Coaches nominate: QAFL and QAFLW’s best ball users

It’s tough to win a game of fototy without using the ball well, so discover who the coaches have highlighted as the best ball users at every QAFL and QAFLW club.

QAFL, QAFLW coaches nominate. Pictures: Highflyer Images, Craig Slaney Sports Photography and Brooke Sleep Media.

Coaches nominate is back for another year and with the 2024 season underway, senior coaches from across the QAFL and QAFLW have had their say on a range of new topics.

Each round we will reveal who has stood out from each club, diving into unique topics such as best-one-on-one player, most underrated, craftiest forward and more.

This week we uncover the players who the best ball users of the QAFL and QAFLW are.

Check out what the coaches are saying.

QAFL

Aspley, Adrian Pilgrim: “Probably Jasper Craven. He’s got a great ability to break lines, run and carry and control our game speed towards the end of quarter is huge.”

Broadbeach, Danny Nolan: “Blake Erickson and Joel Filippone are two midfielders that are quality ball users and hard workers.”

Aspley QAFL player Jasper Craven in action. Picture: Highflyer Images.

Broadbeach Cats QAFL player Blake Erickson. Picture: Brooke Sleep Media.

Labrador, Clint Watts: “Jay Foon is an Ex-Tasmanian player with lots of VFL footy under his belt. He’s a great leader, an outstanding midfielder and very efficient. Matt Lee’s the captain, very efficient by hand or by foot and makes good decisions.

Maroochydore, Steve Wildschut: “Sam McLachlan would fit that role again. He’s just got that edge of the ball and game management that allows him to stand out.”

Labrador QAFL player Jay Foon. Picture: Highflyer Images.

Maroochydore Roos QAFL player Sam McLachlan. Picture: Highflyer Images

Morningside, Paul Egan: “I’d say Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds. He’s very fit, can go both ways and is always among the action.”

Redland Victoria Point, Phil Carse: “Mitch Stallard is a half back/key defender with a beautiful right boot. He can hit a 60m pass barely above head height which is crucial to starting our ball movement.”

Noosa, Matthew Leuenberger: “I’d go with Mitch Conn. He’s really good as an offensive transition player and instantly looks forward or lateral.”

Mitch Conn in action for the Noosa Tigers. Picture: Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

Sherwood, Brett McEvoy: “Dan Edwards is playing off the half back flank and was sitting in around 81 per cent efficiency. He uses it well and makes pretty good decisions.”

Wilston Grange, Brent Moloney: “Our best link player would be Daniel Bowles. He can always find the right target or take a bounce and go himself.”

Surfers Paradise, Matt Lappin: “Matt Doran is one of our better kicks, when he’s got the ball he’s really comfortable. He plays inside midfield, on the wing or at halfback.”

Surfers Paradise star Matt Doran in action. Picture: Highflyer Images.

Mt Gravatt, Hamish Mitchell: “There’s a few guys there but after the opening rounds I would say Arnold Conway.”

Palm Beach Currumbin, David Armitage: “Aaron Hall is just out of AFL and he’s still got pretty good skills.”

• SEQ AFL girls under-17s x-factor players - along with Roos, Vikings milestone girls
• QAFL colts top flight defenders as Hornets snare round 10 thriller

QAFLW

Aspley Hornets, Luke Glacken: “Tiarna Ernst as she’s got some great AFLW experience and is a very smart footballer. She knows when to change lanes and is someone the girls look up to.”

Bond University, Andy Lovell: “Tahlia Meyer, she’s a beautiful kick, she’s really smart and can play half forward and inside midfield. She’s also a good outside runner.”

Tiarna Ernst of the Suns handballs during the AFLW 2020 season. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright.

Tahlia Meyer of the Saints has her mark spoilt during the 2022 AFLW season. Picture: Michael Klein.

Maroochydore, Paul Magher: “Demi Norton, she’s been great for the Roos for a few seasons now.”

UQ, Ross Clayfield: “Lauren Middleton has been at the club for a long time, she often plays midfield but has been playing a bit more forward. She’s a really accurate set shot, hits targets, and is probably one of our best ball users. She’s also clean and comfortable snapping across her body.”

Wilston Grange QAFLW star Keyshia Matenga. Picture: Brooke Sleep Media

Wilston Grange, Phil Tonkin: “It would be Keyshia Matenga again. She is a true in and out player that knows where to be, how to find the ball and most importantly use it well. She’s got the ability to put her head on a swivel literally which is awesome.”

Southport Sharks, David Ashkar (football manager): “It’s hard to individualise, we’ve been good as a unit, because we’ve had so many players come to us this year it took us probably a month to five weeks to get some synergy so the girl’s knew their strengths and weaknesses … we’ve had a pretty even spread. Dekota Baron, Alannah Welsh, Steph O’Brien, Georgia Davies plays centre half back, Maighan Fogas has been a great addition, Kierra Zerafa’s been fantastic. I could name 20 players.”

Coorparoo Kings, Rory Lake: “Lucy Schneider works so hard to get to space and is always there for the short 45 option. She’s really improving on her contested footy this year, and her workrate has been the best. Alyssa Gall is another one.”

Coorparoo Kings QAFLW player Lucy Schneider in action. Picture: Clyde Scorgie/Brooke Sleep Media.

Yeronga QAFLW player Chelsea Winn. Picture: Highflyer Images

Yeronga, Stuart MacKay: “Chelsea Winn. She always gets a lot of the ball, can kick on both sides of her body and is always strong at the contest.”