Southport justified their favouritism for another premiership with a scintillating performance in Saturday’s Qualifying Final. They simply overpowered Morningside to win by 79 points 14.16.(100) to 3.3.(21).
The Sharks grabbed the early ascendancy kicking three goals to one in the first term with Scarlett Featherstone pouncing on a loose ball to snap the first major inside three minutes. The quarter scores were the same ratio in the second and third so by the final change Southport were already safe as they led by 43 points.
The home team then put the icing on the cake in the final term to score 5.6 while keeping their opposition scoreless. The Sharks forwards devoured just about everything that came near them with young star Dekota Baron booting four goals and Caitlin Miller roamed everywhere for her three. Tall forward Hannah Davies pulled down some big marks in the final term to finish with three goals, while Tearnie Brown was another scoring option and with more accuracy could have pocketed more than her two goals.
It all started in the middle and Georja Davies produced one of the better ruck displays seen in the women’s competition with an outstanding performance including 30 hit outs, 26 disposals (18 contested) and eight clearances.
Midfielders such as Kierra Zerafa (35 disposals), Maighan Fogas and Sunny Lappin (30 each) fed off the supply and they continually drove the ball forward. Mikayla Nurse and Rhianna Ingram amongst others showed plenty of dash out of the backline while 150-gamer Megan Hunt, skipper Rianna Schipp and Lily McDonald controlled the defence. Feel guilty not naming the whole team as it was a complete performance that delighted the home fans and no doubt coach Matty Lappin.
The only downside occurring late in the second term when another one of their stars Steph O’Brien was left writhing in pain on the outer wing when injuring her ankle. Play was stopped for several minutes while trainers took some time to help her off the ground. It will be a race against time for her to be fit for the Grand Final which will be played at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday September 7.
Southport’s leading goalkicker Olivia Meagher also missed Saturday’s match but is expected to be available for Sunday week.
Morningside were hoping to improve the result form their meeting two weeks ago and for a while they showed why they had finished their debut season in second. Despite being outscored in the first half they had pressed hard but just lacked more cohesion going forward and trying to breakdown the Sharks defence.
A remarkable effort from Sienna Graham who battled hard on the forward line and kicked all the Panthers three goals to repeat the effort of teammate Harlee McIlwain who kicked their only two goals when these sides met in round 16. And that probable tells a tale as from eight quarters of football they have managed only two goalkickers.
Some of the other better players for the Panthers were Zoe Petrides, Annabel Peacock and Simone Arthur while the defence saw the plenty of the ball. Full-back Lucy McCormick together with Kylie Lawrence and Stella Scott led the disposals as the backline was continually put under pressure with Southport dominating forward entries - 54 to 21. Laura Roy and Roisin Chu were also handy contributors and to the Panthers credit they did lay more tackles than the victors.
Morningside did miss some handy players including Courtney McDonnell, Grace Roy Emma McNaughton and need to regroup to host a Preliminary Final at home next week.
Their opponents will be Coorparoo who won a thrilling semi-final against Bond University on the Uni grounds by 11 points 4.7.(31) to 3.2.(20). It was an amazing turnaround by the Kings who in the previous two meetings (at ‘The Canal’) - a final last year and two weeks ago in round 16 had been beaten by a total of 100 points!
The difference in this clash was Coorparoo's ability to prevent Bond from moving the ball wide. Chelsea Winn (19 possessions & eight tackles) led a Kings midfield that repeatedly shut down the Bull Sharks' attempts to clear even though the home team had 35 more uncontested possessions.
A match full of momentum swings where it was a goal apiece in the first quarter. Kings spearhead Chelsea Chesterfield scored the only goal of the second term to have a nine-point lead at half-time before the match livened up after the break.
Bond appeared to be back on track when they kicked the only two goals of the third term through their star forward Kendra Blattman and Millar Brosnan-Ball to wrest the lead back by three points at the last change. It could have been more as Blattman pulled down a huge mark close to goal right on the three-quarter time. However, her tricky shot from a sharp angle went the wrong side of the big sticks.
It was desperation stakes in the final term with their seasons on the line, but it was the visitors that grabbed the ascendancy. Young forward Indy Scheffler kicked her second goal of the match at the five minute-mark to force another lead change then the Bull Sharks star ruck Maisy Evans (35 hit outs,18 disposals) scored a behind and entering the final minutes there was only three points the difference.
The Kings extended the narrow lead by two points after a couple more behinds before Edie Fraser sealed the deal with a goal at the 17 minute-mark. Wild celebrations followed as the siren sounded as they extended their season by a week and an intriguing contest awaits in next week’s Preliminary final.
Aside from the players mentioned above, Grace Roberts-White (22 disposals) Ayla Fetahagic (20), Lucy Schnieder and Chloe Haines on the forward line contributed towards the victory. Interesting to note Renee Teys was back in the side combining with Tilayna Nissen to take on Maisy Evans in the ruck division.
No doubt devastation for the Bull Sharks who after last year miss out on another opportunity of taking on Southport in the ‘big dance’. Usual contributions from Shannon Nolan, Grace Moodie, Ella Calleja, Jasmyn Davidson, Tobi Chapman and youngster Annabelle Foat among their best.
Therefore, next week Morningside host Coorparoo at Jack Esplen Oval while Southport has the weekend off and prepares for the Bond QAFLW Grand Final at Brighton Homes Arena on September 7.
