Southport have finished the regular season in first place and hosting rights in the second week of the finals by easily overcoming rivals Morningside at Jack Esplen Oval 10.7.(67) to 2.2.(14).
The much-anticipated clash between the top two teams was virtually over from the start as the Sharks kicked 3.4 while holding the Panthers goalless.
The hosts made a run in the second term kicking their first two goals through Harlee McIlwain as the visitors were held to only a point to trail by 10 points at half-time.
Not for the first time this season Southport put the pedal down after the break to completely dominate the contest and snuff out any chance Morningside of stealing top spot by kicking 7.2 to only one behind to settle the final margin at 53 points.
The Sharks shared the goals around with Dekota Baron, Maighan Fogas, Olivia Meagher and Caitlin Miller booting two goals apiece.
Madeleine Watt was dominant with 21 disposals, 16 contested plus 11 tackles, Steph O’Brien (18 disposals &10 contested) Kierra Zerafa, Melita Watts to name a few and Georja Davies now in the ruck as they easily adjusted to life without Tayla Gregory.
For Morningside, Isabella Levine and Laura Roy both had 20 possessions (over a dozen contested) plus numerous tackles together with Gracie Roy, Lucy McCormick and Kylie Lawrence listed among their best. It is still worth recognising the effort by the Panthers in their current guise to finish second in their debut year in BOND QAFLW. They will now have time off to regroup and plan for a trip to Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday week.
There is no doubt Southport are beautifully placed to defend their title with only the one loss and the winner of the semi-final in two weeks goes straight through to the grand final.
Bond University swapped places with Coorparoo to clinch third when they easily accounted for the Kings by 47 points 10.7.(67) to 3.2.(20).
Like Southport, the Bull Sharks put paid to any challenge kicking four goals straight in the first term with the visitors scoreless. Coorparoo through Lucy Schneider and Grace Roberts-White outscored the home team in the second but had no answer after half-time. Bond kicking another five majors following the main break while King’s spearhead Chelsea Chesterfield added their only goal in the final quarter.
Leading competition goal kicker for the Bull Sharks Kendra Blattman was the star with five goals from six marks and 13 possessions while Brianna Moyes kicked two majors. Shannon Nolan gathered 34 disposals (20 contested) with Annabelle Foat (23), Jasmyn Davidson and Ella Calleja 17 each while Maisy Evans was effective in the ruck and around the ground. One amazing stat was the handball use by the Bull Sharks ending with +87 differential!
The first week of the finals will see third versus sixth so Bond will host Aspley after the Hornets as expected had a resounding win, scoring 100 points over Yeronga South Brisbane at Graham Road. Jesse Stallard kicked five goals and Rachel Vetter four as they warmed up for next week’s elimination final.
In the process Vetter kicked her 100th QAFLW goal and became just the tenth player ‘on record’ to do so. Also, special mention to Hornets teammate Jesse McMillian who broke the QAFLW record for ‘effective disposals’ with 32!
As mentioned in Friday’s preview, it has been a tough couple of seasons for the young Devils. No doubt they are learning a lot against these more experienced teams and with more development and extra recruiting hopefully next season can bring that elusive victory.
As a result of Coorparoo slipping down to fourth, their elimination final opponent next week will be keen rivals Wilston Grange who defeated University of Queensland by 17 points at Hickey Park – 5.6.(36) to 3.1.(19). A tremendous achievement as this will be first finals appearance for the Grange in seven years after struggling for a time and managing just six wins in 2024.
It was an entertaining contest in the commentary match with two goals each in an even opening term. The Gorillas then dominated the next two quarters as they refused to allow the Red Lionesses any clear space to drive forward and kept them scoreless until the final quarter. Ellie Smith and Hayley Finning ganged up on UQ’s Coco Garton to dominate the ruckwork and both kicked a goal as well.
Dangerous forward Tshinta Kendall grabbed two goals for the victors while Summer Hamilton and Annie Wallace were like seagulls on a chip around the clearances. Keyshia Matenga and Grace Osborne were also influential with Mia Geere and Siobhan Senior providing plenty of drive inside attacking fifty.
Not the way UQ would have liked to have finished the season, but their finals prospects were dashed anyway with Aspley’s easy win. The match saw two of the Red Lionesses loyal servants Lucy Hicks and Julia Dawson play their final games for the club. The players celebrated a Hicks goal in the first quarter and teammates provided a well-deserved send off when leaving the ground for the last time. Unfortunately, key playmaker AJ Neary received a knock before half-time and was unable to return.
The last match to review was completed before the four other matches started as Maroochydore defeated Moreton Bay by 19 points at Red Rooster Park (Moreton Bay). The Roos completed their year on a high, reversing the result from earlier in the season and meant both teams had three wins with Maroochydore finishing in eighth spot on the ladder by percentage. The Lions can still be pleased with their debut season and undoubtedly will be looking to improve in 2026.
The goalkicking ladder at the completion of the regular season has Bond University’s Kendra Blattman following her five-goal haul on Saturday on 40 from Southport’s Olivia Meagher (31) and Coorparoo’s Chelsea Chesterfield (30).
So next Saturday’s elimination finals:
Bond University (3rd) host Aspley (6th) 2pm at Bond University and
Coorparoo (4th) host Wilston Grange (5th) 4-45pm at Giffin Park. While Southport and Morningside have a week off before meeting in a semi-final in week two.
