QUEANBEYAN Tigers will head into the 2024 AFL Canberra First Grade Women’s Finals full of confidence, having completed an undefeated season in the grade. Going 15-0 in 2024, the Tigers finished with a remarkable percentage of 741.13, with only their two nearest rivals Belconnen Magpies and Ainslie Tricolours giving them too much of a worry.

The regular season is done and dusted now, and ahead of the first weekend of finals, we take a look at how each of the four sides who have qualified for the post-season series shape up.

QUEANBEYAN TIGERS

Position: 1st:
Win-Loss: 15-0
Percentage: 741.13%

The Tigers will face off against second placed Belconnen on the weekend to decide the first of the grand finalists. Last time the two faced off at Aulich Park, the Tigers were 33-point victors in an inaccurate, 5.13 (43) to 1.4 (10) victory back in Round 13. In their two other outings, Queanbeyan won by 59 points – in Round 9 also at Aulich Park – while in Round 4, the Magpies pushed them all the way at their home deck, falling six points short.

The Tigers have a strong list headline by skipper Jayde Hamilton. The sister of AFLW-listed pair Cynthia and Alexia Hamilton, Hamilton plays in a similar vein and leads by example. She has experience around her such as Lisa Roberts who has been a star in the NTFLW for Waratah, while ex-Bushrangers forward Mindy Quade and top-age Giants Academy member Emily Vosnakes are among others on the list to remember.

Roberts has booted 16 goals in 15 games, with the Tigers not having a sole singular dominant goalkicker. Jesse Goldski (20 in 12), Cleo Cook (19 in 12) and Emma Dunn (15 in 14) all booting 15-plus goals in the season.

BELCONNEN MAGPIES

Position: 2nd
Win-Loss: 11-4
Percentage: 297.69%

Belconnen enters the finals coming off a convincing 42-point win over fourth placed Eastlake Demons, while knocking off the third placed Ainslie Tricolours the week before at Adero Law Nest. They won by 27 points that day, and held off the Tricolours by a point back in Round 11. However the Magpies’ only loss against the Tricolours – and outside of the Tigers – was in Round 5 at the Tricolours’ home deck of Alan Ray Oval when the one-point result went the way of the home team.

Belconnen boasts one of AFL Canberra’s most promising young guns in Isla Wiencke. She has kicked 23 goals in 10 games – missing matches due to Allies representation – and kicked three on the weekend in the win over the Demons. However she is also set to play in the Under 17 Futures match which is scheduled for AFL Canberra’s Preliminary Final weekend.

The Magpies bast three of the top four goalkickers for the season, with Jorja Simpson (23 goals in 15 games) equal to Wiencke, though Hannah Wallet – 31 goals in 15 games – was the runaway leader. Outside of the goalkickers, Natasha McKay has been a standout player for the Magpies in 2024.

AINSLIE TRICOLOURS

Position: 3rd
Win-Loss: 10-5
Percentage: 269.77%

The dark horse of the AFL Canberra First Grade Women’s premiership race, the Tricolours have only won one of the six matches against the top two – and by a point – but have remained competitive throughout. Two of their five losses against the top two sides were by a point on their home deck, and while they will not get to host either side during the finals series, had a competitive eight-point defeat against Queanbeyan in Round 10 at Aulich Park suggesting they could be the biggest threat to the Tigers.

Ainslie has some talented stars, headlined by damaging forward/midfielder Olivia Fogarty who is averaging two goals a game from her 10 matches. Named in the best on nine of her 10 occasions, she enters the finals series in form, with bags of four goals in two of her past three matches.

In Round 15, Charlotte Canavan kicked a couple of majors and is a promising young talent, while Katie Williams and Zoe Skyrianos are among the most consistent for the red, white and black. While Fogarty has the highest goalscoring average, Chantel Jones finished second overall in the goalkicking with 24 majors in 15 games, while Karina Demant booted a goal a game from 13 matches.

EASTLAKE DEMONS

Position: 4th
Win-Loss: 6-9
Percentage: 92.08%

The very definition of ‘best of the rest’ features here, with the Demons clearly a cut above the bottom two in TVAFNC and Gungahlin Jets, but not able to consistently match it with the top three sides. They are yet to beat any of Queanbeyan, Belconnen and Ainslie this season, and to win the flag would need to knock off all three in consecutive weeks. They come into the finals series after 42 and 35-point losses to the top two sides, with their last win back in Round 13 by a point over TVAFNC.

In Round 12, the Demons last faced Ainslie Tricolours, losing by 32 points at Alan Ray Oval, with a six-goal loss in Round 7 and 21-point defeat in Round 2 the other results. They will need to significantly turn that around if they are to win.

With the top three sides boasting 14 of the top 15 goalkickers, Michelle Tallon is the odd one out. The Eastlake goalkicker has kicked 12 majors in 14 games and will be out to make a statement on the weekend. Ryeli Fleming (eight goals in 15 games) is the next highest and has been one of the Demons’ most consistent players, while Kate Greenacre has been a rock of consistency in 2024.