AFL Canberra Weekly Wrap – Finals Week 1 Review and Finals Week 2 Review
Written by David Redden
WOMENS FIRST GRADE:
Ainslie qualified for the First Grade Womens Grand Final with a professional 17-point win over Queanbeyan at Alan Ray Oval on Saturday. Final scores were Ainslie 7.6.48 to Queanbeyan 5.1.31.
Ainslie led by 9 points at quarter-time, kicking 3.3 in the first term. The Tigers fought back in the second quarter to head to the changerooms at the main break just three points shy of the Tricolours 4.3.27.
Ainslie’s back 5 were superb in the second half as they restricted the Tigers, who were missing the injured Jayde Hamilton, to just 1.1.7. Ainslie kicked away to lead by 11 points at the final break and shut down the Tigers in the final term to secure a Grand Final berth and a crucial week off.
Key forwards Charlotte Canavan and Karina Demant kicked 2 goals each for the Tricolours. Emma Dunn kicked 2 goals for the Tigers, with Ainslie keeping young star forward Billie Hamilton to just 1 major.
Ainslie’s best players were Greta Larkey, Mia Cooper, Jamie Clayden, Katie Williams, the vastly experienced Zoe Skyrianos, and Lily Quigley. Queanbeyan was best served by Jessica Stramandinoli, Billie Hamilton, Sophie Alves, Sophie Jensen, Ellen Squire, and Anita Manning.
Belconnen had to produce an enormous second half to defeat a determined Tuggeranong Valley by 29 points in the Elimination Final at Patches Asphalt Park on Sunday. Final scores were Belconnen 7.6.48 to Tuggeranong Valley 3.1.19.
The Magpies went into the eliminator as firm favourites, but after a second quarter when The Valley kept Belconnen scoreless, The Valley led by 10 points at half time and a major upset was most definitely on the cards.
However, Belconnen regrouped at half-time and came out flying in the third and fourth quarters, kicking 6.4 to 0.1.1 to extinguish any hopes Tuggeranong Valley had of progressing to the Preliminary Final against Queanbeyan.
Maddie Bailey and Hannah Wallett kicked 2 goals each for the Magpies. The Valley’s goalkickers and best players were not available at the time of writing.
Belconnen’s best players were Isla Wiencke, Laura Nelson, Zahli Kelly, Tiarne Reid, Ella Woodward, and Emma Zouch.
PRELIMINARY FINAL PREVIEW: Queanbeyan vs Belconnen, 10.45am, Saturday 30 August, Gungahlin Enclosed Oval.
What a Preliminary Final we have this Saturday in the First Grade Womens competition. Queanbeyan, with an extra day’s rest, head to Gungahlin Enclosed Oval to take on the Belconnen Magpies.
With an injury cloud over a couple of major contributors, the Tigers must quickly shake off their Qualifying Final loss to Ainslie, as Belconnen will come out all guns blazing on Saturday.
The Tigers will look to representative ruck Madi Lustri to give their talented midfield first use of the football in the Grand Final qualifier. Billie Hamilton will look for a 4-5 goal performance to put enormous pressure on the Magpies back 5, whilst much will be expected of the consistent Jessica Stramandinoli, Sophie Alves, and Anita Manning if the Tigers want a second crack at Ainslie.
Belconnen will look to co-captains Lilly Buchanan & Grace Read, Isla Wiencke, Emma Zouch and goalkickers Maddie Bailey and Hannah Wallett to get them to a Grand Final. The Magpies cannot afford a repeat of their quiet first half against The Valley, as the Tigers are capable of putting on 4 or 5 goals in a hurry if the Magpies are even the slightest bit hesitant.
The predicted forecast at game is just 5C, with a few showers, so the midfield battle and tackling intensity could well decide this huge fixture.
MENS FIRST GRADE:
Eastlake and Ainslie produced another insta-classic in the Qualifying Final on Saturday. After being 16 points down at the main break, Eastlake ran out 6-point winners after an exhilarating 8-goal final term. Final scores were Eastlake 10.11.71 to Ainslie 10.5.65.
Ainslie absolutely flew out of the blocks in the first quarter, leading by 19 points at quarter-time then 16 points at the main break. Eastlake produced a fighting third quarter, kicking 3.5 to 0.2 to lead by a mere 5 points at the final break.
Then, these two closely matched juggernauts went back and forth in an amazing fourth quarter, with the Tricolours twice levelling the scores before consecutive goals in the 21st and 24th minutes saw the Demons earn a Grand Final berth and a week off.
The returning Angus Baker, Rohan Hosking and James Roberts kicked 2 goals each for the Demons. Joe Bishop, Charlie Boyton and Matt McGrory kicked 2 goals each for Ainslie.
Ainslie’s best players were McGrory, Richardson, Thomas Tyquin, Maxwell Beaumont, Joe Bishop, and Joel Dunstall.
Queanbeyan produced a ruthless and clinical first half against Belconnen in Sunday’s Elimination Final at Patches Asphalt Park. The Tigers led by a huge 47 points at the main break before running out victors 15.6.96 to 5.15.45, with the Magpies inaccurate shooting costly them dearly.
After a tight first quarter, the Tigers quite simply went berserk in the second quarter, kicking 7.4 to 0.1.1 to basically secure their victory by the end of the first half.
Belconnen rallied in the third quarter, reducing the margin to 6 goals at the final break. The Tigers kept the Magpies goalless in the final term as they produced one of their best performances of the season, qualifying for an electric Preliminary Final against Ainslie this Saturday.
Michael Armstrong, Jack Jovanovic and Christian Palombi all kicked 3 goals for Queanbeyan. Belconnen had 5 players kick 1 goal each.
Queabeyan’s best players were representative wing Tyler Collins, Armstrong, Taj Malmborg, Bailee Gilbert, Jack Carroll-Tape, and Max Banic. Belconnen was best served by Thomas Simpson, Sam Glyde, Luke Wharton, Elijah Witchalls, Ryan Turnbull, and Thomas Savage.
PRELIMINARY FINAL: Ainslie vs Queanbeyan, 2.25pm, Saturday 30 August, Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
The Preliminary Final this Saturday sees Ainslie, with an extra day’s rest, take on a confident Queanbeyan at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval.
Ainslie will not linger on their heartbreaking loss to Eastlake, as they will not contemplate any complacency against an in-form Tigers 22. Matt McGrory, the mercurial Thomas Tyquin, Matt Teasdale, Joe Bishop, and the talismanic Tom Faul will have to be at their best if the Tricolours are to get another crack at Eastlake.
Queanbeyan, buoyant after a superb performance in the Elimination Final, has a huge challenge ahead of them to upset Ainslie and book a date at EPC Solar Park on the first Saturday in September. The Tigers will need Tyler Collins, Jack Nunn, Michael Armstrong, the consistent Bailee Gilbert, and full forward Jack Jovanovic to produce more brilliance in order to progress to the Grand Final.
A cold, windy day with possible showers awaits the two teams on the wide-open expanses at Gungahlin. The team that quickly adapts to the conditions will go a long way to winning what will be a tough, desperate game where goals will be at a premium.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:
This week’s Player Spotlight is Belconnen’s Isla Wiencke, who was absolutely superb for the Magpies as they overran a determined Tuggeranong Valley in the Elimination Final against Tuggeranong Valley at Patches Asphalt Park on Sunday..
Wiencke had a match-high 28 touches on Sunday, made up of 17 kicks and 11 handballs. A highlight of Wiencke’s outstanding performance was 16 contested possessions, also the highest number of hard ball gets from either side. Wiencke dominated the midfield for Belconnen, picking up 10 clearances as The Valley had no answer for the Magpies midfield general.
Another extraordinary stat line to highlight’s Wiencke’s huge day was her Playing Points Rating of 139, more than 50 points higher than the next two highest players on the field, her teammates Grace Read and Emma Zouch.
Belconnen will need Wiencke to reproduce her very best form in their Preliminary Final against cross-Territory rivals Queanbeyan at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval this Saturday.
PRELIMINARY FINALS SCHEDULE, SATURDAY 30 AUGUST, GUNGAHLIN ENCLOSED OVAL:
First Grade Womens, 10:45am, Queanbeyan Tigers vs Belconnen Magpies
First Grade Mens, 2:25pm, Ainslie Tricolours vs Queanbeyan Tigers
THE CANBERRA TIMES COMMUNITY GRAND FINALS, EPC SOLAR PARK, PHILLIP:
Womens Division 1: Googong Hogs 7.9.51 def Batemans Bay Seahawks 1.3.9
Mens Division 2: Molonglo Juggernauts 11.10.76 def Murrumbateman Eagles 9.5.59
Mens Division 1: Woden Blues 13.7.85 def Batemans Bay Seahawks 9.4.58
