AFL Canberra Weekly Wrap – Catch Up Round Review + Finals Week 1 Preview

Written by David Redden

WOMENS FIRST GRADE:

Ainslie finished off their preparations for the Finals with a 113-point thrashing of Gungahlin at Alan Ray Oval. The Tricolours secured the Minor Premiership with a 16.17.113 to 0.0.0 win.

Ainslie led by 37 points at half time but then kicked 7 goals in the third quarter and 4 in the final quarter as they crushed the Jets in an overwhelming performance.

Karina Demant kicked 5 goals for Ainslie, Charlotte Canavan kicked 4 and Madison Kilby kicked 3 for the dominant Tricolours.

Ainslie’s best players were Sienna Gray, Greta Larkey, Mia Cooper, Lily Quigley, Canavan, and Demant. Gungahlin was best served by Annie O’Brien, Samantha Rubino, Clare Warwick, Rozie Higgs, Kylie West, and Erin Needham.

Queanbeyan continued with their lead-in to the Finals with a 76-point thumping of Tuggeranong Valley at Greenway Oval. Final scores were Queanbeyan 10.22.82 to TVANFC 1.0.6.

The only blot on the Tigers performance was their inaccuracy in front of goal, kicking 10 goals from 32 effective shots on goal. Queanbeyan led by 8 goals at the main break and continued on with the job in the second half. The Tigers simply cannot afford poor goal kicking against Ainslie in Week 1 of the Finals, so expect some more accurate shots on goal to feature at Alan Ray Oval this weekend.

Young star Billie Hamilton kicked 3 goals for the Tigers.

Queanbeyan’s best players were Anita Manning, Jessica Stramandinoli, Hayley Rauter, Jayde and Billie Hamilton, and Emma Dunn. The Valley was best served by Anne-Maree Ghirardello, Hayley Macdonald, Imogen Badham, Alana Fraser, Indiana Kildey and Lucy McKelvie-Hill.

Belconnen eliminated Eastlake from the Finals Series with a solid 28-point win at Adero Law Nest. Final scores were Belconnen 7.8.50 to Eastlake 3.4.22.

After a tight first quarter, the Magpies kicked away to a 22-point lead at the main break. The Demons fought back in the third quarter and trailed by only 14 points at the final break. Belconnen then kicked 2 goals to none in the last quarter, as they finished off their home & away season strongly ahead of an Elimination Final this Sunday against The Valley.

Maddie Bailey kicked 3 goals for the Magpies, with Hannah Wallett and Isla Wiencke chipping in 2 majors each. Eastlake had three players kick 1 goal each.

Belconnen’s best players were Grace Read, Wiencke, Ella Woodward, Bailey, Summer McKay and Emma Zouch. Eastlake was best served by Charlotte Marshall, Hannah Kearney, Mikelli Garratt, Kate Greenacre, Beth Mcleod and Kath Johnson.

FINALS WEEK 1:

QUALIFYING FINAL: Ainslie vs Queanbeyan, 10.45am, Saturday 23 August, Alan Ray Oval.

Seriously, confidently pick a winner in this blockbuster Qualifying Final. Ainslie has a slight advantage in playing at home, but with both teams finishing 13-2, there is little between the two powerhouses of the AFL Canberra Womens First Grade.

Both teams have star forwards (Karina Demant and Charlotte Canavan for Ainslie, Billie Hamilton for the Tigers), great midfields and superb defensive structures. Greta Larkey and Sienna Gray will be pivotal for the Tricoulours, whilst Anita Manning and representative midfielder Jayde Hamilton will have to be at their best for the Tigers to make another Grand Final.

 

ELIMINATION FINAL: Belconnen vs TVANFC, 10.45am, Sunday 24 August, Patches Asphalt Park.

Can The Valley (who finished the season 5-10) find a way to upset Belconnen? It’s a huge task for Tuggeranong, and with the forecast being good for open football, The Valley won’t be able to play a rugged, inside game on the expanses of Patches Asphalt Park.

Belconnen will look to Zoe & Amber Allen, Grace Read and utility Adol Abuoi to get them into a Preliminary Final. The Valley will literally throw everything at the Magpies, and need to be in it at half time in order to secure a huge upset.

Anne-Maree Ghirardello and skipper Nikki Harvey will fire up the youthful Valley outfit, who must tackle ferociously and be utterly disciplined in order to discombobulate a very talented Belconnen outfit.

MENS FIRST GRADE:

Ainslie thumped Gungahlin by an almost inconceivable 198 points at Alan Ray Oval. Final scores were Ainslie 33.17.215 to Gungahlin 2.5.17, finishing off a tough season for the Jets.

Ainslie were simply ruthless, kicking 17 goals in the first half then 16 in the second half as they looked towards a monster Qualifying Final against Eastlake.

Matt McGrory has a huge day for the Tricolours, reaching double figures in kicking 10 goals. Luca Drury kicked 4 goals and Guy Richardson 3 as Ainslie simply ran riot. Isaac Baldwin kicked 2 goals for Gungahlin.

Ainslie’s best players were McGrory, Richardson, Thomas Tyquin, Maxwell Beaumont, Joe Bishop, and Joel Dunstall. Gungahlin was best served by Baldwin, Lachlan Smith, Caleb Henderson, Riley Mair, Benny Marr, and Patrick Aves.

Queanbeyan produced a solid 40-point win over TVANFC at Greenway Oval. Final scores were Queanbeyan 14.9.93 to TVANFC 8.5.53.

The first quarter was amazing; The Valley raced out to a 23-point lead at the first break, kicking 5 goals to the Tigers’ 1. Queanbeyan then regrouped, kicking 13 goals to 3 after quarter time to run away with victory.

Michael Armstrong, key forward Jack Jovanovic and Matt Wilson all kicked 3 goals for the Tigers. Joe Carroll, Joseph Dunn, and Logan Gray all kicked 2 goals for the Valley.

Queabeyan’s best players were Lachlan Mertz, Bailee Gilbert, John Brennan, Wilson, Rhys Pollock, and Jack Carroll-Tape. Tuggeranong Valley was best served by Adam Walker, Carroll, Blake Bennie, Noah Budd, Nicholas Jarosz and Gray.

Belconnen produced an enormous second-half fightback to upset minor premiers Eastlake by 2 points in an absolute thriller at Adero Law Nest. Final scores were Belconnen 6.11.47 to Eastlake 6.9.45.

The Demons led by 30 points at half time. The Magpies then kicked 5.9 to 1.1 in the second half to storm home to victory, the perfect preparation for Queanbeyan in the Elimination Final on Sunday.

Dom Bunyan kicked two goals for Belconnen. Eastlake, who rested Alex Smout and Angus Baker, had Jackson Crowe kick 3 goals.

Belconnen’s best players were Elijah Witchalls, Thomas Simpson, Riley Hansen, Sam Glyde, Ryan Turnbull and Blake Chapman. Eastlake was best served by Lucas Hurse, Crowe, Rohan Hosking, James Roberts, Hugh Strickland and Thomas Robertson.

FINALS WEEK 1:

QUALIFYING FINAL: Eastlake v Ainslie, 2.25pm, Saturday 23 August, Alan Ray Oval.

The Qualifying Final this Saturday sees a genuine blockbuster – fresh off a thriller a couple of weeks ago, the Demons and Tricolours meet again, at Alan Ray Oval.

Eastlake won’t be overly worried about their loss to the Magpies on Saturday, as they had already secured the Minor Premiership and double chance. Alex Smout has spoken about Eastlake’s work this year on dealing with the game right in front of them, rather than thinking ahead and possibly resting on their laurels.

The Demons, with Smout, veteran forward Josh Bruce, Nick Kelly, and the expected return of Angus Baker, have class on every line and the memory of a 2024 Grand Final loss to urge them on. Ainslie are a superb team in their own right, and playing at home is an added bonus for the Tricolours. In-form Matt McGrory, the mercurial Thomas Tyquin, representative stars Guy Richardson and Thomas Faul, will have to make Eastlake earn every possession and will themselves to victory. In what is expected to be a tough, low-scoring, and attritional Qualifying Final, one massive quarter from either side may make the difference.

ELIMINATION FINAL: Belconnen vs Queanbeyan, 2.25pm, Sunday 24 August, Patches Asphalt Park.

Belconnen head into Sunday’s Elimination Final against Queanbeyan on the back of perfect preparation, a tight loss to Ainslie and then a huge win over Eastlake, both games being staged at Adero Law Nest.

The Tigers had a solid win over The Valley last week and have quietly been going about their preparations for yet another Finals campaign.

This Sunday, the evenly matched Magpies and Tigers do battle at Patches Asphalt Park in a sudden-death final. This game will go down to the wire, with representative players in both squads adding to the quality of this fixture.

Belconnen will look to Luke Wharton, Will Axelby and Thomas Simpson to guide them around the paddock. Queanbeyan needs Rhys Pollock, Jack Nunn, and key forward Jack Jovanovic to shine in order to progress to the Preliminary Final.

COMMUNITY FINALS RESULTS, ALL GAMES STAGED AT HANGING ROCK SPORTSGROUNDS, CATALINA:

Womens Division 1: Batemans Bay 3.3.21 def Woden Blues 3.1.19

Mens Division 2: Molonglo Juggernauts 7.9.51 def Southern Cats 5.8.38

Mens Division 1: Woden Blues 12.9.81 def ADFA Rams 9.7.51

 

COMMUNITY GRAND FINALS, SATURDAY 23 AUGUST, EPC SOLAR PARK, PHILLIP:

Womens Division 1: Googong Hogs vs Batemans Bay Seahawks, 9.00am

Mens Division 2: Molonglo Juggernauts vs Murrumbateman Eagles, 11.15am

Mens Division 1: Woden Blues VS Batemans Bay Seahawks, 1.45pm