Morningside has begun its Bond University QAFLW local rivalry with Coorparoo with an enthralling four-point victory in wet and blustery conditions at Giffin Park.
In a tense encounter that saw the defences of both sides neutralise each other across the match, two clutch set shots to Panthers forward Lucy Bellinger gave her side bragging rights in the inaugural ‘War of Wynnum Road’.
Neither team ever truly broke free as the slippery ball and relentless defence conspired to nullify the creativity of each midfield and keep the total number of disposals down to 278, the fewest on record for a Bond University QAFLW match.*
Most impressive on the day were Morningside halfback Gracie Roy (8 contested possessions, 2 intercept marks) who regularly created space for herself to switch the play, and Coorparoo defender Mia Teubler (8 contested possessions, 2 inside-50s) who did much the same while also minimising the effectiveness of Laura Roy.
Panthers ruck Teresa Dixon registered 47 hit-outs, easily the most in a match this season and just four shy of the competition record.
Morningside dominated territory in the first quarter but only had a minor score from captain Courtney McDonnell in the fourth minute to show for it. Not until Bellinger won a free kick for high contact in the left pocket and put her 30-metre into-the-wind (and towards-the-rainbow) set shot through the goals did the Panthers have any reward for their supremacy.
The Kings were unlucky to have their best period of the match during the heaviest rain. Jenae Govan’s near miss from a ruck contest was their only score of the first half.
Shortly after the main break, Jess Riley nearly levelled the scores when her opportunistic ground kick crashed into the goalpost, but only a minute later, Chelsea Chesterfield latched onto a handball from Govan, separated herself from the defenders, and snapped over the defence to give Coorparoo the lead.
Momentum shifted midway through the third term when Greta Liell-Cock was awarded a 50-metre penalty which she promptly turned into six points to regain the lead for Morningside.
That lead grew to 11 points late in the quarter when Lucy McCormick charged onto a clearing kick at right half-forward and put the ball onto the chest of Bellinger. Her clinical set shot from 35 metres out on the right boundary would have been remarkable enough on a dry day.
Following an inspirational tackle from Riley 26 seconds after the final restart, Chesterfield produced a carbon copy of it to win a free kick 30 metres out and reduce the margin to five.
Govan missed a tough chance to take the lead when she gathered behind a marking contest and veered her difficult chip shot to the left of goal. The Panthers played the remainder of the match in their forward half to secure the win.
Morningside joins Southport as the only teams to win their first five Bond University QAFLW matches. A win over Maroochydore next week would give them the competition record. The Panthers also won the Reserves match 5.3 (33) to 1.1 (7) to begin their season with ten wins across both grades.
Coorparoo remains in fourth place and still has the best defensive record in the league (65 points conceded) ahead of its next match away to premiers Southport.
In other Round 5 matches:
• Moreton Bay won its first Bond University QAFLW match with a 20-point win over Yeronga as captain Jess Davy celebrated her 100th senior appearance for the Lions;
• Southport stretched its winning sequence to 18 defeating University of Queensland by 67 points;
• Bond University returned to the winners list with an away victory over Aspley;
• and Wilston Grange sits in fifth place following a successful trip to Maroochydore.
*Note: statistics not recorded for a short period during the second quarter as the camera was being cleared of rain.
Saturday 10 May 2025, 3pm at Giffin Park, Coorparoo
COORPAROO 0.0 (0) 0.1 (1) 1.2 (8) 2.3 (15)
MORNINGSIDE 1.1 (7) 1.1 (7) 3.1 (19) 3.1 (19)
Replay and match statistics
Coorparoo
Goals: Chelsea Chesterfield 2
Best: Ajla Fetahagić, Madi Goodwin, Grace Roberts-White, Chelsea Chesterfield, Carly Hess, Mia Teubler
Morningside
Goals: Lucy Bellinger 2, Greta Liell-Cock
Best: Gracie Roy, Laura Roy, Issy Levine, Greta Liell-Cock, Teresa Dixon, Lucy Bellinger
Saturday 10 May 2025, 1pm at Red Rooster Park, Burpengary
MORETON BAY 0.1 (1) 1.7 (13) 2.10 (22) 4.15 (39)
YERONGA SOUTH BRISBANE 1.1 (7) 1.1 (7) 3.1 (19) 3.1 (19)
Replay and match statistics
Moreton Bay
Goals: Grace Pearson-Smith 2, Mahalia Johnson, Jess Davy
Best: Tahlia Benson, Jess Davy, Taylor McCosker, Tahlia Smith, Charis Tarr, Emmerson Brady
Yeronga South Brisbane
Goals: Kiarra-Lee Rowe, Deanna Iovenitti, Kimmy Bell
Best: Eliza Haigh, Thyra Tavil, Melody McHugh, Sophia Willson, Kimmy Bell, Ebony Panoho
Saturday 10 May 2025, 3pm at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
SOUTHPORT 3.2 (20) 5.4 (34) 8.8 (56) 10.13 (73)
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 1.0 (6)
Replay and match statistics
Southport
Goals: Steph O’Brien 2, Caitlin Miller 2, Maddy Baldwin, Tyla Crabtree, Olivia Meagher, Hannah Davies, Holly Wall, Keely Whittaker
Best: Steph O’Brien, Maddy Watt, Jo Baltais, Keely Whittaker, Caitlin Miller, Tyla Crabtree
University of Queensland
Goals: Charlotte Andrews
Best: Sammy Snowden, Harriet Knijff, Farradai Hopkins, Coco Garton, Elka Barnett, Erin Gilbert
Saturday 10 May 2025, 4:45pm at Automall Aspley Oval, Carseldine
ASPLEY 1.2 (8) 2.3 (15) 3.3 (21) 4.7 (31)
BOND UNIVERSITY 3.1 (19) 5.1 (31) 7.4 (46) 7.5 (47)
Replay and match statistics
Aspley
Goals: Katie Day 2, Holly O’Flaherty, Jess Stallard
Best: Katie Day, Jesse McMillan, Holly O’Flaherty, Jess Stallard, Maddi Tallis, Jasmine Kawa
Bond University
Goals: Kendra Blattman 3, Evy Reeves 2, Brianna Moyes 2
Best: Evy Reeves, Alicia Withers, Maisy Evans, Kendra Blattman, Leah Kaslar, Skye White
Saturday 10 May 2025, 4:45pm at Neil Upton Oval, Maroochydore
MAROOCHYDORE 1.0 (6) 1.1 (7) 2.3 (15) 2.3 (15)
WILSTON GRANGE 0.1 (1) 3.2 (20) 4.4 (28) 6.7 (43)
Replay and match statistics
Maroochydore
Goals: Amy Bissett 2
Best: Abbey Tognazzini, Marlee Marshall, Danielle Fenwick, Demi Salton, Billie Missen, Poppy Tindal
Wilston Grange
Goals: Naomi Celebre 3, Siobhan Senior 2, Taneka Dhadlie
Best: Jasmine Ware, Keyshia Matenga, Naomi Celebre, Siobhan Senior, Mackenzie Findlay, Summer Hamilton
Table: Southport 20, Morningside 20, Bond University 16, Coorparoo 12, Wilston Grange 12, University of Queensland 8, Aspley 4, Maroochydore 4, Moreton Bay 4, Yeronga South Brisbane 0.
Find all your information about the Bond University QAFLW at the Competition Hub.