Southport have powered their way to a second successive BOND UNIVERSITY QAFLW Premiership with an outstanding team performance defeating Morningside by 79 points 15.9.(99) to 3.2.(20). In the process creating a new record for the highest score in a grand final and matched the 79-point winning margin from the qualifying final with a similar scoreline.
Young Sharks midfielder Sunny Lappin with 30 disposals (10 contested), eight clearances and two goals was named Best on Ground.
In front of a healthy and enthusiastic crowd at Brighton Homes Arena the Sharks were challenged early in the second term before turning on the afterburners to run away with the contest from midway in the second quarter.
The Premiers were simply too strong all over the ground with winners everywhere and must go down as one of, if not the best QAFLW women’s teams of all time to take the field.
1st Quarter
Southport were quickly into stride when in the first minute key midfielder Kierra Zerafa received a handball and from just inside the arc, kicked to a vacant goal square and the ball bounced through. It should have been a second when Olivia Meagher back in the team after missing two weeks ago ran into an open goal but was brilliantly tackled by Morningside defender Maddalyn Hennessy who was unfortunate not to receive the free.
Meagher missed a few opportunities to make amends with two set shots and a snap from a later in the quarter to finish with three behinds for the term and five for the match. It was a frustrating day for the key forward despite her influence and 22 disposals she just could not find the space between the big sticks.
Teammate Steph O’Brien who suffered an ankle injury in the semi-final proved her fitness taking a strong mark and converting at the end of the term to get the Sharks’ second.
The Panthers were struggling to get within their attacking 50 and were held scoreless as the Sharks had complete control of the play.
2nd Quarter
Morningside came to life in the second term when in the space of a few minutes Lucy Bellinger soccered one off the ground from close range then 16yo Harlee McIlwain took a strong mark and brought the Panthers within a goal.
All that did though was spring the Sharks into action and following a couple of behinds Maighan Fogas snapped truly from a scrimmage and they had their third.
Moments later Southport were in their forward line again and O’Brien out manoeuvred her appointment to score her second goal from close range.
Then following a terrific mark from young star Dekota Baron who unselfishly passed the ball off to a waiting Sunny Lappin who made no mistake.
Kierra Zerafa put herself in contention for goal of the match with a brilliant snap from the left forward pocket boundary line. Mikayla Nurse (19 possessions) displayed her terrific dash off the backline by taking four bounces to deliver a pinpoint pass to Meagher who again unselfishly passed to Caitlin Miller who converted a brilliant passage of play.
The teams went into half-time after an entertaining second quarter with a total of seven goals scored - with the minor premiers kicking the last five - and leading by 35 points. The Panthers woes worsened when Tiffany O’Keefe was ruled out for the remainder with concussion.
3rd Quarter
Southport’s offensive juggernaut continued when Dekota Baron kicked two goals from set shots in the first few minutes and the lead was stretched to 47 points.
Lappin kicked her second soon after and if it wasn’t Baron, O’Brien or Miller then another forward Tearnie Brown thought she would get in the act as well and kicked three goals in six minutes!
A shining light for the Panthers at the end of the quarter with Kylie Lawrence showing her versatility when moved from defence into attack. She kicked her side’s only goal for the term but they trailed by 66 points at the last change.
4th Quarter
Interest was developing if Southport could break the Grand Final scoring record of 95 total points and when Baron kicked her third, they were only four (points) away. Behinds to both teams followed, but fittingly it was one of Southport’s best and most consistent players for the year Zerafa (25 disposals and eight tackles) who managed to surpass the record with her third and the team’s final goal of the game at the 10-minute mark.
The siren eventually sounded and the celebrations started for the Southport club, their many supporters and joyous skipper Rianna Schipp to lift the premiership cup. Congratulations to coach Matty Lappin and all the staff for such a dominant season where they only lost one match. It capped off a magnificent day for the club as they also won the reserves with another big victory this time over Bond University.
Other notable contributors for the Sharks and you could probably name the whole team – Tyla Crabtree (20 disposals), Madeleine Watt (19), Maddy Baldwin and Georja Davies who displayed her prowess in the ruck.
A special mention to the defence led by Megan Hunt in her 151st match, Lily McDonald, Rhianna Ingram and Hannah Davies as her team tried to feed her an opportunity for a goal but managed just a point.
As stated in the preview it was a tremendous achievement from Morningside and their coaching staff led by Damien Richards to reach the decider in their first year back in BOND UNIVERSITY QAFLW.
Like most sides they came up against an extremely talented and well drilled opposition. There is a lot to look forward though with the Panthers – with the Roy sisters Laura and Gracie who was hampered by a leg injury on the day. The emerging talent of inside-mid Issy Levine, Annabel Peacock with her run and dash, forward Zoe Petrides, defender Stella Scott and Ella Gibson together with Kylie Lawrence and Mackenzie Sleep. The experience of Greta Liell-Cock, Lucy McCormick, Lucy Bellinger, Sienna Graham & Courtney McDonnell up forward – all bodes well for another finals assault in 2026.
