QUAFL 2019 - Pool A Preview

QUAFL is fast approaching. The pools have been drawn and big name clashes are being anticipated. But what about the teams that might not get talked about as much? That's the aim of these articles, written by seasoned analyst and player, Stephen Butler (of Macquarie Marauders)- to analyse each team and build hype in the lead up to QUAFL. We begin this QUAFL analysis with Pool A.

Pool A is an interesting pool, purely because the battle for third place is a lot more exciting than any other spot, with first and second looking pretty set (barring any upsets). Macquarie, UQ Dumblebees and the Unforgivables will all be fighting hard for that final bracket spot, surely giving us some exciting games between the three.

Monash Muggles 

First QUAFL: 2013

Best Performance: Third Place (2016)

The Monash Muggles have had a stellar 2019, losing only a single game all season and coming out victorious at both Mudbash and the Victoria Cup finals. A lot of this can be attributed to the constant growth and development of this squad over the past few seasons, with a lot of their younger stars now growing into state and national level players.

Photo: VQA

Dan Leane and Edward Vienet are two of their key quaffle players, both offensively and defensively. They are both important members of the Victorian Leadbeaters, in addition to being key Muggles. They are helped by the incredible quality and depth in their female chasing stocks, with the trio of Madeline’s (Fitzgerald, Bell, and Coleman-Bock) and Jess Cooper, all huge threats in that team.

However, it is the incredible tenacity and energy of Sam Kilpatrick and Zach Giofkou in beating that really helps drive this Muggles team. Both beaters have huge gas tanks and don’t know the meaning of the word “slow”.

The Muggles should have no trouble with Macquarie, UQ and the Unforgivables, so their game against Valkyries QC will be important if they want to prove themselves a serious threat for the championship. After mounting a serious challenge to last year’s finalists, the USyd Unspeakables last year in two games that could easily have turned out in the Muggles’ favour, and only having gone from strength to strength this year, the odds are certainly in their favour. 

The Muggles should top group A, with the Valkyries realistically being the only team to challenge them. A top 4 finish is highly likely, and I wouldn’t be totally shocked if they reached their first grand final in 2019.

Prediction: 3rd place playoff.

Valkyries QC

First QUAFL: 2019

Best Performance: N/A

Valkyries QC, forming partially from the ashes of Western Sydney Quidditch Club, but picking up a variety of players from other clubs including Macquarie, Newcastle, UNSW, Serpents, UTS, and USyd, enjoyed a solid debut season in 2019. Obviously, the difficult thing for any new team is learning how to play with each other, which perhaps hurt them a little this season, along with a somewhat unreliable roster for part of the year. However, they were never out of their depth and had close games with all the other top NSW teams. While they finished the season in fourth, they’d shown a huge improvement on their team work and almost scored an upset overtime against eventual champions Sydney City Serpents, but an unfortunate declined snitch catch prevented this. Still, it showed that the Valkyries were capable of matching the best team in the state, and one of the favourites for QUAFL.

Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

What has helped Valkyries QC is the amount of talented players on their roster, with recent State Shield champions Rajtilak Kapoor, Isobel Rennie, Jono O’Brien and Courtney Buckley representing the Valkyries at QUAFL this year. Raj, Jono and Courtney are all key quaffle players and are regularly involved in the work scoring for Valkyries, while Isobel Rennie’s incredible beating allows those chasers the time and space they need to score.

However, it’s their depth that is really going to help them out, with the often underrated Amber Williams (who was the highest scoring female in division 1) and Phil Vankerkoerle providing support and back-up options to ease the pressure off the top line players.

Obviously, it is the tantalising clash with the Monash Muggles that Valkyries must surely be looking forward to, as it is likely to be the group decider (barring any upsets, which can happen). This will be a frenetic match up with lots of back and forth action. An excellent chaser defence for Valkyries will be essential to holding out against the Muggles dynamic and cohesive offence, and big hitters such as Miles, Raj, and Jono will be essential to slowing down the relentless Ed and Dan train. On the flipside, while the Muggles present some of the strongest tackling defence in Victoria, Valkyries at their best have the passing game to work around it.

The Valkyries have enjoyed their first year of existence and should be fairly strong contenders in this group. The Muggles look stronger on paper, and have more experience playing together, but the Valkyries still have a very capable chaser line and have a beater line that, at its best, should be able to handle the beating storm that the Muggles will undoubtedly apply.  

Prediction: 5-8th

Macquarie Marauders

First QUAFL: 2012

Best performance: Runners Up (2013)

The 2019 season was one of development for the Marauders, with the majority of the team being first or second year players. It was also their first year in NSW’s second division, as they spent 2018 playing in division one against the best teams in the state.

They very quickly set themselves as one of the top teams in the division, sitting in the top three for the entire season, eventually finishing second on the ladder and earning them their pod 3 spot. Unfortunately, they had a poor finish to the season, finishing sixth overall after finals.

Some of the players that might catch the eye this year include NSW Rookie of the Year 2019 Rebecca Robb, who very quickly and effectively embraced the position of Keeper, in an age where female Keepers are becoming more prevalent. Also likely to shine is Xanthe Petridis, who has really stepped up her game this season in preparation for the impending loss of captain and key beater Ana Barciela. Xanthe has proven more than capable on the pitch and is an important part of Macquarie’s beater depth.

Another key quaffle player is Ryan Shields, who is in his second season of quidditch and is vital for Macquarie’s attack; his pace and fearlessness make him a potent goalscorer. In the beating, it’s hard to forget Geoffrey Talbott, who is incredibly dominant when on form.

While every game should be important for Macquarie, the clash against Valkyries QC will help Macquarie prove they can definitely hang with the top teams in NSW.

Macquarie have historically had an incredible habit of stepping up their performances at QUAFL, punching well above their usual weight, and they’ll surely be hoping this year is no different. If they can deliver strong performances against the Unforgivables and UQ Dumblebees, they’ll be able to secure yet another trip to the knockout rounds of QUAFL... (against the loser of the Serpents vs Manticores pool play match, RIP…)

Prediction: 9-12th

University of Queensland (UQ) Dumblebees

First QUAFL: 2016

Best Performance: Pool Play (2016/2017/2018)

2019 must be seen as a great season for the UQ Dumblebees, finishing as runners up to the ever dominant USC Dementors in the Queensland State League. They also had a few members of their squad travel down to Melbourne Mudbash to gain further experience playing with and against different players from around the country. They’ll be hoping to improve on their previous QUAFL results and will surely be aiming to make it out of the group.

The Dumblebees have a very young but relatively experienced roster coming to QUAFL, with players such as Emma Foots, Jared Easterbrook and Ebony-Li Mahoney all recently appearing as reserves for the Queensland Thunderbirds, despite being relative newcomers to the quidditch scene.

However, they aren’t short on experienced players either. Niamh O’Mara and Kallum Strachan (a recent signing from QUT) have both played multiple State Shields and are high quality players that will help the Dumblebees challenge their inter star opponents. Add Will O’Connell, formerly of USC, to the mix and you have plenty of strong leaders in this team.

UQ’s game with Macquarie will be vital for them, as a victory over Macquarie and Unforgivables will be enough to get them out of pool play for the first time ever. They’ll be hoping to surprise Macquarie, due to being relatively unknown and hard to prepare for.

UQ have developed a strong little squad. They aren’t short on depth and have enough quality across all positions to really threaten Macquarie and the Unforgivables. Perhaps the lack of overall experience could hinder their chances, but they also have the capability to catch an underperforming team off guard. 

Prediction: 13-16th

University of Sydney (USyd) Unforgivables

First QUAFL: 2017

Best Performance: Pool Play (2017/2018)

The University of Sydney Unforgivables is the third of the three teams under the USyd umbrella, and as such, often features many new players to the sport. This provides these new players ample opportunity to play without being overshadowed by the top tier players, however it does also mean it may take a while to translate into positive results. The Unforgivables struggled to break down the teams in division 2 this season, though they did score their fair share of goals and got a few snitch catches to go with those goals.

Their biggest game was at NQL finals against fellow USyd team, the Unbreakables. They actually looked like the stronger team for much of that game, being up by 20 points well into the game, and got so close to a victory, however eventually fell to the quality of the persistent and prevailing Unbreakables. This game should give them the encouragement that they can indeed put up a good fight against the teams in their pool.

Despite their status as the third team of USyd, they still have some talented individuals on their roster. Key quaffle carriers Willem de Gouw and Samuel Feeney are strong leaders and are definitely capable of punishing a sleeping defence with their driving. Then you have the numerous female chasers they’ve trained up to support, most of whom aren’t scared of using the quaffle. Ashleigh Chilton in particular is a confident quaffle carrier and goal threat.

They also have the benefit of the leadership provided by Lilian Thai in beating. Lilian has gained some experience playing with fellow pool A team Valkyries QC and has brought that back to the Unforgivables, her commanding voice definitely being the loudest on pitch (referees, step up your game).

While I’m sure they’re looking forward to testing themselves against Macquarie yet again, it’s the game against the Dumblebees that should stand out for the Unforgivables. They’ll be hoping they can adapt to the unknown Dumblebees and outplay their Queensland opposition to score a huge QUAFL victory.

Unfortunately, I do think it’ll be a tough weekend for the Unforgivables, and small numbers will be one of their biggest adversaries, beyond the other teams they’ll have to face too. They’ll definitely put up a fight and a good showing against Macquarie and UQ, but whether they’ll have the quality to match their opponents remains to be seen. 

Prediction: 17-20th

Pool A may not initially seem as exciting as the other pools, due to the gulf in class between the top teams, but there are definitely still some interesting match ups. Macquarie vs UQ will certainly be an interesting game; can Macquarie turn their recent dip in form around and see off their relatively unknown opposition from Queensland? There is also plenty of room for the underdogs in this group, as Valkyries will be looking to prove me wrong and cause an upset over the heavy favourites of the group, while the Unforgivables will be looking to do the same at the other end of the pool against Macquarie and UQ.

However, I do think this pool will go in pod order, from 1 to 5, with the Muggles, Valkyries and Macquarie finishing top three and moving on to bracket play.

Team Previews - The Victorian Leadbeaters

Logo Background: 

The endangered Leadbeater's Possum is Victoria’s faunal emblem. The species is found only in Victoria and lives primarily in the ash forests and subalpine woodlands of Victoria's central highlands, with a small lowland population to the east of Melbourne.

The 2019 Victorian Leadbeaters roster and reserves with logo designed by Todd Fox | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography, from State Shield 2018.

Team History: 

The Victorian Leadbeaters Quidditch Team has been a part of Australia’s state competition since its inception in early 2016 when Quidditch Australia’s State of Origin series first started, eventually developing into what is now State Shield. 2016 saw the Leadbeaters put up a strong performance across three series of three games against the NSW Blue Tongues, going 2-1 and 1-2 in the first two series and winning the decider 2-1 in Sydney. The single competition in Brisbane of 2017 saw the Leadbeaters again victorious in the finals series against NSW, only dropping one game in the preliminary stages to Queensland. Many of the 2017 squad went on to play for the national Dropbears squad in the 2018 Quidditch World Cup. While prevailing against NSW B and Queensland at the 2018 State Shield in Newcastle, the tournament saw a 0-3 loss in the finals series to the NSW Blue Tongues who were consistently able to catch the snitch in all of their nail biting in-range games. This made for only the Leadbeaters’ second series loss since 2016, which the team will be keen to avenge this year on home soil. 

Victorian Leadbeaters at the 2018 State Shield | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

Interview with Team Leadership: 

We spoke to Coaches Liam McCoppin and Nicola Gertler, Captain Nathan Morton, and Vice Captain Edward Vienet about their thoughts for the team and upcoming tournament. Here’s what they had to say: 

How are you approaching State Shield this year and what are your goals for the tournament? 

In 2019 Victoria is going in hard from brooms up, landing fierce tackles, jumping on loose balls, pinging beats, and most importantly getting our hands on the golden snitch. Our goal is to catch more snitches this year and bring the Shield back to Victoria.

How have you prepared for State Shield and how confident are you at this point? 

In 2019 Victoria has structured trainings to be longer and with greater numbers to better prepare its sides for playing a two day tournament rather than singular games as per Vic Cup. We’ve worked hard to learn different defences and broaden our offensive plays to help us adapt to whatever NSW and Queensland throw our way. The team has trained almost every weekend for the past few months, and we’re feeling comfortable with our team mates. 

Why should people be excited to watch the Leadbeaters play at State Shield? 

There are a few changes in 2019. Victoria has new uniforms as well as introducing a second team. With some key players stepping back from state playing such as James Osmond and Calum Mayling, spectators are going to see changes in the way that Victoria plays. Additionally people should be excited for the utter chaos in the commentary box and confusion from the opposition, given the high possibility of 3 Maddys being on pitch at the same time.

New Jerseys for the Victorian Leadbeaters 

Analysis and Commentary: 

The 2019 Leadbeaters squad has been noted for the significant departure from the well established core of Victorian players who have featured in many Leadbeaters and Dropbears (national team) squads since 2016. Many household names and world renowned players including keeper-chasers Callum Mayling and James Osmond, chasers like Taya Rawson, Emily Merry, Cassia Menkhorst and Michael “Dundee” Braham, and beaters Dean Rodhouse and Deni Tasman have taken a step back from state level playing.

Nevertheless, this gradual changing of the guard has brought in a new generation of stellar Victorian players who have demonstrated extraordinary prowess at the club level, mixed in with some of the more experienced players. This year’s Leadbeaters features six State Shield debutants, with a further three playing their second state series. 

What is immediately apparent about this iteration of the Leadbeaters is the Muggles core. While historically club teams like the Manticores and now the Ravens have dominated the Melbourne league, the Monash Muggles have been a consistent power over the years. This year they have come well into their own with emphatic victories in the Vic Cup league finals and interstate tournament Melbourne Mudbash, losing only one game all season.

A total of nine Leadbeaters currently play for the Muggles powerhouse, with a further four players having originated from the Monash club, not to mention the three current and one former Monash player on the reserves for the team. Two of these former players include Nicola Gertler and Nathan Morton, who have both represented Victoria at every series in the history of the competition and represent the veteran side of the Leadbeaters. They return this year among other stalwarts of the team such as the dominant Muggles quaffle-carrying duo Dan Leane and Edward Vienet, and Dropbears Clementine Round and James Williams who both hail from the Ravens. The return of championship winning coach, Liam McCoppin who is also affiliated with the Ravens, will also help solidify the core of Victoria’s strength. 

New to the Leadbeaters but certainly not new to quidditch is Andrew Hull, a keeper for Willows Quidditch Club and originally of Quidditch UK where he was one of Team UK’s lead keepers. Hull, alongside State veteran Dan Leane, will form the new keeping core of the Leadbeaters. Madeleine Bell, who made her debut at State Shield last year, is now also joined by a further three Madelines on the team, including Vic Cup’s Division 1 highest female goal scorer, Madeline Fitzgerald of the Monash Muggles. Fitzgerald is being hailed as the new Caitlin Thomas, also receiving acclaim as the best new talent at Victorian Fantasy Tournament earlier this year and will certainly be a player to look out for. 

Madeline Fitzgerald playing for Monash Muggles in the 2019 Vic Cup Grand Final | Photo: James Layh

Also of the Muggles is the notable dynamic beater duo, Sam Kilpatrick, who joined the Leadbeaters in 2018, and Zach Giofkou, on debut though he played on series in 2016. This pair caused major strife for eventual finalist University of Sydney Unspeakables at last year’s National Championships, many players who are on this year’s NSW Blue Tongues state team. Indeed, Kilpatrick and Giofkou also ran circles around the mixed NSW teams at Mudbash and will likely be critical to the Leadbeaters’ success at the 2019 State Shield.

While the Leadbeaters’ trial and selection process began substantially later than their rivals in NSW this year, the cohesion that the Muggles core will bring to the team, combined with the intense training regime the team has undergone, will make them a force to be reckoned with. One of the challenges of state teams has always been the melding and synergy of different elite players from across a number of different teams and the Victorian side has gone to great lengths to combat this. Furthermore, while 2018 saw the major change in the female chaser line for the Leadbeaters with a significant influx of new names replacing Dropbear veterans, these players including Jessica Cooper and Madeline Bell, as well as Emily Kirsh in the beater line, now approach the tournament much more experienced at State-level play. 

Nevertheless, the loss of Mayling, internationally regarded as being one of the best quidditch players in the world, a major driving threat for Victoria, and the best tackler in Australia, along with Osmond, another major driving and seeking threat, leaves a major gap in the Leadbeater line up that players like Leane, Vienet, and Allan must fill in with their physicality. With two Dropbear drivers, Brandon Frison and Dameon Osborn, missing from NSW Blue Tongues as well, there is much scope across the two rivals for new players to step into those roles or for a new style of play less focused on physicality and driving. 

Dan Leane keeping for Monash Muggles | Photo: James Layh

Victoria’s snitch-on-pitch game will also of course be critical and substantial change after losing so many in-range games last year will need to be seen. A lot will be riding on debut state seeker Massimo Galli, as well as returning seeker Dylan Waller, who notably caught the National Championship winning snitch for the Melbourne Manticores last year.

With the training the team has put in and their solid core of established and new players, the Leadbeaters should be able to gain control of the quaffle and bludger game enough to keep their most competitive matches in range, but they will need a superior snitch-on-pitch plan, especially in the beater game, if they want to win the title back from NSW. 

NSW Blue Tongues certainly remain the Leadbeaters’ greatest challenge and threat in the tournament, as the two states are the oldest and most established, with the most history and experience and depth of players to draw on, and the rivalry between these two teams has been the hallmark and driving force of state representative quidditch since the beginning. Nevertheless, the younger Queensland, who were able to best the Leadbeaters once before, will be equally keen to do so again this year, and have been growing in strength year by year. The NSW B team, newly rebranded to the Bluebottles, are also now facing their third State Shield, with a number of returning players from a rapidly growing NSW playerbase. While the Leadbeaters have dominated NSW B in the past, they should not underestimate the more experienced team this year. With the debut of a Victorian B team now as well, what is more certain is that the future of the Leadbeaters is much more secure. 

Find out more about the other teams as we introduce them over the course of the next few days in the lead up to the 2019 State Shield, and get excited to see the Leadbeaters in action on home ground at the Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Oval as they fight to reclaim the Shield and win their third State title.