OK, so there’s been a quite a bit of non-cycling/womens AFL related content. And I have promised the object of our sponsorship that when its all wrapped up, I will give her a long-ish break from featuring on this site.

But there’s just a couple of items to tidy up, and some personal reflections to offer.

Two of the Queensland Sunfire team were named in the All-Australian team: the captain, Jo Butland, from Cairns, and Katie Brennan, a young star who plays for Yeronga.

The team had their own “player’s player” awards voted over the three games. Emma Zielke from the Morningside Wildcats won that award, Jade Pregelj from Logan was second, and Emma Best (“our” Emma) was third. I may have given out a tiny cheer when that particular text message came through.

Victoria did indeed win the championships, as expected, and dominated the All-Australian team, as expected.

All the teams from the national championships were presented to the crowd before the AFL game in Adelaide on Saturday (Crows vs West Coast Eagles).

Another sponsor has given her wrap-up of what it meant to be be involved in this slightly-removed and yet heavily-invested kind of way.  I can only say, without claiming anything at all for myself, that I am unaccountably proud of my friend’s achievements on the footy field, and the best way I could find to express this was to be involved in organising the sponsorship.

I admire people who commit to something with the wholeheartedness that Emma shows in her footy. I do see this (and equally admire, support and encourage it) in another person even closer to me, even though this is possibly even less cycling-related than the content of the last couple of weeks.

My inspiration comes from those around me. There’s been more content on briztreadley this past few months than for the past couple of years, and I think I should at the very least acknowledge that the output of my fellow cycling blogger spurs me on quite a bit.

Next up will be Weekend At Ernie’s.

I am hopeful for a weekend of fun cycling and fun times off the bike as well. As for emulating the Rapha look, I don’t know whether I can rustle up the required amount of stubble by the weekend, especially as I absent-mindedly (I am a slave to routine) shaved in the shower this morning. Perhaps the best we can do will be to get one of the participants to wear one of those sleeve-tattoo style arm-warmers to add some fake ink to the pix.

Lutsy gets a kick away against South Australia.

Besty & the Sunfires get off to a flying start, with a one goal win over the locals. (And check out the list of best players: Qld: J. Pregelj, S. Webb, E. Best, K. Lutkins, L. Dowling … emphasis added by me).

UPDATE: the second game was against WA, and they proved to be very tough opponents.

Here’s what the local reporters had to say:

Sunfire’s attack on the ball and constant pressure put Team WA under pressure and the WA girls did not handle the ball cleanly. After a battle of the midfields, the first term finished with one goal scored a piece.

Chelsea Randall showed why she is an All Australian player meeting the opposition soilidly in the 2nd term and taking some strong marks to provide the linkage between the backline and attack. Rikki Ryder made her presence felt through some hard running on the wing. WA were able to capitalise and were 5  5  35 to 1 2  8 at half time.

The game changed markedly after half time with Queensland being more body on body and unsettling the lighter framed WA girls. Sunfire showed far more precise passing by hand and foot and got their running game together. Jade Pregelj and Asta Naden in particular were superb for Queensland. Consequently they kicked 3 goals for the quarter to WA’s no score. It was game on!

The first 5 minutes of the last quarter was like a table tennis game between WA’s wing and half forward line. Sunfire tackling was brutal and WA were unable to capitalise on their forays forward. Finally WA booted a goal to prodiuce a result for their efforts.

Some classy evasive work from Kirby Bentley that resulted in a goal did not dent Sunfire’s spirit despite being 30 points down. Butland who had rucked superbly all game, won the tap and the maroons were away. However Bentley was everywhere and proved too elusive. Queensland turned the ball over and that was the last time they entered their attacking 50.

WA 8-10-58 defeated Qld 4-4- 28

Tomorrow is the final game vs Victoria, the undefeated champs. It’s gonna be tough! Come on you Sunfires, we’re all with you!

On Sunday evening just past, the 2011 Queensland Womens AFL team assembled to be presented with their jerseys, to thank their sponsors, and (I assume) to continue a rapid team-bonding process.

I was fortunate enough to be present as the self-elected representative of Team BQ, which as even occasional readers will know, is one of the sponsors of the young cyclist & footballer pictured below.

There was a nice touch in that each player in the team introduced the next one to receive their jersey. Emma was introduced by her friend Kate, a.k.a. Lutsy, which was fitting as the two of them had an epic battle in the Wildcats vs Yeronga match on Friday night. A couple of weeks ago Emma was telling me who else had been selected in the team, and mentioned how much she was looking forward to playing with Lutsy, as they have similar strengths (both free-running midfielders, both good at hitting a forward target with their passes).

Brisbane Lions defender Josh Drummond (who I had not realised has been injured most of this season, I’m sure he has been badly missed) congratulated the girls and gave each of them their Queensland jumper.

The girls are mostly from Brisbane and Cairns. The North Queensland contingent is really strong, and when combined with the best players from the Brisbane-based competition, I have to say the side looks impressively athletic. My only regret is that I won’t get to see them play.

Because, as the headline alludes, the championships are in Adelaide. Games start today, and the Sunfire girls first game is against the hosts South Australia. Follow the proceedings here.

Thursday night will be the rest night, and unlike Redgum in 1980 I’m sure the girls won’t be bored. But song lyrics always make the best headlines, regardless of whether they are true or not.

All of Emma’s support crew, from BQ, from Epic Cycles, and from HelmetsAreHot.net are super-proud of our friend, and stoked that she’s kicking it in Adelaide with the Sunfire girls. Go Emma!

And a bonus pic of the woman of the moment, with two of the loveliest sponsors you could meet in a day’s march, John, the owner of the best bike shop in Brisbane (apart from those other ones I also like), and Eleanor, writer of the most original occasionally helmet-related blog in the whole of the interwebs.

(Also, click through the pic to find out what it’s like trying to get Emma to smile nicely).

And even more pix of the whole team, etc.

PS. The more I look at Eleanor’s jacket in those pix, the more I think that outfit could do with a top hat, and dare I say it, a whip.