Daniel Rich guides Noosa Tigers to victory with standout QAFL, QAFLW performances revealed
An ex-Brisbane Lions star has slotted eight goals while his former AFL teammate collected a whopping 38 disposals. Discover the top QAFL and QAFLW performances and biggest news now.
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It was the standout performance which new Noosa Tigers head coach Matt Leuenberger hopes propels his side up the ladder after what has been a ‘patchy’ start to 2024.
With just one win from their first six matches, the Tigers snagged a major 33 point home victory over Labrador in round seven.
The win included plenty of standout performers but none more so than former Brisbane Lions star Daniel Rich.
Rich, 33, hung up the boots at the end of last season following 275 games for the Lions across his 14 year career.
On Saturday the former top 10 draft pick bagged a whopping eight goals.
“He didn’t lose a contest all day, kicked plenty of statement goals and was a deadeye d*ck too with that beautiful left boot,” Leuenberger said.
“We were very pleased with his performance obviously and I know he was too as it put a lot of confidence in the guys around him.”
After booting four goals last week, Rich exited the field on Saturday with 14 disposals, eight marks, eight goals and two behinds.
Leuenberger, a former 137-game AFL star, was incredibly proud of his side’s performance.
“Given our record to start the year it gets to a point where you’ll take any win you can get but we knew the Labrador outfit is very strong,” he said.
“Their midfield would have to be one of the best in the league with Tom Simpson, Jay Foon, Charlier Offermans, Matt Lee and so on.
“There was no pressure on us heading into Saturday with the expectation that we’d probably lose that game.
“I said to the boys it can be quite a liberating place to be as a player and all I asked of them was to bring the energy and have a crack which they did.
“For us to have that fight and desire across those four quarters meant everyone had a pretty good Saturday night from my understanding.”
Rich has played five games for the Tigers this season and since shifting to half forward, has kicked 15 goals.
“The best thing he (Rich) has bought has been his leadership as he’s a real extension of our coaching box out on the field.” Leuenberger said.
“Everything that we’re trying to teach from a coaching perspective is a simple and basic model of what’s done at the AFL level which he knows like the back of his hand.
“It’s new to a fair chunk of our local side that hasn’t had that VFL or even QAFL experience but he just does things live and in the moment which always attracts plenty of eyeballs.”
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Discover which other players stood tall across round seven of the QAFL and round six of the QAFLW below.
QAFL
Keegan Downie and Kelly Castle (Morningside)
The Panthers continued to impress and keep the competition on notice after their 42 point victory over Broadbeach in round seven. Downie was able to kick five goals to go with his 18 touches, two contested marks and three clearances while the flair-filled Kelly Castle had a solid overall match. He finished with 16 disposals, 10 clearances, four tackles and a goal.
Tom Reeves, Corey Hitchcock and Kasey Nicholas (Broadbeach)
On the other end there were three Cats players that were impressive despite not picking up a winning result. Forward Tom Reeves kicked four goals to go with his 16 disposals and four tackles. Half back Kasey Nicholas was on the receiving end of non-stop Panthers attack as he finished with 32 disposals, three marks, one clearance, nine tackles and seven intercept marks. Corey Hitchcock in the midfield was impressive again with a goal, 27 disposals, six clearances and five tackles.
Ben Woodburn and Matt Doran (Surfers Paradise)
It was a one point thriller between the two Gold Coast heavyweights on Saturday as Lucas Snowball kicked what turned out to be the winning goal before Palm Beach had to settle for a behind with three minutes remaining. No surprises to see Ben Woodburn among the best players list once again after he finished with 24 disposals, 11 clearances, eight tackles, two intercept marks and two goals. He was well supported by Matt Doran who controlled the tempo well with his 29 touches, three clearances, two tackles and three intercept marks.
Blair Rubock (Palm Beach)
Despite falling agonisingly short, it was a true team performance from the Lions. Credit goes to Blair Rubock who was 100 per cent from the spot kicking three goals.
Mitch Scholard (Maroochydore)
A 69 point defeat in round seven was the Vultures smallest margin of the season as the Roos set the tone early with a 48-0 scoreline at the end of the first quarter. Exciting forward Mitch Scholard put on a performance with six goals and three behinds to go with his 20 disposals and three contested marks. The same couldn’t be said for new recruit Aaron Wilson who could’ve made the margin a lot bigger but finished with just two goals and nine behinds.
Tom Hurst (Mt Gravatt)
Hurst was doing all he could on Saturday, giving his opposition multiple scares as he tried his best to keep his side in the match. The roaming midfielder had 25 disposals, seven clearances and eight tackles.
Rhys Mathieson, Hugh Fidler and Kailem Baker (Wilston Grange)
A powerful Gorilla’s side were too much to handle for the Magpies on Saturday with a number of players putting forward their best performance of the season. Former Brisbane Lion Rhys Mathieson obviously led the way again with 38 disposals, two contested marks, three clearances, two tackles and a goal but he was well accompanied by Hugh Fidler and Kailem Baker. Fidler had 27 touches, three contested grabs, four clearances, four tackles and a goal while Baker finished with 26 disposals, 15 uncontested marks and three intercept marks. Forward Daniel Farry also chipped in grabbing three goals for the match.
Adrian Williams (Redland Victoria Point)
Williams was a key cog in the Sharks ball movement in round seven, playing a well rounded defensive game from full back. He led his team in intercept marks (9) and contested marks (5) while also finishing with the tied highest disposals of 22.
Will Fletcher (Sherwood)
Leading from the front as he always does for his side, Magpies skipper Will Fletcher overcome a gritty Gorilla’s midfield to hold his own and serve as a shining light. Fletcher finished with a game tying high 38 disposals, 12 clearances, three intercept marks and three tackles.
Matthew Payne (Aspley)
The Hornets continued their undefeated start to the year with a 20 point victory away from home on Saturday. Connor Stackelberg and Brandon Batchelor were among the leading performers but best on ground for us was Matt Payne who finished with 23 disposals, five marks, seven clearances and six tackles.
Jono Freeman, Mitch Conn, Curtis McCarthy and Mav Pettigrove (Noosa)
It was arguably the game of the round on Saturday at Rococo Oval as both teams came out firing with a nine goal first quarter. Rich’s eight goals stood tall on the stats sheet but he was lifted by the efforts of a number of his teammates. Forward and former Lion Jono Freeman had four goals of his own to go with his 18 disposals, six marks, two clearances and three tackles but it was the midfield trio of Mitchell Conn, Curtis McCarthy and Maverick Pettigrove that proved the difference. Conn had 34 touches, five marks, 10 clearances, six tackles and a goal, McCarthy had 24 touches, 10 marks, seven clearances, two tackles, an intercept mark and a goal and Pettigrove had 25 disposals, five grabs, five clearances, four tackles and an intercept mark.
Jay Foon and Tom Simpson (Labrador)
Despite the loss Foon and Simpson were prominent all match, as they have been all season, racking up a combined 77 disposals, 20 uncontested marks, 22 clearances and seven tackles.
QAFLW
Jess Stallard, Kitara Whap-Farrar and Lucia Liessi (Aspley)
The Hornets were out in force on Saturday against the Gorilla’s as they came away with a big 65 point victory following a strong four quarter performance. Superstar forward Jessica Stallard continued her positive season kicking four goals while Courtney Daniec slotted two of her own. In the midfield it was Kitara Whap-Farrar who had 16 disposals, two clearances and three goals while Lucia Liessi finished with 23 touches, five marks, five clearances and two tackles. Alanna Perry was also strong from the back of the field.
Jessee Sills (Maroochydore)
It was an extremely tough day for the Roos who went down by 73 points to Bond University at home. With strong performances from Demi Norton and Sara-Jane O’Grady, Jessee Sills was the Roos standout as she finished with 19 disposals, three marks, three clearances and six tackles.
Shannon Nolan, Courtney Sexton, Ella Calleja and Tahlia Meyer (Bond University)
The Bullsharks enjoyed a feast of goals on Saturday but it was the visiting team’s midfield that proved the difference with a host of players racking up multiple touches. Shannon Nolan led the way with 35 which added to her four clearances, seven tackles and one goal. Regulars Courtney Sexton had 33 disposals, six clearances and six tackles while Ella Calleja finished with 30 disposals, seven marks, eight clearances and two tackles. Tahlia Meyer was also strong with 26 touches, four marks, three clearances and eight tackles.
Maddy Baldwin, Tayla Gregory and Stephanie O’Brien (Southport)
Southport cruised to a 59 point win over Coorparoo thanks to some accurate kicking from their damaging forward line. Maddy Baldwin finished with four goals while Tayla Gregory had three, but it was the duo’s overall game that helped them stand out. Baldwin and Gregory combined for 35 disposals, 10 marks, three clearances and six tackles. In the midfield, Steph O’Brien was too hard to handle as her performance led the way for Madeline Watt, Kierra Zerafa and Maighan Fogs who were also impressive. O’Brien finished with 27 touches, seven marks, six clearances, three tackles and two goals.
Elka Barnett and Jane Childes (UQ Red Lions)
The Red Lions doubled their win tally on Saturday thanks to a cruisy 49 point victory over bottom of the table, Yeronga South. Jane Childes was back to her best with 26 disposals, nine clearances and six tackles while Elka Barnett was the standout upfront. She finished with 18 touches, four tackles and three goals. Laura Middleton and Paige Livingston also bagged two goals while Harriet Knijff was strong in the midfield.
Chelsea Winn (Yeronga)
Despite the defeat, Chelsea Winn was positive all game for her side as she racked up 29 disposals, seven clearances, four tackles and three marks. Winn was well supported by Jamie Howell and Charlotte Millen who were also strong.
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