AFL Canberra Premier Round 15 Preview

Guy Richardson of Ainslie Football Club looks to kick the football in the 2023 AFL Canberra First Grade Mens Grand Final

Written by David Redden

 

BELCONNEN MAGPIES MENTAL HEALTH DAY – SATURDAY 9th AUGUST

Magpies Junior Football Club Launches First Junior Mental Health Round to Support Youth Wellbeing

The Magpies Junior Football Club is proud to announce the first Everyman / Scotto’s Food Logistics Mental Health Round, taking place on Saturday the August 9th at Holt Playing Fields. This special community event will be dedicated to raising awareness and vital funds for Headspace Canberra, a leading local organisation that provides mental health support to young people across the region. A range of exciting fundraising activities will be featured on the day, including a dunk tank, silent auction, push-up challenge and a community bake sale—all designed to bring the community together in support of a cause close to the club’s heart.

To mark the occasion, all Magpies players will wear a specially designed Mental Health guernsey, symbolising the club’s commitment to breaking the stigma around youth mental health and showing solidarity with those who may be struggling. “We believe in looking after our young people both on and off the field. This Mental Health Round is about starting conversations, showing support, and raising funds for an organisation doing critical work in our community,” said Dave Nisbet, Club President. All proceeds raised from the day will go directly to Headspace Canberra, ensuring local young people have access to the mental health support and services they need. The Magpies Junior Football Club invites the media, community members, and local businesses to get involved and help spread the word about this powerful new initiative.

Event Details Saturday, August 9th, 2025 – 9am to 5pm

• Holt Playing Fields, Ormsby Place Holt ACT 2615
• Fundraising activities: Dunk Tank, Push-up Challenge, Silent Auction, Bake Sale
• Specially Designed guernsey to be worn on the day
• Proceeds donated to Headspace Canberra

 

WOMENS FIRST GRADE:

In AFL Canberra First Grade Womens fixtures this Saturday, the penultimate Round of the season (the postponed Round 6 fixtures will be played on Saturday 16 August) sees Tuggeranong Valley head to Gungahlin Enclosed Oval to take on the Jets. The Valley simply MUST win this game to keep in front of Eastlake in the battle for fourth place. Only 3.14% separates The Valley & the Demons, and Saturday’s game represents the perfect opportunity for Valley to gain percentage and four points ahead of Eastlake.

The Demons have the challenging task at Patches Asphalt Park; somehow defeating the second-placed Tigers at home to keep pace with The Valley. With Eastlake taking on Belconnen in the rescheduled Round 6 and TVANFC taking on Queanbeyan, Eastlake really has a do or die fixture this week. Queanbeyan just has to keep winning and hope for an upset by Belconnen over Ainslie to drop into first place.

In what is clearly the Match of the Round, Ainslie heads to Adero Law Nest in Holt to take on third-placed Belconnen. In what could be a finals curtain-raiser. The Tricolours, sitting at 11-2 with a huge percentage of 562.21, will be confident over victory against a talented Magpies outfit. The Magpies, who are looking down the barrel of an Elimination Final in Week 1 of the Finals, have the perfect, tough preparation for the Finals. The Magpies may try some different looks against Ainslie just to see if they can expose the trail-blazing Tricolours outfit. All Womens First Grade matches start at 10.45am.

 

MENS FIRST GRADE:

In AFL Canberra Mens First Grade this Saturday, in the only game that does not affect the Top Four, Tuggeranong Valley are away to the Gungahlin Jets at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval. The Valley’s only two victories in what has been a tough season have been against the lowly Jets.

With only two games left in their campaign, The Valley will be seeking a solid victory as they start their 2026 campaign early. As for the Jets, they have the perfect opportunity, at home, to cause a huge upset. The Jets are winless this season in what has been a brutal campaign and will strive for some semblance of credibility against Tuggeranong Valley.

Fourth-placed Queanbeyan host Minor Premiers Eastlake at Patches Asphalt Park. The Tigers are coming off a huge win over Gungahlin and have a wonderful finals preparation against the Demons. Eastlake simply must closely mark Tigers forward Jack Jovanovic, whose 10 goals last week sent a warning shot out to remainder of the Final Four. Both sides have stars everywhere, and interest remains into the expected return of one half of the Demons Dynamic Duo, Angus Baker, whose combination with Alex Smout (who, unlike season 2024) is heading into the Finals fully fit) is a nightmare for opposing clubs. Tigers backline general Jack Nunn, in career-best form, will have to be at his best if the Tigers are to upset the high-flying Demons, as will influential ruckman Aidan Bowyer.

The Match of the Round sees Ainslie travel to Holt to play hosts Belconnen Magpies in a game that will shape the first week of the Finals. For Belconnen, if they win, they leap 8 points in front of Ainslie, securing a Qualifying Final against Eastlake and the crucial double chance. For Ainslie, who have a superior percentage. If they win, they rocket into second place and then face Gungahlin in the rescheduled Round 6 on 16 August, basically guaranteeing them the Qualifying Final berth and double chance.

Ainslie and Belconnen have a storied rivalry, and it will be no-holds barred on Saturday. The Tricolours had prime movers Thomas Tyquin, Matt McGrory, Josh Porter, and Guy Richardson get plenty of touches last week in their tough loss to Eastlake, will be after redemption in what shapes as a season-defining fixture for the Tricolours. Belconnen, at home, will look to Luke Wharton, Will Axelby, Oliver Withers and Lachlan Malcolm to drive them to the Qualifying Final. All Mens First Grade matches start at 2.25pm.

 

COMMUNITY WEEK 1 FINALS FIXTURES

It’s Week 1 of the Community Football Finals, here is the full list of fixtures (AFL Canberra PlayHQ link is here; AFL Canberra 2025 grades for AFL Canberra | PlayHQ):

COMMUNITY WOMENS DIVISION 1

QUALIFYING FINAL

Googong vs Batemans Bay, 10.00am, Rockley Oval

ELIMINATION FINAL

Woden vs ANU, 10.00am, EPC Solar Park

COMMUNITY MENS DIVISION 2

QUALIFYING FINAL

Murrumbateman vs Molonglo, 12 noon, Kingston Oval

ELIMINATION FINAL

Woden vs Southern Cats, 12 noon, EPC Solar Park

COMMUNITY MENS DIVISION 1

QUALIFYING FINAL

Batemans Bay vs Woden, 2.00pm, Kingston Oval

ELIMINATION FINAL

ANU vs ADFA, 2.00pm EPC, Solar Park