A REMARKABLE performance in front of goal saw bottom-ager Dekota Baron slam home six goals to help Southport begin its quest to go deeper into the QAFL Women’s finals series with a 71-point blitzing of Wilston Grange on the weekend. The opening round match saw crowds return to Fankhauser Reserve, and after a tight first 10 minutes, it was all the home side as they kicked the last 10 goals of the game to run away with the 12.7 (79) to 1.2 (8) victory.

Baron was the star kicking 6.4 and handing one off in the goalsquare, while racking up 22 touches, nine marks – six contested – four hitouts and two inside 50s often playing as a deep forward. The sheer volume of inside 50s which totalled 48-11 by the match’s end told the story of the tape.

Fellow bottom-age Suns Academy member Georja Davies controlled the hitouts, sharing the load with Tayla Gregory to lead a plus-14 advantage (34-20), which culminated in a plus-six clearance differential (24-18).

The first term was end-to-end with Southport getting on the board off an early turnover and Megan Hunt capitalised inside 50. The crafty forward got the Sharks up and about, and after a Wilson Grange missed opportunity up the other end, the home side went end-to-end and Hannah Davies finished off the team play.

A rare centre clearance for the Gorillas got the ball in quickly and Lauren Shackleton took a strong one-on-one mark and made no mistake to cut the deficit back to five points. Unfortunately for the visitors, it would prove to be their only goal of the day. Baron kicked the first of her half-dozen and then Maighan Fogas had a classy finish off a step to result in the Sharks going up by three goals at the first change.

From there, Baron took control of the game, kicking three goals in the second term to be the only scorer, then kicked her fifth major early in the third term. Incredibly, lining up for her sixth major from the top of the goalsquare, she opted to handball off to Emma Suckling five metres away, with her subsequent kick touched off the boot.

It would not affect the result though, as Baron lead the charge inside 50, and the likes of Georja Davies, Steph O’Brien and Fogas all added further majors to stretch the margin out. While Baron’s inaccuracy cost her a few majors, she clunked a great mark late in the game and converted the set shot before copping some cramp for all her hard work.

When the siren sounded it was a convincing win to the Sharks with Baron a clear best on ground, but a number of other players also stepping up. Kierra Zerafa and Madeleine Watt both picked up wht 22 touches in the match, with Fogas (20), O’Brien and Gregory (both 19) all finding plenty of it. Georja Davies had the 14 disposals and 15 hitouts as well as a goal, while another Suns young gun Alannah Welsh had her moments.

Lions Academy top-ager Zimra Hussain was the dominant ball-winner for her side in defence, accumulating 20 disposals, three marks, two clearances and two tackles in the loss, while Mackenzie Findlay (13 disposals, two clearances and two tackles) and Charlize Anderson (13 disposals, five marks and two tackles were the next highest ball-winners.

SOUTHPORT 4.2 | 7.2 | 9.4 | 12.7 (79)
WILSTON GRANGE 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 (8)

GOALS:
Southport: D. Baron 6, M. Fogas 2, G. Davies, H. Davies, M. Hunt, S. O’Brien
Wilston Grange: L. Shackleton

RMC BEST:
Southport: D. Baron, M. Watt, M. Fogas, T. Gregory, S. O’Brien
Wilston Grange: Z. Hussain, M. Findlay, C. Anderson, S. Hamilton, K. Matenga

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Reigning premiers Bond University made light work of Yeronga South Brisbane to kick-start its premiership defence with a commanding 14-goal win over the Devils. The Bull Sharks booted 12.13 (85) to 0.1 (1) at Leyshon Park, with eight goals in the first half essentially setting up the win.

Top-age defender Mia Salisbury had 19 disposals and five marks, using the ball at an elite 89.5 per cent efficiency, while ex-AFLW Pie Imogen Evans returned to her state league club and picked up 19 disposals, four marks, four clearances, three inside 50s and kicked a goal. Forward Nyalli Milne kicked a couple of majors, while Isabella Iverach finished with three majors.

Chelsea Winn (22 disposals, five marks, eight clearances and five inside 50s) was a clear best-on for the Devils, while Georgia Carmody (24 disposals, four marks) found plenty of it, and Madison Goodwin tried hard throughout the match.

Last year’s other grand finalists Aspley also got off to the perfect start in Round 1 with a 31-point victory over University of Queensland. After holding a narrow six-point lead at quarter time, the Hornets kicked four goals to nil in the second term to race out to a five-goal advantage. They were never headed from there, winning 9.4 (58) to 4.3 (27).

Lions Academy forward Isabella McDonough and versatile utility Lucia Liessi both kicked three goals in the win, while over-age forward Lilu Hung returned to competitive action for the first time in 12 months and kicked two goals. Liessi’s 28 disposals was the most on the field, also having a strong seven clearances, five tackles and six inside 50s to go with her three goals.

Over-age talent Laura Roy racked up 25 disposals for the Red Lionesses in the loss, while her sister Gracie Roy was next best with 15. Recruit Coco Garton kicked two of her sides’ four goals in the win and had 26 hitouts playing between ruck and forward.

In the final match of Round 1, Coorparoo produced a commanding win over Maroochydore at Giffin Park. The Kings kicked away through the middle two quarters with five goals to nil, setting up a 31-point victory. To the Roos’ credit they fought back in the last quarter to cut the deficit back from six goals at the last change, but it was too little, too late in the 10.5 (65) to 5.4 (34) loss.

Jenae Govan was the only multiple goalkicker for her side, booting two for the Kings, while Lucy Schneider suffered leather poisoning with a remarkable 34 disposals. Teenager Grace Roberts-White (25 disposals, three marks, six clearances, nine tackles, three inside 50s and a goal) was also a standout, while Jacinta Baldwick showed her class.

For the Roos, Sophie Peters returned to state league level to have an outstanding game, while Lataya De Pauw impressed as a bottom-ager, recording an efficiency of 87.5 per cent from 16 touches. Maroochydore only had the two goalkickers on the day with Ellen Hopkins (three) and Hayley Edgar (two) converting majors.