University of Queensland star Jane Childes back on top with standout QAFL, QAFLW performances revealed
A University of Queensland QAFLW star is back amongst the best while a whopping 14-goal haul sinks the boot into a dampened QAFL team. See the top performances and biggest news now.
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She’s been a consistent performer since entering the QAFLW competition in 2019, but after a major injury setback in 2022 University of Queensland star Jane Childes has returned bigger and better in 2024.
The 23-year-old was apart of the Red Lions 2021 premiership winning side, a squad that had the likes of AFLW players Nat Grider, Dakota Davidson, Greta Bodey, Breanna Koenen and Luka Yoshida-Martin.
Childes played on the wing that season before suffering an ACL injury during a practice match before the 2022 season.
She returned last season in round five but head coach Ross Clayfield said he was proud to see her getting the recognition she deserved after a stellar start to 2024.
“She killed it during our premiership season and despite us having a number of Lions players I thought she was unlucky to miss the team of the season,” he said.
“It was great to have her back last season but she has really shone again this season after a full pre-season and so on.”
Through the opening six rounds Childes has finished in the best players voting every week as she’s recorded 113 disposals, 33 clearances and two goals as well as leading the league in contested possessions (82) and tackles (45).
Despite her figures, Childes failed to make an impression on Queensland selectors as just one player from UQ, Gracie Roy, was picked in the 37-person squad.
“I know her stats have really shone this season and she’s standing out a bit more but she’s been an elite player for four or five years,” Clayfield said.
“The Queensland squad is a bit of a mystery for Jane and for our side as a whole.
“I’m sure no one puts any wins we have down to the quality of coaching, it’s all credit to the players so we’re wondering what we need to do to get more in the squad.”
In their round six victory over Yeronga, Childes finished with 26 touches, 16 contested possessions, nine clearances and six tackles.
After narrow defeats to Wilston Grange and Southport, the Lions sit with two wins and four losses on the ladder.
“It’s very similar to last season and the reality is we’re a side that has a seven or eight academy players so when they’re there it’s great but when they’re not our depth, with a few injuries can be exposed,” Clayfield said.
“I think we’ve been really brave in some of our games so far as we worked really hard against Southport and the Grange result was just a frustrating day.
“We’re sitting in the middle which is probably where we are at with our young group but when we get a few more players back we should come home strong.”
See the full list of standouts from round eight of the QAFL and round six of the QAFLW below.
QAFL
Connor Stackelberg (Aspley Hornets)
Seven goals is a great day out and would get you on this list most other weeks but sadly for Nicholas Dodge that’s not the case as his teammate Connor Stackelberg doubled his efforts with a major 14-goal haul. Stackelberg also had 25 touches, seven contested possessions, one contested mark and a whopping 16 uncontested marks.
Josh Wagner (Maroochydore Roos)
The Roos failed to walk away with the points in their match against Redland-Victoria Point Sharks on Saturday but you couldn’t discount the effort from former Melbourne Demons player Josh Wagner. The tall midfielder finished with 28 touches, eight contested possession, five marks, seven clearances four tackles and an intercept mark. He was well supported by captain Josh Govan and key forward Aaron Wilson.
Matt Hammelmann (Redland-Victoria Point Sharks)
Hammelmann finished the day with six majors in his side’s 48 point win over the Roos at home. He also had 18 disposals, 10 marks and two tackles. His strike partner William Johnson kicked four to go with his impressive figures of 23 touches, eight marks and five clearances while Campbell Aston also shone for the Sharks. Aston exited the field with 29 disposals, eight contested possessions, nine clearances and seven tackles.
Jonathan Freeman and Mitch Conn (Noosa Tigers)
Conn once again finds his name on the list after a cracking start to the 2024 season. Against Morningside he had 30 disposals, 10 marks, three clearances, four tackles and two goals. Up front former Lion Jono Freeman booted five majors as he finished with 16 touches, 10 contested possessions and eight marks. Wil O’Dwyer was also strong in his first game of the season.
Matthew Payne, Cody Stackelberg and Joel Leahy (Aspley Hornets)
It was simply too hard to split these three so we didn’t. The Hornets piled on the points in what was another grim defeat for Mt Gravatt with Payne and Stackelberg both cracking 30 touches while Leahy finished with 24. Payne kicked two goals while the trio combined for 42 contested possessions, 16 marks, 31 clearances and 11 tackles.
Jackson Griffiths (Mt Gravatt Vultures)
Despite the one sided scoreline Vultures midfielder Jackson Griffiths earned some new fans as he had 29 disposals, 16 contested possessions, seven marks, nine clearances, two tackles and a goal.
Tommy Horne (Morningside Panthers)
Panthers trio Kai Purslow, Matthew Waters and Harry Milford all kicked three goals in a match that had 61 scoring shots but it was Horne who shone in the middle of the park. He had 29 disposals, nine contested possessions, eight marks, four clearances, five tackles and two intercept marks. He was joined by Garrett McDonagh who also played well with 26 touches, seven contested possessions, six marks, four interceptions and a goal.
Tom Simpson (Labrador Tigers)
Simpson guided the way on Saturday against Broadbeach with 15 Tigers players finishing with 15 or more disposals. Simpson had the most with 34 on a statsheet that included 11 contested possessions, 14 marks, four clearances, four tackles and a goal. Charlie Offermans was also a key cog in the midfield while Jake Goldsmith finished with four majors.
Cameron Topping and Elijah Reardon (Surfers Paradise Demons)
The Demons suffered in front of goal as they went down by 31 points against Wilston Grange in round eight. Matt Doran had plenty of traffic at full back as he finished with 30 disposals and there were similar performances from Topping and Reardon who combined for 35 touches, 21 contested possiones, six marks, seven clearances, three tackles and two intercept marks. Demons forwards Jayme Rekers, Mitchell Patten and Josh Hall all kicked two goals.
Jacquin Mifsud (Wilston Grange Gorillas)
Mifsud had five goals against the Demons, capping off strong work from his teammates in the midfield. Mifsud finished with 16 disposals, 10 contested possessions and eight marks. A host of other Gorillas players that stood tall and proved hard to split included Daniel Lanthois, Hugh Fidler and Bailey Gordon while Kailem Baker and Daniel Weetra were also solid.
Blake Erickson, Joel Filippone and Jai Murray (Broadbeach Cats)
The Cats trio were all prominent in round eight finishing with similar stat lines. They had a combined tally of 82 disposals, 26 contested possessions, 19 marks, 9 tackles and a goal to Murray.
Tom Hickey (Palm Beach-Currumbin Lions)
The former AFL ruckman was on full display against Sherwood, controlling the speed and outcome of the match extremely well. Hickey finished with 23 touches, 19 contested possessions, three contested marks and eight clearances. Captain AJ Dawson was strong with 30 disposals while Blair Rubock up front kicked six goals.
Will Fletcher (Sherwood Magpies)
Captain courageous Will Fletcher was strong as he always is with 33 disposals, 19 contested possessions, six marks, nine clearances four tackles and two intercept marks. He was well supported by Jonathan Giles who had 30 touches, 12 contested possessions, seven tackles and two goals as well as Owen Collins who finished with 28 touches, 11 contested, five tackles and a goal.
QAFLW
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.
Lucia Liessi, Jess Stallard and Kitara Whap-Farrar (Aspley Hornets)
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.
Chelsea Winn (Yeronga South Brisbane Devils)
Despite the loss Winn was solid from start to finish for the Devils as she finished with 29 touches, 18 contested possessions, three marks, seven clearances and four tackles. Jamie Howell also played extremely well as she finished with a team high 11 tackles.
Stephanie O’Brien, Maddy Baldwin and Tayla Gregory (Southport Sharks)
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.
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