Just when things seem to be going well without any disruptions…I blame myself as I recently said how smoothly things were going in girls sport! Sorry!! As you would be aware, this week we had cancellations of the QGSSSA Swimming Championships and Round 7 and 8 of AFL. With the Swimming Champs rescheduled for Wednesday March 12, we look forward to sharing details of what the final round of AFL will look like as soon as we receive this information.

Over recent weeks we have had the great pleasure of presenting our Open girls captains and Open teams at our Senior assemblies. Our girls AFL, Cricket and Swimming teams have all been presented and we look forward to presenting our Open Basketball, Football and Touch Football teams next week as they prepare for their seasons.

As we enter a traditionally busy period of QGSSSA sports at the end of Term 1, we encourage all students to remain organised and stay informed with the latest updates by:

• Speaking with your coaches and Masters in Charge (MIC) of your sport during training or competitions
• Regularly checking your sport-specific Team App for any announcements
• Visiting the Extra-Curricular (EC) Office in D Block if you have any questions or need assistance. Our dedicated EC staff are always available to provide support, so feel free to reach out if needed

We have 7 sports either continuing their seasons or commencing fixtures next week so please take care of yourself physically and communicate with staff regularly if you need support. With the busy schedule ahead, prioritising self-care is important. Students can do this by checking the ‘BSHS Strength & Conditioning’ Team App to find information about training, recovery and taking care of yourself away from the court, field or pool.

We would like to express our gratitude to the following staff for their work as Masters in Charge:

Master in Charge	QGSSSA Sport
Mrs Natasha Adams	Swimming
Mr Cameron Conlon	Basketball
Mrs Monica Tracy	AFL
Mr Damon Giles	Cross Country
Mr Stuart Sport	Touch Football
Mr Glen Kranen	Cricket
Mr Jesse Rigsby-Jones	Football

AFL

AFL has kicked off to an amazing start for the senior side of the program with participation higher than ever. Coming from having two senior teams to four has really contributed to the spirit and livelihood of the program and girls sport in general.

It is wonderful to see the uprise of participation, particularly from girls who have never played AFL in the Senior B and Bii teams. It has also been greatly rewarding as a longer-time state high AFL player, to see their progression and enjoyment within their teams.

Across the senior cohort, the rapid improvement in skills and game awareness is very impressive, especially with the limited amount of experience and training that some teams have had. Results are improving across senior teams each week and we are becoming even stronger as a program towards the pointy end of the season which is super exciting for our girls.

Over the course of the season the Opens have had a strong start in working towards securing premiership contention in the final round, only two weeks remaining until they come up against St Peters. The sense of State High pride has been electrifying on the field, showcasing the sheer skill and team dynamic between the girls. The debutants from Year 10 have meshed into Opens level incredibly well, bringing their energy and high-level footy experience, putting an impressive number of goals into the mix. With only three schools left to verse the Opens are hungry for redemption.

The girls who participate at any level within it, know that the community within BSHS AFL is unlike any other sport and the spirit between and within teams is outstanding. The senior season has set a high precedence for the junior season (in Term 4) including the introduction of merit entries for AFL, which is set to contribute to the exposure of women in sport.

Maddie Howard (AFL Program Captain) and Clare Walker (Open Team Captain)

– Ms Monica Tracy | MIC AFL

QGSSSA Football

Last Wednesday, 26 February, our Open Football team kicked off their season with a stellar performance against St. Peter’s Lutheran College (SPLC) in a pre-season trial match. The game served as an important part of the final selection process for our Opens team, with players from Years 8 to 12 taking to the field. This blend of younger and older students is a testament to the depth and strength of our Football program, showcasing a wealth of talent across the different age groups.

The team put on a dominating display, securing a convincing 6–0 victory. From the opening whistle, our players showed great cohesion, linking up well in attack and maintaining a solid defensive structure throughout. The forwards were relentless, putting constant pressure on the SPLC defence, while our midfield controlled the tempo of the game. In the backline, the defenders were resolute, preventing any significant SPLC advances and keeping our goalkeeper relatively untested.

It wasn’t just about the scoreline though; the game was a valuable opportunity for coaches to assess player performance under match conditions. With players from multiple year levels competing for a spot in the final squad, every moment on the field was crucial. The energy and determination shown by all participants made the coaches' job even harder, as everyone brought their A-game to impress.

In the morning following the match, the team regrouped for a recovery session led by Mr Fletcher Caplen (Class of 2014), a former National Premier Leagues – Women’s (NPLW) S&C coach Mr Caplen led the players through a structured recovery session, which was followed by a breakfast. Breakfast, donated by Alumni, provided a chance for players to reflect on the game and bond as a team. Mr Caplen’s involvement is part of our continued efforts to support the holistic development of our student-athletes, both on and off the field.

With all pre-season trials now concluded, we are still looking to add a few more players to our Junior & Intermediate teams (Years 7 to 10). If you’re interested in joining, please reach out to the coaching staff or the Master in Charge (Mr Jesse Rigsby-Jones). Whether you’re new to Football or have experience, there’s always room for more talent in our program!

Courtney Boyce & Mia O’Kane (2025 Football Captains)

– Mr Jesse Rigsby-Jones | MIC QGSSSA Football

– Mr Tom Herborn | MIC Girls Rowing

Cricket

This season BSHS is celebrating 30 years of girls’ cricket. This program aims to develop quality players and sportswomen and they have not missed the mark.

This year, the integration of young year 7s and inexperienced players through teams from division 2 to Open Seconds, has strengthened the community within the program. It has been wonderful to see the older girls step up into leadership roles to guide these girls through the start of their BSHS cricket journeys.

The pride in this 30 year milestone for girls Cricket has been shown in many ways. Last week, the Open First team were presented with their baggy caps that they will wear proudly during their fixtures and hold valuable for their years after State High Cricket.

As well as this, Open Firsts Co-Captain Rebecca Storrs organised the printing of personal ribbons for the entire program (shown in images). It has been wonderful to see these ribbons around the school with girls from all age groups showcasing their spirit toward the program.

The progression of skills and understanding as well as the improvement of results across teams has been amazing to see. The Open First team is undefeated with run totals skyrocketing each week and the open seconds have been continuously working to follow in their footsteps. The Division 1 team is at the top of their ladder and both Division 2 teams closely trail BGGS in a top 3 position.

The success of the program is only on the rise and we cannot wait to see the girls fight for the top positions on their respective leader boards in the coming weeks.