THREE years after winning the QFAW Division one flag and earned promotion to the top flight in Queensland football, Southport has achieved its goal of winning a QAFLW premiership. The Sharks came runner-up in their maiden 2022 season, then went out in straight sets last year before holding firm and taking home the flag off the back of a 13-game winning streak.

Southport defeated reigning premiers Bond University by 35 points at People First Stadium in an outstanding four-quarter performance. After leading by just two points at quarter time and 10 points at the main break, the Sharks kicked away with the only four goals in the second half.

Though they capitalised on their opportunities, the Sharks defence was equally as steadfast, keeping Bond University scoreless for the last two and a half quarters with rebounding defender Kaylee Kimber winning the best on ground medal.

After an armwrestle start to the contest, the game heated up on the scoreboard with former Gold Coast AFLW captain Leah Kaslar and Southport forward Maddy Baldwin trading goals with two apiece in the opening term. One of the Southport majors came off an intercept mark from Ebony Milne and the Sharks ran it end to end for Baldwin to get on the end of it.

Alannah Welsh almost kicked a late major in the term but just missed, before marking inside 50 and hitting a precision pass to Baldwin for her second. It was in response to the turnover kick from Kimber – who made a rare blunder which was pounced upon by Courtney Sexton who fired out a handball to Kaslar for the Bull Sharks’ second major.

Southport started to get its game going in the second term, as the Sharks got the first though Georja Davies after clunking a mark against Queensland teammate Mia Salisbury in a goalsquare matchup. Her major was countered by another of her Maroons compatriots in Bronte Parker up the other end to close the gap to three points midway through the term.

However that Parker goal would prove to be the last Bond University score of the match, with Southport responding through the work of bottom-age young guns Dekota Baron and Welsh. Baron deep in the pocket found Welsh all alone in the goalsquare and the forward strolled in to extend the lead out at the main break.

The work of Maighan Fogas and Steph O’Brien – who came off late in the first half – was important for the Sharks to win it around the coalface as the star power of Davies and Havana Harris negated each other’s influence. Young guns Salisbury and Nyalli Milne had created some vital movement across the ground for the trailing side.

Players began to go down like flies in the second half as Bond Uni skipper Paris Lightfoot had to come off hurt but returned in the last term, while Baldwin also had to be helped off for the Sharks. On the field, it was all Southport though as the minor premiers as Tayla Gregory and Welsh stepped up to drive the dagger into the hearts of Bull Sharks fans.

Welsh could have had a couple more majors as well with a long-range shot bouncing towards goal but somehow sitting up on the line and staying in. She would get her just reward not long after though, snapping truly after taking advantage from a free kick.

Though not out of the contest even facing a 22-point deficit at the last break, the Bull Sharks needed the first goal. Unfortunately it would go the other way with Welsh being the distributor after a mark on the wing and kick inside 50 where O’Brien would gather, handball off to Baron who snapped truly.

It was party time for the Sharks, as despite Bond Uni’s relentless forward forays, the likes of Kimber, Siobhan Ross and Ebony Milne were there to save the day. Frustrations set in late for the Bull Sharks when Welsh was awarded a free kick for a dangerous tackle that to the Bond Uni players was a holding the ball call their way. Giving away a 50m penalty for descent, Bond Uni players watched on as Welsh slammed home the goal from point blank range to ice the game.

The siren sounded a few minutes later with Southport up by 35 points and completing the outstanding four quarters of football. Welsh finished with there goals and Baldwin two to be the main threats up forward, but the likes of Ross and Ebony Milne complemented Kimber out of the defensive 50.

For the Bull Sharks, Nyalli Milne, Salisbury and Harris provided a stack of run, while Sexton applied a stack of defensive pressure and had some big moments throughout the course of the game. Lightfoot led the way from defence despite being hurt, and could hold her head high in defeat.

SOUTHPORT 2.3 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 8.6 (54)
BOND UNIVERSITY 2.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 (19)

GOALS:
Southport: A. Welsh 3, M. Baldwin 2, D. Baron, G. Davies, T. Gregory
Bond Uni: L. Kaslar 2, B. Parker

RMC BEST:
Southport: K. Kimber, M. Fogas, G. Davies, S. Ross, E. Milne, A. Welsh
Bond Uni: N. Milne, H. Harris, M. Salisbury, P. Lightfoot, C. Sexton