MORNINGSIDE’s dream debut season reached the pinnacle over the weekend when the Panthers confirmed their spot in the 2025 QAFL Women’s Grand Final. Much like the first season from their opponents next Saturday in Southport a few years back, the Panthers will play in the last match of the season after grinding out a 5.3 (33) to 1.5 (11) victory over Coorparoo.

In front of a home crowd at Jack Esplen Oval, the Panthers had to shake off a tight start before late goals to Queensland bottom-age representatives Harlee McIlwain and Zoe Petrides gave Morningside a 13-0 start in the first term. Continuing to pepper the goals early in the second, the first major of the quarter did not come until the 16-minute mark and it was off the boot of Carly Hess who ensured the Kings would head into the main break with just a six-point deficit.

Fired up out of half-time, Morningside put the foot down in the opening 10 minutes as Simone Arthur needed just 53 seconds to give her side breathing space, and when Laura Roy – who was a clear best on ground through the midfield – slammed home another, the lead was out to 19 points. Given the tough conditions and contest, it was not going to be easy to peg back the deficit, and while the Kings did have several chances over the next 20 minutes, could not quite break through.

The sealer came off the boot of another young Lion in the form of Annabel Peacock with the 17-year-old icing the game in the last few minutes. While Coorparoo had been brave – and defied the odds by reaching a preliminary final, the Kings could not stop the determined Panthers who came away with the 22-point victory.

Roy was enormous with 30 disposals, three marks, six clearances, eight tackles, five inside 50s and a goal, working well with sister Gracie (15 disposals, two marks, two clearances, two tackles and four inside 50s). Isabella Levine (21 disposals, six clearances and nine tackles) was also amongst Morningside’s best, while Peacock (16 disposals, four clearances, six tackles and four inside 50s and Greta Liell-Cock (13 disposals, 11 tackles) provided great defensive pressure.

Up forward, McIlwain clunked five marks – two contested – from nine disposals, while Petrides was busy with 10 touches and a goal. Ella Gibson was the other Lions Academy Under 18s representative in the Panthers’ team, amassing 12 disposals, 16 hitouts, five tackles and two inside 50s in the win.

Ayla Fetahagic lead from the front for the Kings with a team-high 19 disposals, two marks, three clearances, eight tackles and four inside 50s, as ruck Renee Teys had 23 hitouts, five clearances and 12 tackles from 12 disposals. Lucy Schneider and Grace Roberts-White also had 12 touches apiece and combined for 15 tackles, with Chelsea Winn (10 disposals, five clearances and nine tackles), Alyssa Gall and Rose Clancy-Dillon named among the best.

MORNINGSIDE 2.1 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 5.3 (33)
COORPAROO 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 (11)

GOALS:
Morningside: S. Arthur, H. McIlwain, A. Peacock, Z. Petrides, L. Roy
Coorparoo: C. Hess

BEST:
Morningside: L. Roy, G. Roy, A. Peacock, G. Liell-Cock, I. Levine
Coorparoo: A. Fetahagic, A. Gall, R. Clancy-Dillon, C. Winn, G. Roberts-White