Around the Country: Queensland young guns star in QAFLW
QUEENSLAND’S top AFL Women’s Draft hopes were in action across the weekend back for their QAFLW sides with a number of top and bottom-agers starring in Round 10. We take a look at how each of the games went down with a focus on the Queensland prospects.
University of Queensland 3.13 (31) def. by Broadbeach 7.8 (50)
Returning to Broadbeach for the first time in 2026, Suns Academy talent Stephanie Aguinaldo put in a big shift to help the Cats upset the University of Queensland and move percentage behind the Red Lionesses. Aguinaldo racked up 22 disposals, four marks – one conested – four tackles, two clearances, two inside 50s and a goal in the win, working well with Chelsea Lee (20 disposals, four marks – two contested – and three goals.
Bottom-ager Asia Single (19 disposals, seven tackles and three inside 50s) and older sister Jasmine (17 disposals, three tackles and six inside 50s) were both busy, while Allie Cameron produced an important contested performance in the win. For the Red Lionesses, ex-AFLW prospect Luka Yoshida-Martin (25 disposals, four clearances and six inside 50s) was strong, as Eva Sartor (22 disposals, seven clearances, 11 tackles and three inside 50s got support from returning top-ager Freya Ross (20 disposals, five clearances, eight tackles and five inside 50s).
Coorparoo 16.13 (109) def. Moreton Bay 1.0 (6)
Coorparoo showed no mercy against Moreton Bay in a top-against bottom battle that went about as expected with the Kings running out 103-point victors at home. It was a field day for Chelsea Chesterfield (five goals from 20 disposals), while Christine Watson (19 disposals, three goals), Ayla Fetahagic (24 disposals, eight marks, four clearances, six tackles, five inside 50s and two goals) and Tilayna Nissen (24 disposals, 11 marks (four contested), 19 hitouts and two goals) all booted multiple majors.
Lucy Schneider (27 disposals, seven marks, three clearances and a goal) won the most touches for the Kings, while Grace Roberts-White (25 disposals, four clearances, 12 tackles and six inside 50s) was industrious again. For the Lions, Jessica Davy (25 disposals, three marks, 10 tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s) and Emmerson Brady (24 disposals, six clearances, six tackles and seven inside 50s) were among the best.
Wilston Grange 2.4 (16) def. by Southport 5.14 (44)
Though inaccuracy stopped the Sharks having a larger winning margin, Southport took care of Wilston Grange by 28 points at Hickey Park. The AFLW experience of Ella Maurer (28 disposals, six clearances) showed, alongside the star power of Steph O’Brien (25 disposals, eight tackles and three inside 50s) and Olivia Meagher (21 disposals, nine marks – four contested – 10 tackles, four inside 50s and a goal). Over-ager Sienna Burnham laid a game-high 14 tackles to go with her 21 touches, while Olivia Robinson and Kiara Hillier were important.
Top-age Suns Academy draft hope Sienna Clinch dominated the ruck battle with 25 hitouts, five tackles and three clearances from her 11 disposals. For the Gorillas, it was Hayley Finning (22 disposals, six marks – four contested – and five tackles) and Layla Collins (21 disposals, five marks and 12 tackles) who worked hard, while Lions Academy member Abbey Crowe (21 disposals, five marks – three contested – and seven tackles) fitted in seamlessly.
Morningside 15.17 (107) def. Maroochydore 1.3 (9)
Last year’s grand finalists Morningside flexed their muscles against a struggling Maroochydore side despite some stat-stuffing performances from a couple of Lions Academy stars. Defender Jade Brazier clunked eight marks – two contested – from her 28 disposals in her return back to the green and gold, while bottom-age jet Ameleia Murray made a barnstorming return after missing last week due to injury, racking up 29 disposals, five clearances and eight tackles, while using the ball at an elite 75.9 per cent disposals 19 of her touches being contested.
However they had less support than a dominant Morningside outfit as Laura Roy (24 disposals, seven marks – two contested – six clearances, seven tackles, 10 inside 50s and three goals) and Simone Arthur (20 disposals, five marks, three inside 50s and three goals) were dominant on the scoreboard. Ally Lappin (22 disposals, 11 marks and eight inside 50s) was a massive aerial threat, while top-age draft hopes Stella Scott, Zoe Petrides and Ella Gibson were all amongst the best players.
Aspley Hornets 2.4 (16) def. by Bond University 6.10 (46)
Bond University continued to keep touch with the top sides as the Bull Sharks knocked off Aspley Hornets by 30 points on the road. Shannon Nolan‘s ball-winning form continued with 30 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles and six inside 50s. Queensland co-captain Amelia Ella (25 disposals, xi tackles and four inside 50s) was productive in her return, while Evy Reeves (29 disposals, five marks, three clearances, five tackles and a goal) and Tegan Williams (23 disposals, eight marks – two contested – three tackles and three inside 50s) were both strong.
Millar Brosnan-Ball (13 disposals, 16 hitouts, three tackles and three inside 50s) was busy through the ruck in a great battle withe fellow former Queensland Under 18s representative Monique Corrigan, while Annabel Lynch booted 2.2 from 12 touches, three marks and three tackles, as did Kendra Blattman (2.2 from seven disposals, three marks and two tackles).