As many of you may know, Season 2014 is considered an “off” year for Senior Women’s Representative Football as the Women’s National Championships is held every 2 years. Most of which will remember AFL Cairns hosting the Championships in Season 2013 at Cazalys Stadium and Fretwell Park.
Traditionally, AFLQ’s State Championships are played between AFLCWL, Brisbane Nth, Brisbane Sth & Capricornia. For many years now, AFLCWL have been dominant at these State Championships, however, last year we were gallant in defeat, losing one of three matches by a few goals.
2014, Female football in QLD is rapidly growing with 4 new leagues expanding (Darling Downs 3 teams to 6, Wide Bay 3 teams, Mackay 4 teams, Townsville 4 teams) and also Pyramid Power entering into AFLCWL Competition as the 5th Club. From AFLQ’s perspective with 7 QLD based leagues and the logistics of travel, costs and availability, the current State Championship format is not going to work.
In light of the changes to our state landscape, AFLQ decided that in Season 2014, there will be no Senior Women’s State Championship, opting for a ‘Best of the Best’ All stars match which will lead into a State Match between Tasmania.
The new structure that replaces the State Championships sees the best 44 players in QLD selected from the 7 Senior Women’s Leagues to play in an All Stars Game. This match was played on the Queen’s Birthday Long weekend (Sunday 8th June 2014) as a curtain closer to the men’s QAFL vs. VIC Amateurs game and as a part of the festival of football which include NQ vs. SQ of which NQ comprised of 18 AFL Cairns players.
From this match, twenty-four women were selected from the All Stars match to represent Queensland in a historic standalone Women’s State match, against Tasmania, on June 21st in Tasmania.
With the best of Queensland’s female football talent was on show in the Women’s All-Star match, several AFLCWL Players were involved: Selina Goodman (North Cairns), Luana Healy (North Cairns) and Rebekka Baggendorf (North Cairns- also nominated by AFL Townsville) along with both Jo Butland (North Cairns) and Lauretta Dowling (Centrals TB) who were selected in coaching capacities.
With a top 44 players split into a Lions and SUNS team, it was the Lions who reigned supreme 9.7 (61) to 4.4 (28), but the result was only a small part of the story.
The Lions team comprised of: Selina Goodman, Rebekka Baggendorf with Lauretta Dowling as Forward Line Coach, whilst the SUNS line up had Luana Healy and Jo Butland as Forward Line Coach. The outstanding performances from plenty of the players gave state selectors plenty to think about. Both teams laid some incredible defensive pressure on, making it difficult to get away. However, it was the attacking spark that allowed some of the players to show their most exciting attributes, under the watchful eyes of the state selectors.
Selectors named an initial 28 Woman squad for the Queensland state team to play Tasmania on June 21 in Hobart which included Luana Healy and Rebekka Baggendorf. Jo Butland was named as an assistant coach to former No.1 Draft Pick and 268 Game veteran for Melbourne Demons, Jeff White. Lauretta Dowling also impressed and will act as team runner for the Tasmania match.
Well done to all involved and congratulations to all that were selected in the state game.
Last Modified on 06/11/2014 14:35