OPENING round of the QAFL Women’s competition takes place tomorrow as all four games kick off on a Super Saturday of action. We take a look across the matches and what to watch for across the contests.

SOUTHPORT vs. WILSTON GRANGE
Saturday, April 6 @ 2:00pm
Fankhauser Reserve

Southport’s redemption arc begins tomorrow as last year’s minor premiers look to bounce back from a disappointing finals series that saw the Sharks’ great season form of 13-1 not rewarded, going down in two back-to-back losses. They face a Gorillas side keen to make amends after missing the finals last season and will be determined to finish top four.

Watch For:

Southport’s bottom-age contingent of Gold Coast Suns Academy members, with potential Carlton and St Kilda father-daughter prospect Sunny Lappin alongside Alannah Welsh, Dekota Baron, Mikayla Nurse and Georja Davies. That along will likely mean the Sharks are too strong, but the Gorillas are confident coming into the year, and regaining the dangerous Kadie Fletcher alongside talented Keyshia Matenga will be great for them.

YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE vs. BOND UNIVERSITY
Saturday, April 6 @ 2:45pm
Leyshon Park

A top against bottom clash takes place south of the river as the Devils hope to snap their winless streak throughout all of last season. The reigning wooden spooners take on the reigning premiers in what on paper looks to be a one-sided contest, but it will be a good measuring stick for the home team to see just how much they have improved from last season.

Watch For:

Yeronga South Brisbane to bring the heat in front of home fans. The Devils have the talent, it is just getting it to click. Madison Goodwin, Courtney McDonnell, Chelsea Winn and Peppa Poultney are now proven players at the level, and they will need to be at their best against a quality outfit. Bond University is missing its two AFLW Academy members in Havana Harris and Tara Harrington, but still has the likes of draft prospects Nyalli Milne and Mia Salisbury, tall target Jasmyn Davidson and ex-Magpie Imogen Evans.

ASPLEY vs. UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
Saturday, April 6 @ 4:45pm
Aspley Oval

Upsetting Southport to reach the grand final last year would have given the Hornets – who not too long ago were seriously struggling – plenty of confidence and they go into the year hoping to go one better. They have lost talent over the off-season as players moved away, but managed to bring in Tiarna Ernst and regain the services of Lilu Hung coming off missing the majority of 2023. They face a dangerous Red Lionesses outfit who have some talent of their own.

Watch For:

The visitors to take it up to the Hornets thanks to a shrewd recruiting drive that included picking up Coco Garton and Josii Hargreaves, to join the existing talent in Laura Roy and top-age draft hopeful Ashleigh Moyle. The Hornets will have Brisbane Lions draftee Evie Long to start with, and Isabella McDonough looms as a potential draft prospect out of the Lions Academy.

COORPAROO vs. MAROOCHYDORE
Saturday, April 6 @ 4:45pm
Giffin Park

Coorparoo grabbed the fourth spot on the table in the end quite comfortably last season, finishing 10 points inside the top four. The Kings were unable to progress further against an impressive Aspley, but will be looking to build on that year this season. They meet a Maroochydore outfit that cannot be taken lightly despite a seventh placed finish last season, with plenty of highly toured players on the list.

Watch For:

Debutant Lataya De Pauw impressed at the Queensland Preseason Testing Day and will be one to watch progress this season, wile being able to have the services of Sophie Peters is great for the Roos. Abbey Rankin is a midfielder they rate highly, while Chelsea Gillard is a tall target who can play multiple positions. Coorparoo will welcome in Grace Roberts-White alongside the talented Jacinta Baldwick for Round 1, while Lucy Schneider and Chelsea Chesterfield are key for the Kings.