The midway mark of the QAFLW and QFA seasons has delivered culture, connection and some clutch moments.
Kain Ford has his QFA squad a game clear on top of the ladder while Andy Lovell’s QAFLW rebuild is progressing quicker than expected with the side dropping just two games to sit in third place.
In our half year report, Lovell shares what’s clicking, who’s flying under the radar, and why this is the most united group he’s coached.
Plus, we spotlight standout performers, rising stars and a must-watch Round 13 QFA rematch against Burleigh.
The Standouts
QFA
It has been Miles Enders and Nick Francis, they have just been off the charts. Tommy Bennett too, all three have been outstanding.
QAFLW
Kendra Blattman, Shannon Nolan and Maisy Evans have been the three across the women's program that have been absolute standouts.
The Surprise Packet
In the men's space you can’t go past Jed Kowald. He’s a young student who's come in and just given so much energy to the group, he brings defensive pressure, but can run and kick the ball really well too, so he is the whole package. He didn't come with any reputation, but he's just had a huge impact on the group. He has been outstanding.
The other is Evie Reeves, she's been in our women's reserves for two seasons, and she was in the Gold Coast Suns Academy. This year she has jumped out of the ground. She's had a really, strong season in the seniors. Another girl that has joined us from Broadbeach Division 1 is Alicia Withers who has been sensational for us as a small defender.
The People's Champ
Nick Francis is the one. He’s in his second year at the club and has had a huge impact. It has been a reset for us this year because there has been a real changing of the guard in terms of personnel. Nick has been a key driver for as in bringing all these new students together and really galvanising us as a group.
It has been interesting in the women’s program because every year until now this answer would have been the same. But Paris Lightfoot, who was the spiritual leader of the whole club, and Courtney Sexton have both moved away and have left a huge gap to fill. And I really have to applaud Grace Moodie and Charlotte Taylor who stepped into the official leadership roles that Paris and Courtney had held and have done an amazing job. We are a really young and inexperienced group and those two not only lead by example on the track and in games, but are also calming figures who are really popular amongst the playing group.
The moment to remember
It has to be the men’s game against Burleigh. Miles Enders kicked a goal after the siren to win it by a point. I can't remember the last time we beat Burleigh on their home deck and that was a season to defining moment.
What's clicking
It is the buy in and engagement across the whole club which is bringing both squads together. There's a real sense of oneness. We weren't disjointed as such, but we weren’t as close as we could have been and I reckon this year that has been the major change. It is off the back of so much change in the playing ranks and also the coaching ranks. New faces bring a fresh energy but what we have been delighted in has been the real connection we are seeing also, certainly socially but also around the games. It has been really noticeable.
The focus
QFA
There's no doubt we learned our lessons from the 2023 QFA grand final defeat. We needed to rebuild our around running power, speed and the ability to kick the ball well under pressure. And I feel like we've gone to away another level in that space.
We brought in probably a dozen players that have got great leg speed, can kick the ball and have got really high footy IQ. That has changed the whole dynamic of our team, I reckon. But that's a mix with some players like Jed Kowald, Oscar Pledge and Archie Prime those guys who are a role players, they bring contest pressure and play the role for the team. So there's a real good mix.
QAFLW
We have changed our entire defence. We have gone from a defensive anchor type set-up to a really aggressive zone defence, forward half pressure type side. It has worked really well for us. We have lost a lot of high-end talent from that squad, but we are 6-2 and that is off the back of a really disciplined group of role players. And it has been our defensive game - defensive structure and intent that has got us our wins.
A special shoutout
The one that springs immediately to mind is Jackson Jooka Eyres. He's the one. He's been at the club for a number of years, and he is not a superstar player and sometimes he doesn’t get a game, but he never misses training and never misses a game, whether he’s playing or not. He organises all the volunteers on game day, and always has the most jobs. He's one of the most popular players at the club in terms of culture builder.
Culture as a constant
For us it is about people's behaviour on an everyday basis. We are really big on being good people, caring for each other, showing respect to everyone and acknowledging each other’s efforts. This is about more than performance and outcomes and I reckon that's been the big thing. The daily environment of our footy club is really positive and inclusive because our people conduct themselves with respect and empathy. That has been a real plus for us because it's not all about game day performance which can lead to fluctuating behaviour. So, we try and focus more on the energy and the positivity that you bring.
Areas for improvement
QFA
We feel we have a good balance, so our focus is just on that drive for constant improvement in everything we do.
QAFLW
We are striving to be a bit more level emotionally. This goes hand in hand with what we talked about with our culture. We’re a young group and we can fluctuate a bit and have ups and downs and that is generally tied to individual or team performance. And what we are coaching, and what we really want the players to understand and embrace is if you play your role in the team that is enough. You don't have to be the best player, you don't have to fret about being in the team. We want our players to value and draw their self-worth out of their behaviour rather than performance. I feel like we found that balance with the men and we are still searching for it with the girls.
Don’t miss
It is definitely our home clash against Burleigh which is coming up in Rd 134 on July 15. That will be huge because it could determine who finishes one and two. Right now, we are the best two teams in it, and there’s a lot of history between us. That game will be off the back of a one point after the siren win to us, but in recent years they have been our nemesis especially in the finals so there is a real rivalry there.
Coaches Corner
Andy Lovell
I’ve been pleasantly surprised on the back of losing 25 players out of our squad last year, just how well we've come together. We have been able to produce a really even team performance every week. We are really young and inexperienced but their ability to follow instructions and their eagerness to learn and develop has been a huge positive and I’m loving it. I've never enjoyed coaching a group more, because of the challenges we face and the way we have responded. We are 6 and 2, and there is no doubt we are ahead of where we thought we would be. I think that is definitely because we have got a group that are really selfless, they are really eager to keep learning and developing and we are winning games because of our team first mentality.
Kain Ford
At the halfway mark of the season, there’s plenty to be excited about. Our defensive pressure has become a key weapon - we’re harder to play against, more disciplined behind the ball, and our new press is starting to take shape. It’s been a big shift, and the group has really embraced it.
With so many fresh faces this year, it’s been great to see new leaders emerge and help set the tone. Their influence is clear, especially in the rapid growth of our younger players, who continue to impress with their energy, skill, and willingness to compete.
We know there’s still room to grow, but the identity we’re building is strong: tough, connected, and committed to the contest. The second half of the year presents a big opportunity, and this group is hungry to make the most of it.