AFLW Draft: Standouts, bolters and sliders from Suns vs Lions AFLW All-Stars match
The Gold Coast Suns Academy has hung on to beat the Brisbane Lions Academy by one point in a thrilling contest at Bond University on Sunday – signalling the future of Queensland football is brighter than ever. FULL RECAP.
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THE Gold Coast Suns Academy has hung on to beat the Brisbane Lions Academy by one point in a thrilling contest at Bond University on Sunday – signalling the future of Queensland football is brighter than ever.
While their 6.9 (45) to 6.8 (44) win sees the Suns earn bragging rights over their AFLW rivals, the match acted as one final chance for Queensland talents to show their wares ahead of the AFLW draft on Tuesday.
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Both sides traded blows throughout the entire four quarters as the Suns wrestled momentum in their favour early before the Lions made a late charge and nearly overran the plucky Gold Coast.
Brisbane human highlights reel Zimmorlei Farquharson had a chance to seal the match late from a gettable set shot but tugged the kick right in one of her few errors on the day.
Both sides employed free-flowing and attacking styles of play which allowed potential draftees to star.
For the Suns, Lucy Single did her chances no harm with her token attack on the footy and classy decision making.
Fresh off taking out the 2km time trial at the Queensland AFLW combine, the Bond University star used her speed and explosiveness to burst away from stoppages, run and carry and take the game on.
Playing as the last man in defence, Coolangatta’s Beth Pinchin was like a brick wall.
As the oldest player on the ground, Pinchin’s previous draft attempts have been thwarted by injury but the 24-year-old was unsurpassable and won several one-on-one battles.
Twin towers Jasmyn Davidson and Lilly Tarlinton both impressed up forward with two goals apiece as they displayed their aerial prowess, splitting or winning contest after contest.
Both struggled to cement a spot in Bond University’s talent-packed QAFLW side throughout the year.
Coolangatta’s Keyshia Matenga had the ball on a string in the first half and was one of the Suns best early.
The touch footy convert has come along leaps and bounds this year and influenced the contest with her pace and skill.
Tegan Levi is too young to be drafted this year but showed signs of what she can produce in years to come.
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The Bond talent was one of the Suns best with her brute attack on the ball and game sense but her day ended on a sour note late in the fourth quarter when she landed awkwardly from a marking contest and was helped off the ground.
Maddison Levi performed admirably in defence, Daisy D’Arcy showed glimpses of her best and underage talent Sally Evans were among the Suns’ other strong performers.
From a Lions perspective, Chloe Gregory showed her class and was one of the best on ground as was the previously mentioned Farquharson who was simply electric.
Christine Okesene and Lucia Liessi battled manfully in defence and nearly single-handily ensure their side remained in contention.
EARLIER: Records tumble as Queensland stars shine at AFLW combine
BOND University’s Maddison Levi has starred in the Queensland edition of the NAB AFLW Draft Combine, breaking the combine 20m sprint record.
Previously held by former Carlton AFLW player Emerson Wood who ran 3.129 seconds in 2018, Levi became the first AFLW combine participant to break the three-second barrier.
While her exact time is still to be ratified by league officials, Levi’s sub-three-second result would see her exceed some male combine test results.
“It’s a very impressive result,” said Suns Academy High Performance Manager Josh Whitty.
Levi, 18, also showed off her impressive power and explosiveness in the running vertical leap test.
The Bull Shark topped 70cm jumping both off her left and right leg, her left leg result of just under 76cm believed to be another AFLW combine record.
Bond teammate Lucy Single was the standout in the 2km time trial.
Single set a blistering pace from the outset and won the trial in a time of 7:25 minutes which still needs to be ratified.
The time would see Single rank second overall in the history of the AFLW combine with only Geelong’s Nina Morrison bettering her with a time of 7:14 in 2018.
The next best finisher was Suns Academy product Daisy D’Arcy who finished just over a minute behind Single.
Sandringham Dragons’ Eliza McNamara ran a time of 6:59 last week which would see her claim the overall record under combine conditions but Victorian draft prospects were required to complete their own individual time trials due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Brisbane Lions academy product Zimmorlei Farquharson won the agility test, weaving through the course in just over eight seconds.
Whitty congratulated the players on their impressive efforts throughout the day.
“Overall, the general effort, attitude and approach of the girls to the day was very impressive during what has been a very challenging 2020,” he said.
The agility, 20m sprint and vertical leap tests were completed on Saturday morning at Emmanuel College before the group travelled to Somerset College to undergo the 2km time trial in searing heat.
A handful of players, including Coolangatta’s Ebony Peterson and Bond’s Annise Bradfield, were forced to sit out testing due to injury.
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