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Check out your full Patches Asphalt AFLW Queanbeyan Cup Preview right here!
Molonglo Juggernauts
AFL Canberra Division 2
Year women’s team was formed: 2014
Premierships or finals appearances: 2016,2020 Premiers.
AFLW Drafted players: Nil Players to watch in the carnival: Holly Bartholomew, Molly Philpot, Jessie Reynolds.
Expectations of the cup: In 2014, the club took a major step in its history and fielded its first ever Women's side in the AFL Canberra Women's competition. Since this time, we have slowly been building and have enjoyed recent success in Division 2. Entering into this carnival will show how far we have progressed as a club and how much we can continue to grow by playing at a higher level. We are very excited.
Prediction: The 2016 and 2020 Div 2 Champions will be no push overs this weekend and could easily top their pool if they can get their tough brand of footy working well. The Jugs have a good balance of youth and experience and have shown how tough they can be only losing the 2 games in 2021 in defence of their title before the season was cut short. Not to be taken for granted that's for sure!
Predicted finish - 2nd Pool A
Queanbeyan Tigers
AFL Canberra 1st Grade
Year women’s team was formed: 2010
Premierships or finals appearances: 2013,2014,2015 Premiers (Div 2), 2017, 2019 Premiers (1st Grade).
AFLW Drafted players: Ella Ross, Tarni Evans (GWS Giants), Jacki Parry (Melbourne Demons), Alexia Hamilton (GC Suns, Nth Melbourne), Hannah Dunn (GC Suns captain) Players to watch in the carnival: Jayde Hamilton (Tough inside & outside player), Kate McGrath (Huge engine Mid that works all over the ground), Anita Manning (Future of the club, former 18s premiership player and now GWS Giants Academy player)
Expectations of the cup: The tigers squad enters this carnival with a mix of experienced, up & coming juniors and brand new players which will create some excitement for the season ahead. With the team in a rebuild phase following a hugely successful 8 year period, the coaches will use this event to find the next group of talent that hopefully propels the tigers into another period of success.
Prediction: Being the host club can always present that extra pressure and expectation to do well in front of the home crowd however I am sure Coach Clifton will make sure his chargers are relaxed and raring to go! Attacking flair has been a major part of this teams success over many years and if this new group can gel quickly, there is no reason for them not to make finals day on Sunday.
Predicted finish - 1st Pool A - 3rd Overall
East Coast Eagles
AFL Sydney Premier League
Year women’s team was formed: 2017
Premierships or finals appearances: Finals every year, R/up Premier Div 2019. Minor Premiers 2021.
AFLW Drafted players: Georgia Garnett, Ally Dallaway, Georgie Fowler, Emily Goodsir (GWS Giants),Brenna Tarrant (Melbourne Demons) Players to watch in the carnival: Bry Parker (Quick rebounding defender), Chloe Arndt (Skillful Mid/def), Renee Tomkins (Key Defender)
Expectations of the cup: Enjoy some game time after an interrupted few years against some different opposition.
Prediction: One of the competitions heavy weight entries and we look forward to seeing the Eagles in action over the course of the weekend. The clubs female depth is one to envy and even with the amount of players they have at AFLW clubs and summer series squads, the Eagles will no doubt go deep in the carnival. Well coach and strong structures means they will be hard to beat.
Predicted finish - 1st Pool C - Runners Up Overall
Newcastle City
AFL Hunter
Year women’s team was formed: 2015
Premierships or finals appearances: 5 premierships out of 6 grand finals. AFLW Drafted players: Sarah Halvorsen (GWS Giants) Currently 9 playing in the swans academy summer series. Players to watch in the carnival:
Clare Deegan, Sarah Halvorsen, Caitlin Holcombe, Raegan Dunn, Meaghan MacDonald, Hannah Centra, Zara Clark
Expectations of the cup: Looking forward to a tough competitive cup which is what our women thrive for. Want to be playing in Sunday's finals
Prediction: Like many of the teams who have entered this event, Newcastle are looking to test themselves at the next level and this tournament fits that desire perfectly. The highly successful squad looks primed to challenge their pool and if they can get their explosive running game going then scoring should be very high which makes them tough to beat!
Predicted finish - Wild Card winner / 4th Overall.
Woden Blues
AFL Canberra Division 2
Year women’s team was formed: 2018
Premierships or finals appearances: Nil AFLW Drafted players: Nil Players to watch in the carnival: Kyra Van Limbeek is coming back to Pre Season after completing multiple running competitions in the off season and has encouraged a fitness challenge within the group. Shianne Fliedner is ready to back up a big debut to the Woden Blues in 2021 and take her opportunity in 2022 to support her teammates in what would have been Woden's first finals appearance (2021)
Expectations of the cup: Giving girls a run against different opposition. Welcome new players to the club for their very first crack at AFLW.
Prediction: The big improvers in the AFL Canberra Division 2 Competition in 2021 and were set perfectly to play in their first ever finals campaign until the season was cancelled. An up and coming group that has speed and skill to burn, don't take them lightly and they will cause some headaches in their pool for sure.
Predicted finish - 3rd in Pool C
Gungahlin Jets
AFL Canberra 1st Grade
Year women’s team was formed: 2008
Premierships or finals appearances: 2008 Div 2 Grand Final, 2016 1st Grade Premiers, 2017 Grand Final 1st Grade.
AFLW Drafted players: Maddie Shevlin (Collingwood / Richmond), Britt Tully (GWS Giants), Rhiannon Metcalfe (Adelaide) Players to watch in the carnival: Kaitlin Moore and Amy Fouquet
Expectations of the cup: This event allows us to work on our structures and start giving 110% and seeing the team work as one in the lead up to the competition. We are a young squad and this experience will hopefully hold us in really good stead leading into our season start.
Prediction: The Jets women's team has enjoyed some outstanding success in recent years and like most clubs have had to rebuild following a host of retirements and players moving on. Led by club stalwart Jules Clarkson, this group will look to impress their coach and knowing Jules he will expect nothing less than a good solid effort. At their best, the Jets can run with most teams and if they start the carnival well and gain some good confidence, who knows what they can acheive.
Predicted finish - 4th Pool C
Bathurst Giants
AFL Central West
Year women’s team was formed: 2018
Premierships or finals appearances: 2019/2020 Premiers, 2021 Minor Premiers. AFLW Drafted players: Nil Players to watch in the carnival:
Katie Kennedy from the Giants, Kaitlyn Waldie from the Dubbo Demons and Elly Rudd previously from the Bushrangers.
Expectations of the cup: The Bathurst team are just happy to be playing footy and take every opportunity to get what they can under their belt. There are no expectations except to enjoy the experience. Central West AFL gets very limited exposure to footy outside the realms of their league boundary. So to be able to participate in this type of event gives our region the opportunity to show case some of our talent.
Prediction: The Bathurst team is predominately made up of Giants playing members, however they have also opened up the chance for players from the Orange Tigers, Dubbo Demons and a past player from the Bathurst Bushrangers to join the squad. So the most dominate team over the past 3 years in the Central West have added class from other clubs which makes the Giants the most unpredictable team this weekend. If they can gel quickly who knows what is in store for the Giants?
Predicted finish - 4th in Pool B
Batemans Bay Sea Hawks
AFL Canberra Division 2
Year women’s team was formed: 2019
Premierships or finals appearances: Finals 2019 and well placed again in 2021 sitting 3rd with only 2 loses for the year until season cancelled. AFLW Drafted players: Nil Players to watch in the carnival: Several players are held with high regard and so many new girls just starting out, keep an eye out on Ali Ryan in the centre, Claudia Ferguson in the backs and Sophie Alves in the forwards.
Expectations of the cup: Our expectations of the cup would be to leave with the cup, but we will be happy to leave with whatever we can. As a fairly inexperienced team compared to most of the teams in the competition, we are happy to have the chance to play alongside these teams and also gain valuable experience in the sport.
Prediction: Never underestimate how much female talent there is along the South Coast. There is real excitement to see the Bay ply their craft at this level and find out a little bit more about the depth of this talent. Sitting well placed in the 2021 AFL Canberra Division 2 Competition, the Bay were ready to take the comp by storm until the closure and it will be exciting to see what they can bring this weekend.
Predicted finish - 3rd in Pool B
Belconnen Magpies
AFL Canberra 1st Grade
Year women’s team was formed: 1999
Premierships or finals appearances: 1999, 2008 (Div 2), 2020 AFLW Drafted players: Elise O’Dea (Melbourne / Carlton), Talia Radan (Adelaide / West Coast), Heather Anderson (Adelaide), Jodie Hicks, Maggie Gorham, Emily Pease, Ally Morphett, Hannah Wallett (GWS Giants) Players to watch in the carnival: Jacqueline Spence – in an interrupted 2021, ‘Whip’ had an outstanding season capped off by winning the BMFC Women’s First Grade B&F and selection in the AFL Canberra Team of the Year. Whip is playing the best football of her career that has been rewarded with selection for GWS Giants in the inaugural Sydney/GWS Summer Series. Whip is a hard-ball winner who is dangerous around stoppages as she seeks to consistently provide her team with first use of the football.
Grace Read – one of the future stars of Belconnen, Grace had an amazing 2021 starting the year representing a victorious South-East Sports Academy at the Regional Academy Games and ending the year with both club and league B&F awards. A member of the GWS Giants Academy, Grace is currently representing the Giants in the 2022 Summer Series. A very talented long distance runner, Grace is a versatile footballer who will stretch any opposition in both attack and defence.
Expectations of the cup: There has been a turnover of players within Belconnen during the off-season, but preseason has seen the arrival of new talent, the emergence of future stars from our junior club, and an excitement for the season ahead. After a cancelled 2021 season, and being denied the chance to defend the 2020 Flag, the Magpies have turned their attention away from past successes and are focused on making the most of every opportunity put before them with the Queanbeyan Cup being a great chance to set the foundations for a big 2022.
Prediction: The Belconnen women's team depth has been simply outstanding over the past 4 years and we will see that depth this weekend. Perennial finalists in the AFL Canberra 1st Grade competition, the Pies have the perfect mix of youth and experience that compliments the coaching staff's wishes. We are all eager to see how they have balanced the rebuild over the summer but one thing you can count on is that the Pies will be there about at finals time for sure.
Predicted finish - 2nd in Pool B
Ainslie Tri Colours
AFL Canberra 1st Grade
Year women’s team was formed: 1998
Premierships or finals appearances: 2001 Premiers, Grand Finalists 2008-10 AFLW Drafted players: Ashleigh Brazil (Collingwood) Players to watch in the carnival: Britt Tully - 4 time Bainrot Medallist, ex GWS AFLW player, Rachael Friend - club leading goal kicker from 2021, Mikelli Garratt - recently named Cowra's 2022 Young Citizen of the Year
Expectations of the cup: Great opportunity for players to get some game time into them prior to the season proper. With a number of players with commitments to GWS Summer Series we see this weekend as a development opportunity.
Prediction: Some will say that I have sat on the fence for most of my predictions for this years cup but that ends here! Ainslie will go in as favorites to win the inaugural AFLW Queanbeyan Cup as they have probably the most balanced team in this competition. Defensive structures and a forward line that likes to kick plenty of goals, the Tri Colours should be good enough to take the prize. In saying that though (back on the fence), a tasty game 1 vs. rivals Belconnen could throw out all of the above? Should be a belter of a game to open the tournament.
Predicted finish - 1st in Pool B - 2022 Cup Champions
Tathra Sea Eagles
AFL Sapphire Coast
Year women’s team was formed: 2016
Premierships or finals appearances: Grand Finalists 2016 to 2019, 2020 Premiers, 2021 Minor Premiers AFLW Drafted players: Tarni Evans (GWS Giants) Players to watch in the carnival:
Sam Crowley can find a scoring opportunity in most forward 50 entries.
Indi Cook is a super fit skilled young player that’s shows talent and football knowledge well beyond her age
Expectations of the cup: Like most teams, we entered for a bit of fun however to win one or two games wouldn’t be too bad either. We have spent the majority of time at the top of the SCAFL and want to test ourselves against other teams that we know are going to bring some tough competition. We’ve been training hard in preseason and are looking forward to executing what we’ve been working on.
Prediction: The Tathra Sea Eagles have been one of the most successful clubs in the AFL Sapphire Coast men's programs for many years and now their women's team are forging the same reputation. Gifted with multi talented female players, Tathra have been the benchmark since their inception in 2016. This will be a good test for the seas eagles and having seen them play first hand, their speed and talent might just cause an upset and their hope of snagging a win a reality!
Predicted finish - 4th in Pool A
Tuggeranong Valley AFC
AFL Canberra 1st Grade
Year women’s team was formed: 1999
Premierships or finals appearances: 6 Premierships (2004,2007,2009,2010,2013,2014) AFLW Drafted players: Nil Players to watch in the carnival: Lily Butler-Woollard (hard in and under ball winner), Trunisha Patel (exciting emerging speedster), Sarah Burns (talented mobile tall) and Stephanie Lahey (clean with good decision making)
Expectations of the cup: nil expectations with a very diverse group taking the opportunity to have a run against different opposition and try a few things out.
Prediction: The Valley are currently focusing significantly on its youth girls and women’s programs rebuild under the watch of Club President and Women’s Head Coach Leo Lahey. With Leo in his second year in charge, the girls have improved and while expectations are low there is no doubt they will push every team they play.
Predicted finish - 3rd in Pool A