AFLW Round 7 – GWS v Brisbane Lions: What a weekend for those Lions – and Queensland!

I was certainly looking forward to sport this weekend.

 

Having managed all of the cricket in South Africa last week, it was then time for the Sheffield Shield in Wollongong: NSW against my team Queensland.

 

Then the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night, followed by another of my Queensland teams, the Women’s Brisbane Lions.

 

I was in a slight dilemma on Saturday night: of course I wanted the Bulldogs to win, allowing the Lions to remain in contention for the Grand Final, but Anna Teague, my niece, was playing for the Demons. I threw caution to the wind and barracked just for Anna – and the Dogs.

 

Then, everything going Queensland’s way up until this point, I woke Sunday morning not quite as optimistic as I had hoped. Surely Adelaide would beat Collingwood, and replace Brisbane in the top two! So, of course I would be barracking for Collingwood (Yes, it’s a cliché, I know, but barracking for Collingwood?!! Although I’m sure it won’t be difficult with the women’s team.)

 

If the Pies win, all three Queensland teams will have been victorious, and those feisty young Lions women will again be in a Grand Final!

 

They were marvellous on Friday night. That game, surely, has to be one of the best AFLW matches these past two years.

 

It had everything: tough, determined tackling; strong marking; excellent, accurate handballing; long-kicking goals from 50 metres; goals from the boundary line; goals from the goal square; free-flowing movement of the ball; and just plain, entertaining footy.

 

After two weeks in wet, humid conditions, the Lions had finally found their freedom. The stands in Blacktown were full of GWS supporters, cheering on their vastly improved team, and the odd person in maroon was found cheering even more so when the Brisbane outfit showed us all what they are capable of.

 

Their first quarter was superb; and in particular those six goals. With the Giants ahead by seven points and the ball in their forward line for the early stages of the game, Brisbane’s avalanche started eight minutes in, with a Sabrina Frederick-Traub snap over her shoulder 15 metres out; she then kicks another after taking a strong mark 40 metres from goal; Jess Wuetschner is next, 20 metres out, and then Sophie Conway gathers the ball on the 50 metre line, runs, bounces and goals almost from the boundary. Amazing stuff.

 

The fifth six-pointer is perhaps the best team play of the day: the ball is kicked from the 50 metre line, lands deep in the forward pocket, Kate McCarthy grabs it, handballs just above the ground, the ball bouncing up into the hands of Wuetschner, who in turn handballs backwards over her head to that powerhouse of a woman, Sabrina, who majestically snaps her third, from the boundary line.

 

Frederick-Traub, now in the ruck and seemingly involved in every passage of play, marks again and kicks to her captain Emma Zielke – she then kicks onto Wuetschner and from 40 metres on a steep angle, kicks the team’s sixth. All six goals in about nine minutes!

 

Game over.

 

The Lions kick another in the middle of the next quarter, and although the Giants have certainly improved their game with a two-goal third quarter, the Lions apply further pressure with another goal just before the siren.

 

I really want more goals in the last quarter. Percentage could be vital. My wishes are granted when Woman of the Match Sabrina adds to her tally, and with a few minutes left on the clock, Kate McCarthy grabs the ball, handballs to Jess Wuetschner who kicks truly for her third.

 

A forty point win. What more could Lions’ fans have asked for?

 

******

I’m almost hoarse! Barrack for Collingwood?! You bet I did!

 

What a win by those Pies. Thank you women of Collingwood!

 

We, the Brisbane Lions, are in the Grand Final, and I know I said these very words last year, when writing about my adopted Women’s team – and I could never have imagined such words – but, GO LIONS!

 

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY  1.1   1.3   3.5   3.6 (24)
BRISBANE                                      6.2   7.3   8.4  10.4 (64)

 

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Tully, Gum, Staunton
Brisbane: Frederick-Traub 4, Wuetschner 3, Conway, McCarthy, Webb
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Eva, Farrugia, Bennetts, Dal Pos, Tully, Swanson
Brisbane: Frederick-Traub, Anderson, Bates, Zielke, Wuetschner, Lutkins
Umpires: Howorth, McGinness, Crosby
Official crowd: 2253 at Blacktown International Sportspark

About Jan Courtin

A Bloods tragic since first game at Lake Oval in 1948. Moved interstate to Sydney to be closer to beloved Swans in 1998. My book "My Lifelong Love Affair with the Swans" was launched by the Swans at their headquarters at the SCG in August 2016. www.myswansloveaffair.com

Comments

  1. Yvette Wroby says

    Hi Jan, great weekend for everything Queensland. Those Lionesses were determined to have another crack and now they have it. If they bring that same determination and skill, it will be a ripper of a Grand Final.

    Are you coming?

  2. I am so impressed with your commitment and passion for the sport! But I cannot forgive you for barracking for the opposition on Saturday night – barracking for Anna Teague maybe – but that ain’t enough!!

    ‘Go women’ I say – the whole lot of you!

    Jude

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