SOUTHPORT(1st) V MORNINGSIDE (2nd) 2PM FANKHAUSER RESERVE
There is no doubt Southport have been the standout team for the year and now begins the real quest of defending last years title. A small hiccup occurred a few weeks ago when beaten on a wet and stormy night at Coorparoo to halt a winning sequence of 26.
The Sharks quickly bounced back though to their rampaging best and warmed up for this clash when they easily defeated the Panthers away two weeks ago by 53 points. Surprisingly the two teams were kept apart until that round so it will be interesting what both teams have learnt and worked on after having last weekend off.
Southport have so many stars and Queensland state reps across their lines it is remiss to not name them all, but Steph O’Brien, Kierra Zerafa, Maddy Watt and Rianna Schipp are all influential plus the names mentioned below with the AFLW Combine invitees. On the forward line Olivia Meagher, Caitlin Miller and Maddy Baldwin have kicked 81 goals between them for the season. But hot off the press, Meagher hasn’t been selected which will leave a sizeable hole but provide opportunity for others.
Southport's Megan Hunt will be playing her 150th Bond University QAFLW match, making her only the second player on record (i.e. from 2010 onwards) to reach 150 matches, the other being Wilston Grange's Kylie Welsh. Megan was an original Brisbane Lions AFLW player in 2017 and won QAFLW premierships with Coorparoo in 2014 and 2015, University of Queensland in 2021 and 2022, and Southport in 2024. Began as a forward, played as an inside midfielder, now patrols Southport's defence from the back pocket.
There was also some exciting news for several Sharks players during the week after being invited to the AFLW Draft Combine in Melbourne at the start of October. Dekota Baron, Georja Davies, Rhianna Ingram, Sunny Lappin, Mikayla Nurse and Alannah Welsh all products through the SUNS StreetSmarts Academy.
Morningside are playing in their debut QAFLW finals series and what an impression they have made. The Panthers have had more close calls in their matches but besides the Sharks game they have only lost one other against Aspley in Round Ten.
Led by Laura Roy who heads their goalkicking and disposals along with playmakers, Issy Levine, Lucy Bellinger, Greta Liell-Cock, Lucy McCormick and the ruckwork of Teresa Dixon and Georgia Lwin, the Panthers have their own firepower and will be looking to improve from two weeks ago.
Whilst Gracie Roy will be missed roaming the half back as she serves a 1-week suspension, Morningside also have a fountain of youth to draw upon with Annabel Peacock, Zoe Petrides, Ella Gibson and Stella Scott earning selection.
The winner goes straight through to the Grand Final while the loser plays the winner of the match below in next week’s Preliminary Final.
BOND UNIVERSITY V COORPAROO 4-45PM BOND UNIVERSITY OVAL 1
A rematch of last year’s first round finals clash where Bond were too strong to the tune of 53 points and like the above clash, these two only met two weeks ago.
Bond again prevailing by a healthy 47 points at home and they are looking dangerous at the right time of the year. Conversely, Coorparoo will be looking at ways of narrowing that gap and turning those results around.
Bond’s Kendra Blattman had a day out with five goals and goes into this match with 45 goals (40 in the regular season and another five last week). The last player to kick 50 goals in the QAFLW season was Hayley Newberry for Yeronga in 2015.
Teammate Charlotte Taylor plays her 100th QAFLW match on Saturday. Predominantly found on the wing, she played for Wilston Grange from 2019 to 2021, Yeronga in 2022, and with Bond from 2023 including the 2023 Grand Final win. This year, she was given the vice-captaincy.
Shannon Nolan has had an outstanding year for the Bull Sharks leading the competition in possessions with plenty of support - aside from those mentioned previously - skipper Grace Moodie, Lexi Samuels, Ella Calleja, Evy Reeves and Sunny Hewett. While another state player Jasmyn Davidson has thrived since having a more midfield role.
Annabel Foat and Bronte Parker also receiving invites for the AFLW State Draft Combine where they will be joined by Aspley’s Monique Corrigan.
Coorparoo take on Bond Uni courtesy of an outstanding five-goal burst in the third quarter of the Elimination Final last week which proved too much for Wilston Grange. Much speculation has been surrounding star player Renee Teys who missed last week’s final so would be a huge addition if available on Saturday. Teys leads the competition with 382 hit outs, has collected 180 disposals and achieved almost 72% kicking efficiency.
Tilayna Nissen filled that role brilliantly last week and the Kings also have key playmakers in Grace Roberts-White, Lucy Schneider, Chelsea Winn and skipper Ayla Fetahagic in defence. The Kings have scoring power up forward too with key forward Chelsea Chesterfield and the youngsters Indi Scheffler and Edie Fraser ready to apply the scoreboard pressure.
As mentioned above, the winner will progress to the Prelim Final next week against the loser of the Qualifying Final. The sun has arrived and we eagerly anticipate the next chapter as this week unfolds.
