ASPLEY Hornets continued their unbeaten start to the QAFLW season, defeating Bond University by 27 points on Saturday afternoon at Bond University Oval.

An impactful five-goal performance from Jessica Stallard led the way for the Hornets, kicking their first four goals in a powerful display. Bond University had the ascendency early, but it was the composure of the Hornets skipper, Emma Pittman, who steadied the ship and shifted momentum.

A four-goal third quarter for the Hornets created enough separation to keep the Bullsharks at bay in the final term.

Bond University 3.2 (20) def. Aspley 7.5 (47)

FIRST QUARTER

The Bullsharks brought the energy early, first to the ball at the stoppages, but struggled to find some efficiency in offence. Louise Tyson helped shift the energy back in the Hornets favour, providing some speed and composure by hand around the contests and consistent tackle pressure.

The defensive efforts from Emma Pittman and Jasmine Kawa were notable, helping the Hornets continue to exploit the corridor off defensive 50 rebounds.

The Bullsharks were first to hit the scoreboard through some nifty forward craft from Isabella Iverach at ground level, who was able to crumb well and snap a nice finish from 20 metres out.

The Hornets got things back on their terms straight after, capitalising through the contested strength of Jessica Stallard, pushing away from the contest to take an uncontested mark, which she went back to nail the set shot.

The dangerous Kitara Whap-Farrar caused the Bullsharks issues at ground level inside 50, turning her opponents inside out to get her first shot at goal, which went wide.

SECOND QUARTER:

Stallard continued to impose herself early in the second quarter, presenting strong leads that complimented the repeat inside 50 entries the Hornets were finding.

Whilst Stallard’s first kick went just short, her follow-up efforts were superb, winning a free kick deep inside 50 from strong bodywork to cement front position and kick her second goal.

Her third goal later in the quarter came from another free kick won through her physicality in the ruck contest where she was caught high.

Aspley dominated possession through the second quarter, impacting on their swift movement around the corridor, pushing the Bullsharks out wide, and tiring them out with their running patterns.

Defensively it was Jasmyn Davidson who stood up for the chaos of entries the Bullsharks were facing, composing herself aerially to get to the right spots and either bring the ball to ground or win it herself.

Shannon Nolan was one of the strongest outside players on either side, executing her role on the outside well for the Bullsharks, able to create contests and be at the right spots in offensive transition.

For all of Aspley’s dominance in the first half, they only found themselves up by 14 points at the main break.

THIRD QUARTER

The Bullsharks were on the back foot right from the first bounce of the third quarter but turned it around quickly through the composure and offensive flare of Charlotte Taylor out of defensive 50.

Inside forward 50, Imogen Evans‘ great forward presence in transition, quick hands, and neat vision inside 50, set up Isabelle Lowe for the Bullsharks second of the game.

Stallard added to her goal tally, kicking her fourth and the Hornets fourth, breaking away from the pack to find space and run into goal with little defensive pressure to bother her.

The Hornets dominated possession similar to the first quarter after the Bullsharks kicked the first goal, but the waterlogged Bond University Oval created a lot of congestion between the arcs.

It took some magic from the excitement machine Kitara Whap-Farrar who put her name in the category of Goal of the Year contenders.

It started with a swift one-hand pick up off the ground from a skidding ball inside 50, a quick look up at goal, and a composed finish from 30 metres out, a spectacular goal that created separation the Hornets were after.

Whap-Farrar’s physicality at the drop of the ball earned her a free kick and a shot on goal which she converted to make it two for the quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

With the game won in the third quarter, the Bullsharks came out with better defensive application in the fourth, keeping the Hornets goalless.

Isabella Iverach had effective moments with her limited touches, but capitalised with her ability to lower the eyes inside 50, finding a leading forward with her kicking.

Deeper inside 50 it was Arianna Clarke who was clean by hand, able to set up the Bullsharks final goal of the game, finished by Evans who kicked a nice goal on the run from 30 metres out, rewarded for her productivity through the game.

Stallard and Whap-Farrar both had their chances in the fourth quarter but neither were able to convert.

The fatigue set in late and the Hornets were able to equalise the contest to keep the Bullsharks away and finish 27-point winners.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Southport were dominant in their 78-point win over Maroochydore, led from the front by Maighan Fogas with 34 disposals.

Madeleine Watt complimented Fogas well with her contested style, finishing with 32 disposals, 23 of which were contested, and in front of goal it was Maddy Baldwin who led the goal-scoring with three.

The Coorparoo Kings’ big first and third-quarter efforts earned them a 26-point win against the UQLD Red Lions.

Lucy Schneider led the way for the Kings with 25 disposals, and up forward it was Jenae Govan and Chelsea Chesterfield who both had a bag of three.

Jane Childes brought the pressure and physicality for the Lions with 18 disposals and nine tackles.

After a slow first-quarter start, the Wilston Grange Gorillas turned it around to come home 19-point winners against Yeronga South Brisbane Devils.

The Gorillas shift in momentum was helped by Lauren Shackleton‘s three goals and Annie Wallace‘s 22 disposals, a good balance in her contested and uncontested work.

The Devils were spurred on by Chelsea Winn who finished with 26 disposals, nine clearances, and seven tackles, whilst Elizabeth Hill also helped to provide pressure with her eight tackles and 18 disposals.