TWO SIDES who had varying victories in Round 1 face-off in the Sunshine State with the victor going into the box seat for the title. Queensland played its get out of jail free card last round with a sensational final term to storm over the top of Western Australia and win with the last kick of the game. Vic Country had a far easier outing against the Allies, running away 46-point winners.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Saturday, June 28
Venue: Brighton Homes Arena, Ipswich
Time: 10:30am
Live stream: AFL.com.au or the AFL app

PREDICTED LINEUPS

Queensland:

B: Rhianna Ingram – Niamh McCarthy – Stephanie Aguinaldo
HB: Kaiya Hides – Georja Davies – Lilly-ann Ryder
C: Mikayla Nurse – Molly Ferguson – Sunny Lappin
HF: Aleah Stringer – Aiyana Pritchard – Ameleia Murray
F: Zoe Petrides – Dekota Baron – Edie Fraser
R: Monique Corrigan – Mia Geere – Annabelle Foat
INT: Millar Brosnan-Ball – Summer Browning – Sienna Burnham – Alicia Gordon – Stella Scott

Vic Country:

B: Ella Stoddart – Elsie Conroy – Ella Jeffrey
HB: Rain Dodd – Mizuki Brothwell – Matilda Argus
C: Charlotte Gilmore – Maggie Johnstone – Alice Cunnington
HF: Lily Snow – Nalu Brothwell – Nikhita Spiteri
F: Baia Pugh – Abby Hobson – Jovie Skewes-Clinton
R: Maya Crestani – Stella Huxtable – Georgia Tyrrell
INT: Nikki Clover, Grace Dillow – Meg Lappin – Greea McKeegan – Chelsea Sutton

CHANGES

Queensland:
IN: Dekota Baron, Zoe Petrides
OUT: Harlee McIlwain, Alannah Welsh

Vic Country:
IN: Rain Dodd, Charlotte Gilmore, Nikki Clover
OUT: Ruby Geurts, Sophia Green, Sophie White

ANALYSIS

Both these sides have incredibly tough midfields who will not back away from winning the contest ball if required. That is exactly what Vic Country did last round with a massive win over the Allies. The likes of Geelong Falcons duo Stella Huxtable and Georgia Tyrrell, and GWV Rebels’ Maggie Johnstone all starred on-ball, working hard against a stacked National Academy midfield.

They will face a Queensland on-ball brigade that looked even better once the injected pace of Sunny Lappin joined Molly Ferguson alongside Annabelle Foat. Likewise, bottom-ager Mia Geere provided some dash, while despite tipped to be a point of difference on-ball, star top-ager Georja Davies went into defence which proved vital early, and then swung forward for the last play to kick the winning goal.

Queensland will be thrilled to welcome back Dekota Baron up forward after a long time out, with the potential top five star replacing the injured Harlee McIlwain. However Baron’s inclusion is off-set by the fact the Maroons lose another National Academy member in Alannah Welsh, with like-for-like forward Zoe Petrides earning her spot after a strong QAFL Women’s outing last weekend.

Vic Country will bring in the ultra versatile Rain Dodd who can play across all three lines, though her evasiveness behind the ball might be what Vic Country is looking for, especially having essentially placed Bushrangers teammate Sophia Green from game one. Rewarding form at Coates Talent League Girls level, Charlotte Gilmore comes in and could well slot onto the wing left by the injured Ruby Geurts, while a change of rucks sees top-age GWV Rebel Nikki Clover replace bottom-age Stingray Sophie White.

PREDICTION

Vic Country did look the most convincing of the two sides, but Western Australia is every bit a challenger for the title, while the Allies will take a little while to gel. Queensland is a much more gelled opponent and got away with the vital win over the Sandgropers in Round 1. A victory here would really put the Maroons in a good spot heading into their final two games, and on paper they are a great chance at home to come away with the victory. Queensland by 12 points.