BOND University has set up a battle of the Sharks in the QAFL Women’s Grand Final after a comprehensive defeat of Coorparoo in the preliminary final on Saturday. The Bull Sharks sent the Kings out in straight sets after a 7.8 (50) to 0.2 (2) trouncing at Giffin Park to set up a tantalising grand final match with reigning back-to-back premiers, Southport.

The Bull Sharks raced out of the blocks in the first half, booting five goals to nil across the first 40 minutes, as Tegan Williams jagged three goals for the visitors, while Millar Brosnan-Ball and Kendra Blattman also added their names to the goalkickers list to make it a 31-point lead at the main break. Funnily enough, a behind to experienced forward Sarah Perkins in the opening two minutes was Coorparoo’s only score of the half, with the Kings’ next only coming midway through the third term.

By then, the lead was 33 points, and two more goals in the last five minutes of the premiership quarter iced the victory. While the Kings kept the Bull Sharks to just three behinds in the final term, ultimately kicked just one behind in total after the first two minutes of the match. The result sets up a rematch of the 2024 QAFLW Grand Final, which saw Bond University go down to Southport in the decider by 35 points.

In the preliminary final, the Bull Sharks were effective in chaining handballs across the ground, leading to a dominant 37-12 inside 50s. Despite losing the clearances (30-32), Bond University was able to find targets inside 50 as the visitors’ tall timber proved a headache for the Kings’ defence. For the most part the heavily contested game was even around the stoppages (plus-10 to the Bull Sharks), but as soon as it got to the outside, Bond University’s clean and quick hands told a story, racking up 72 uncontested possessions to 38.

Kierra Zerafa had a game-high 23 disposals, as well as four clearances and four tackles, while Evy Reeves (20 disposals, four clearances and six tackles) was lively, and Shannon Nolan lead from the front with 15 disposals seven clearances, six tackles and three inside 50s. Williams slotted three goals from 11 disposals and three marks – all contested – while Brosnan-Ball and Blattman also booted a pair of majors. Annabelle Foat (16 disposals, two marks, nine tackles and three inside 50s) and Skye White (15 disposals, 28 hitouts and four inside 50s) were named the best from the coaches.

For Coorparoo, Jacinta Baldwick had 20 disposals, four marks and two inside 50s, while the inside work of Ayla Fetahagic (18 disposals, eight clearances) and Grace Roberts-White (17 disposals, four clearances and nine tackles) were also industrious around the ball. Chelsea Chesterfield and Emily Harding were name the coaches’ best in the loss.

COORPAROO 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 (2)
BOND UNIVERSITY 3.1 | 5.2 | 7.5 | 7.8 (50)

GOALS:
Coorparoo: Nil.
Bond University: T. Williams 3, M. Brosnan-Ball 2, K. Blattman 2

RMC BEST:
Coorparoo: A. Fetahagic, G. Roberts-White, J. Baldwick, I. Scheffler, C. Haines
Bond University: E. Reeves, S. Nolan, T. Williams, M. Brosnan-Ball, S. White