Mia Avatt (Surfers Paradise)
Another outstanding midfield performer, she fought hard and played a great four quarters of hard footy, hunting down the ball.
Skye Howells (Surfers Paradise)
Playing down back, Howells was her team’s “anchor’’ according to coach Chanel Fletcher. “She took multiple intercept marks and produced fantastic contested work.’’
Allanah Welsh (Burleigh)
Welsh kicked eight goals while also providing a great presence across the half forward line. “Her ability to step around players and snap goals around the body is well beyond her years,’’ said coach Em Otto.
Summer Simmonds (Burleigh)
Simminds was Best on Ground and was a force to be reckoned with in the midfield.
“She was ferocious in the contest both offensively and defensively,’’ said coach Em Otto.
“With a number of chase down tackle, she had by far the highest clearances on the ground.’’
Montannah Fabian (Sandgate)
Fabian went into the ruck, going unchanged through an encounter played in windy and slippery conditions. It was a huge effort from the captain.
Marley Marshall and Dakota Gilbert (Maroochydore)
Marshall and Gilbert were both excellent in what we must stress was an good team performance where everyone contributed something positive. Marshall played on ball and forward while Gilbert played on ball where she was a tackling machine.
Tahlia Christie, Harriet Banner and Jamie Stuart (Broadbeach)
Tahlia Christie played strongly while Harriet Banner and Jamie Stuart were all there together as Best on Ground.
Rarni McLean, Jordan Donnell, Amelia Smith and Rhianna Ingram (all Southport)
McLean lead a gallant rearguard action to quell Surfers’ entries into the forward 50m.
Southport had plenty of good players on the night, including under 15 star Ingram.
Charlotte Russell, April Fisher, Claudia Dargie Edie McCabe (Wests Juniors)
Russell and Dargie were strong in the midfield for the Wests Juniors in another solid team effort, while April Fisher at half forward played strongly and her nearest teammate Edie McCabe piloted home four goals.
Alyssa Kennedy and Mia Geere (Wilston Grange)
Alyssa Kennedy was back to her best out on the wing and in the midfield, while Geere was a class above all over, giving the side drive.
Sasha Droin-Kennedy (Wilston Grange)
Kennedy played one of her better games for the Gorillas, and was instrumental in setting up her team’s only goal.
Kaesti-Eva French, Emmerson Brady and Chloe Rogers (Sandgate)
French was outstanding for Sandgate in the midfield where she contested everything, while Brady battled away all game and Rogers was solid down back.
Kate Tomich and Zoe Tame (Sherwood)
The Magpies were down on numbers but not on spirit and to the fore was Tomich who worked her way through the midfield, while Tame held the backline, locking down full back.
Chloe Harrison, Hannah Webb and Emma Bracegidle (Coorparoo)
Harrison was a dominant intercept marker across halfback and had assistance from Emma.
Webb deserves a special mention for playing in the ruck all game and worked hard at every contest.
Sienna Ibrahim and Lyla Harrison (Coorparoo)
The blood of these two girls is worth bottling, because each week they lead the way with pressure and clearance work around the contest.
Tweed Coolangatta
Tweed coach David Palmucci reported “no standouts today’’. Every girl stood up late when it was their time to go. Tough grity win.’’
Kiara Dunlop, Eliza Haigh (Yeronga)
She played midfield and won a lot of clearances and used the footy very well while Haigh had another great midfield match, with great tackle pressure and wins around contested footy.
Sienna Wilson and Claire Fraser (Yeronga)
Wilson showed lots of skill and finesse getting the ball on the outside and streaming away from her opposition. Fraser played ruck, forward and back and showed her marking class, but also won a lot of ground ball which got her team out of trouble.
Ash Hodges (Yeronga)
She played backline after showing so much promise the previous week. She contested anything that came forward and repelled a lot of ball that came into the backline.
Brianna Hunt, Amelia Cran, Isabelle Bailey (Morningside)
The Div 2 outfit had another very even team performance, but some standouts were the impressive defensive running all day from Isabelle Bailey and Amelia Cran, and some best of season tackling efforts from Brianna Hunt.
Abby Carty, Georgia Hunt, Jess Riley, Tiara Steel, Tyra Bell-Brooks (Victoria Point)
THE MATCHES
Surfers Paradise v Southport
Surfers coach Chanel Fletcher said it was an interesting game given the challenge of playing with some key players missing.
“But that didn’t stop our girls from all stepping up and coming away with a great win.’’
“Overall our ability to out number and use the hands just opened up and the game and allowed us to move it quickly down the field,’’ Fletcher said.
Southport assistant coach Marcus Gazsik said: Our defenders fought gamely. We had two or three or five minute patches where we lost our way and Surfers hurt us, kicking multiple goals.
“Once again we fought bravely to the end,’’ the Sharks coach praised.
Wests Junior v Moreton Bay
West Juniors will be pushing hard to confirm a finals berth next week against Sandgate after a good away win against the Lions, 7-8-50 to 3-1-19.
“It was a tricky game, played in windy conditions which made it hard to move the ball,’’ said Wests coach Mark McCabe. “Our girls plugged away in those conditions and they battled the game out well.’’
Maroochydore v Sandgate
Maroochydore, positioned 5-6 for the finals, had a hard earned, close and at times fiery tussle with Sandgate Hawks.
Although coach Aaron Yates would like to have seen his side convert more behinds, he said “everybody did something good which was pleasing, everyone had an impact on the game.’’
Hawks coach Shane Watterson said it was a huge effort her his girls to almost pip the Roos who were bound for the finals, with an “enormous performance” from skipper Montannah Fabian.
Tweed Coolangatta v Sherwood
Sherwood battled away with just 15 players, but will still enter the final round in about fifth or sixth position, so a finals berth is assured.
Those girls that were available for Wests fought hard.
Tweed Cool coach David Palmucci said being a third v fourth contest, it was always going to make for a good contest. “We were slow to get going and allowed Sherwood first hands on the footy and were defending for a lot of the first quarter,’’ he said.
“We were better in the second quarter, more aggression and hungry for the ball.
“Sherwood had lots of numbers around the footy and we just had to be smarter and use the football more effectively going forward. Which we did and were able to pinch a break in a tough hard fought game.’’
Broadbeach v Coorparoo
Although the scoreline was 25 points, the Roos fought very hard all game. Indeed the manner in which the Cats stuck at the task when “it wasn’t coming easy’’ pleased Broadbeach coach James Dofter.
Coorparoo coach Shane Harrison said while the wins had not come regularly this season, the progress was evident.
“We are not getting the results this year that we were hoping for but can say that the players are giving their all every week which we are very proud of,’’ said coach Harrison.
Burleigh v Yeronga
Bombers coach Emily Otto was “super impressed’’ with her team striding to a 100-plus scoreline, with her girls playing “with trust and confidence in our structures’’. “Each played to their strengths,’’ she said.
Yeronga came up against a very skilled Burleigh but the coaching staff we proud of the courage and fit Yeronga displayed. They just couldn’t keep up with the super skilled Bombers.
Victoria Point v Wilston Grange
The Sharks soared to a victory which coach Trevor Mayhew said was a “hard fought slog with plenty of intensity’’.
“Both teams were hard at the ball and tackled well, but in the end we just made a little more of our forward entries.’’
Wilston Grange coach Jamie Sceney said despite the loss his team’s effort and attack on the ball right up to the last siren was as close to as good as it had been all season.
“Our problem all year, we just lack a bit of class and polish,’’ he said. “But I am super proud of the girls today.’’
Division 2
Mt Gravatt-Jindalle had a four point thrilling win over Kenmore, with Mt Gravatt-Jindalee coach Damien King describing it as a “real battle today with both teams controlling different stages of the game’’.
“The Mags, playing with a full complement for the first time in months, took time to gel and will be learn from this game.
“Our connections will continue to grow and there is plenty to work with. With Jessica Williams causing havoc all over the field her most memorable moment was when she used her opposite foot while under pressure.
“Taneka Dhadlie worked tirelessly all day taking the game on when she could.
“It was great to get Shae Gordon back this week kicking a goal and dangerous inside forward 50.
“ Enah Desic continued on with her all Australian form after the national championships. Tiana Limperakis was lively forward of centre and at times is faster than the game around her.
Mt Gravatt/Jindalee: Goal Kickers: Shae Gordon, Taneka Dhadlie, Jessica Williams, Enah Desic and Tahlia Butcher.
Best: Shae Gordon, Taneka Dhadlie, Jessica Williams, Enah Desic, Jade Williams and Tiana Limperakis.
The Northern Rivers Tigers under 17s had a rest, but half a dozen of the club’s under 17 Div 2 players went back to play in their age group and helped out the under 15 Div 1 side.
The 15s had a gutsy and classy win against the Carrara Saints.
They included: Milly Ella. This dynamo 15s rover is the team skipper and shows the way with her courage, leadership and skill under pressure in both 15s and 17s week in week out.
Lucy Grant: This 15s girl is a defensive machine that gives nothing away and reloads for the team in attack with skill and courage … She plays 17s as well.
Summer Browning: A fast, accurate running centre. When this girl is running she destroys defence. Look out for her in the 17s for next season.
Ava Henderson: This exciting ruck rover is a pivot player for both our 15s and 17s girls teams.
Ash Rettenmaier of the Northern Rivers Tigers. She is the team's tall, slick and strong Ruck and defensive weapon keeps performing every week for both 15s and 17s.
Heidi Grimster: This girl is a Northern Rivers Tiger excitement machine that covers both 15s and 17s each week. Her linkage and ability to make space, timing and accuracy with every disposal is simply elite.
In Morningside’s Div 2 match, the Panthers had another hard fought win against Noosa in wet and slippery conditions onNoosa’s home turf.
“It was probably our first game under wet conditions for the season so there was plenty to learn from it, in case we encounter similar conditions in the finals,’’ said coach Alan McGrath.
“Another very even team performance, but some standouts were the impressive defensive running all day from Isabelle Bailey and Amelia Cran, and some best of season tackling efforts from Brianna Hunt.’’
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