WILSTON GRANGE capped off its season with a big 46-point win against Maroochydore, spearheaded by AFLW Draft prospect Zimra Hussain.

The win was still not enough for the Gorillas, who fell short of finals on percentage behind Coorparoo.

It was a tough contest to open, but it was the Gorillas who opened the scoring first, going on to score two more goals by quarter time, including a fantastic boundary line set shot from Kadie Fletcher.

Much like the first quarter, the Gorillas were all over the Roos offensively, locking it in their forward half, but didn’t have a lot to show for it, heading into the main break 32-0.

In the third quarter, the Roos were able to get things back on their terms but were unable to find the final kick at goal, held up by the Gorillas backline.

A big performance from Mia Geere helped maintain ascendency for the Gorillas, who kicked their eighth in a row before the Roos kicked a late goal to finish the game.

Leading her side with 37 disposals, we put Queensland State Academy member, Zimra Hussain‘s Round 14 showing under the Player Focus microscope, dissecting her game quarter-by-quarter.

2024 QAFLW League: Round 14
Maroochydore 1.0 (6) def. by Wilston Grange 8.4 (52)

#19 Zimra Hussain (Wilston Grange)
Stats: 37 disposals, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal
CBAs: 7/12 (match): Q1 1/3 | Q2 2/3 | Q3 1/3 | Q4 3/3

FIRST QUARTER

Hussain was injected into the centre stoppage to start the game, getting first hands on the footy, and reading the ruck tap well.

She was switched on early, getting quick handballs off with her zippy movement around the contests.

Her forward running patterns opened up the ground, and she often found herself on the end of some transitional movement.

At times, her kicks under pressure were a little lacklustre, unable to find her forward targets as well as she liked, causing loose ball scrimmages ahead.

Hussain’s only goal of the game came 13 minutes into the first quarter, capitalising on her ability to get loose inside 50, crumbing a marking contest well outside the goalsquare, snapping from close range and nailing it.

Around the contests, Hussain used her body well to create separation, which offered greater opportunities to push forward offensively and create inside 50 entries.

SECOND QUARTER

Hussain’s physicality translated straight into the second quarter, using her body weight to shift her opponent to the side and find the footy at the stoppages.

The pattern was similar for Hussain throughout most quarters, starting at the centre stoppages, before pushing up to half-forward, where she rolled up to most contests around the ground.

Inside 50, Hussain provided energy with her liveliness and acceleration at the drop of the ball.

While she was still struggling to get going with her disposal efficiency, her follow-up efforts were noticeable, and often unrewarded getting to a lot of good spots.

THIRD QUARTER

The second half was tailored towards Hussain’s run on the outside, making her presence felt as a transitional ball-mover.

She was able to manoeuvre herself well out of stoppages to split through the middle of defenders, and always looked to keep the ball in motion.

One main strength of her game was her craftiness and silkiness at ground level, making good use of her low centre of gravity to inject herself around loose ball contests.

Hussain bottled a lot of her early frustration with disposal into her pressure acts in the second half, increasing her tackle count in repeat stoppages.

She worked hard up and down the ground to act as a calming presence in transition, making neater decisions by foot to divert from kicking to contests.

FOURTH QUARTER

Hussain’s fourth quarter was her quietest, but albeit in a game that had lost a lot of it’s early intensity with the large margin.

She continued to move to the outside to link up handballs in transition, using her acceleration to impact with her metres gained.

When she was able to impact around the contests there was a distinct patience in her approach to release the footy, waiting for the right opportunities to give off to a teammate in space.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Racking up 37 disposals was a massive effort to close out her QAFLW campaign, as the midfielder/forward was zippy from contest to contest to make her presence felt.

Hussain’s running patterns made her job easier, as she was able to impact in a matter of seconds being close to each contest or chain in transition.

While disposal efficiency was lacking early in the contest, Hussain’s maturity to compose herself and make smarter decisions in the back half of the game increased her productivity naturally.

She was able to prove she can hurt you on the scoreboard at times, and her centre stoppage work makes her quite hard to stop when she gets some spring in her step.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Southport took no risk into their final game against Yeronga South Brisbane Devils, sewing up the top spot on the ladder with a 109-point win, keeping the Devils scoreless.

Madeleine Watt led the way out of the middle with 25 disposals and 11 clearances, while her midfield counterpart, Steph O’Brien, impressed with 29 disposals. Up forward, Maddy Baldwin had a day out with four goals, along with Alannah Welsh who bagged three for the day.

Aspley was too strong for Coorparoo, winners by 52 points, taking second spot on percentage, while the Kings just held onto fourth and a finals spot with a better percentage than Wilston Grange.

Louise Tyson was dominant with 30 disposals for the Hornets, and up forward it was Emma McNaughton who filled her pockets with five goals. For the Kings, Emma Zielke worked hard around the ground with eight tackles and 15 disposals.

Down at half-time by two points, Bond University turned things around in the second half to walk away 26-point winners against the University of QLD. Ella Calleja had a big day out, finishing with 24 disposals and four goals to her name, an emphatic performance leading into finals.

Jane Childes and Laura Roy led the way for the Lions in their final game of the season, both finishing with 18 disposals, seven clearances, and five tackles each.

FIRST WEEK OF FINALS:

Qualifying Final:

Southport (1) v Aspley (2) – Winner to advance to the Grand Final, Loser to play the winner of the Elimination Final for a spot in the Grand Final.

Elimination Final:

Bond University (3) v Coorparoo (4) – Winner to advance to the Preliminary Final to face the loser of the Qualifying Final for a spot in the Grand Final. The loser is out.