THE QAFLW grand final is halfway set after Southport booked its place in the decider with a 56-point win over Coorparoo. Bond University kept its premiership hopes alive by holding off Morningside by five points and will now face Coorparoo in a preliminary final for the remaining grand final berth.

Southport’s dominant second half against Coorparoo was built on its advantage around the contest and in attack. Bond University had to overcome an early Morningside lead, then withstand a final-quarter surge to earn its preliminary-final place.

Southport 9.10 (64) defeated Coorparoo 1.2 (8)

Southport made a fast start at Fankhauser Reserve and led by eight points at quarter-time, but Coorparoo restricted the hosts to four behinds in the second term to keep the deficit to 12 points at half-time. The Sharks broke the contest open after the main break, piling on 4.4 while keeping Coorparoo scoreless to establish a 40-point lead.

The home side added three final-quarter goals to seal the 56-point victory, with Coorparoo managing only two behinds after quarter-time. Southport controlled the ball and the territory battle, recording 272 disposals to 203 and 35 inside 50s to 17. The Sharks also won clearances 33-24 and hitouts 48-23.

Stephanie O’Brien was among Southport’s best with 19 disposals and six clearances, while Rianna Schipp gathered 21 disposals, laid eight tackles, sent the ball inside 50 seven times and kicked a goal. Holly Wall collected 20 disposals and booted two goals, while Lilly-Ann Ryder and Scarlett Featherstone also hit the scoreboard. Siobhan Ross rounded out Southport’s best players.

Ella Maurer was prolific through the middle, collecting a game-high 23 disposals, six clearances, seven tackles and three inside 50s. Sienna Burnham worked tirelessly with 17 disposals, five clearances and 14 tackles, while Giselle Davies provided a strong aerial presence with 12 hitouts and 11 tackles. Maddy Baldwin finished with a game-high three goals from six disposals.

For Coorparoo, Dakota Villiva led the disposal count with 19 and added four clearances and three inside 50s. Grace Roberts-White contributed 14 disposals and five clearances, while Grace Osborne laid eight tackles. Chloe Haines applied nine tackles and went inside 50 three times, with Mia Teubler and Alyssa Whiley also among the best. Chelsea Chesterfield kicked Coorparoo’s only goal.

SOUTHPORT 2.2 | 2.6 | 6.10 | 9.10 (64)
COORPAROO 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 (8)

GOALS:
Southport: M. Baldwin 3, H. Wall 2, R. Schipp, T. Christensen, S. Featherstone, L. Ryder
Coorparoo: C. Chesterfield

BEST:
Southport: S. O’Brien, L. Ryder, R. Schipp, S. Featherstone, H. Wall
Coorparoo: M. Teubler, A. Whiley, G. Osborne, D. Villiva, C. Haines

Bond University 5.4 (34) defeated Morningside 4.5 (29)

Morningside struck first at Bond University Oval, kicking two opening-quarter goals to lead by eight points at the first break before Bond University responded in the second term, kicking 2.1 while holding the Panthers scoreless to take a five-point lead into half-time.

The Bull Sharks extended their advantage to 11 points by three-quarter time, then held on despite Morningside’s final-quarter charge. The Panthers added 1.1 to Bond University’s 0.1 in the final term but were unable to find the decisive goal, falling five points short.

Bond University won the disposal count 269-207 and had 26 inside 50s to Morningside’s 20, while also holding a 32-27 advantage in hitouts. The Panthers were relentless without the ball, laying 121 tackles to 92 and winning the clearances 28-25, but the Bull Sharks’ ability to retain possession and control territory proved decisive.

Shannon Nolan was prolific for Bond University, collecting 30 disposals, six clearances and three inside 50s. Evy Reeves was similarly influential with 28 disposals, six clearances and four inside 50s, while Jasmyn Davidson combined nine tackles with eight hitouts. Beth Pinchin, Nikki Sandeman and Skye White were also named among the Bull Sharks’ best.

Kendra Blattman and Trinity Ella each kicked two goals, with Annabelle Foat kicking the other major. Foat also picked up 19 disposals and laid 10 tackles in a well-rounded performance.

Morningside’s Laura Roy was the standout forward on the ground, kicking all four of her side’s goals to go with 18 disposals, three contested marks and three inside 50s. Gracie Roy (19 disposals) and Kaitlyn Day (19 disposals, six clearances and 18 tackles) were tireless, while Greta Liell-Cock had 16 disposals, four clearances and 10 tackles. Stella Scott, Lucy McCormick and Coco Garton were also among Morningside’s best.

BOND UNIVERSITY 1.0 | 3.1 | 5.3 | 5.4 (34)
MORNINGSIDE 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 4.5 (29)

GOALS:
Bond University: K. Blattman 2, T. Ella 2, A. Foat
Morningside: L. Roy 4

BEST:
Bond University: B. Pinchin, J. Davidson, S. Nolan, E. Reeves, N. Sandeman
Morningside: L. Roy, G. Roy, S. Scott, G. Liell-Cock, L. McCormick