THE 2026 QAFL Women’s premiership comes down to a rematch of the competition’s most recent dynasty-defining decider, with Southport chasing an unprecedented three-peat and Bond University out to avenge its 2024 Grand Final defeat. The Sharks claimed their maiden flag with a 35-point win over the Bull Sharks in the 2024 decider, then went back-to-back last season against Morningside. Now, with the same two clubs meeting again on the game’s biggest stage, Bond University has the chance to halt Southport’s run before it reaches three in a row.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Sunday, September 6
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Brighton Homes Arena

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This is the second Grand Final meeting between the two clubs in three seasons, with Southport’s 35-point win in the 2024 decider the only previous finals-stage clash between them. The pair met twice during the 2026 home-and-away season, with Southport easily beating Bond University by 37 points, 6.7 (43) to 0.6 (6), at Bond University Oval in Round 13 in the most recent encounter. That came after an 11-goal thumping by the Sharks back in Round 18.

Both sides have since navigated contrasting finals paths back to a rematch – Southport’s route including a 56-point qualifying-final demolition of Coorparoo, while Bond University ground out a five-point semi-final win over Morningside before overwhelming the Kings by 48 points in the preliminary final.

TEAMS

Southport:

Emergencies: 30. Georgia Hunt, 8. Abbie Pluples, 12. Olivia Robinson

Bond University:

Emergencies: 22. Natalie Whatman, 35. Tara Trethowan, 36. Heidi Grimster, 1. Mackenzie Farmer

CHANGES

Southport:

In: Sienna Clinch
Out: Tenielle Langdale.

Bond University:

No change.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For Southport, Steph O’Brien sits seventh in the competition for disposals and carries vice-captaincy responsibility through the midfield, while Ella Maurer is fourth in the same category and the Sharks’ clearance leader with 90 for the year. Kiara Hillier and Olivia Meagher add class and experience across half-back and midfield, Giselle Davies offers a scoreboard option forward of centre, and Tayla Christensen is the competition’s second-leading goalkicker with 35 majors. Caitlin Miller leads all Southport goalkickers with 18 for the season.

Bond University’s engine room is headlined by Shannon Nolan, the competition’s clearance leader with 108 and second overall for disposals, and Evy Reeves, third in the disposal count and the Bull Sharks’ next-best clearance winner behind Nolan. Kendra Blattman enters as the QAFLW’s reigning goalkicking leader with 42 for the year, Tegan Williams has booted 16 of her own, and Jasmyn Davidson provides pressure and ruck support around the contest. Kierra Zerafa and Charlie Adamson round out a Bull Sharks unit capable of matching it with Southport around the ball.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Sienna Clinch is the game’s most notable draft prospect after earning a State Draft Combine invitation, and a strong showing on Grand Final day would round out an impressive bottom-age season for the Southport talent. Fellow Sharks, over-agers Sienna Burnham and Lilly-ann Ryder both represented the Suns Academy this year and add further depth to Southport’s draft-eligible cohort.

Bond University counters with its own pair of Suns Academy over-agers in Annabelle Foat and Amelia Ella, both of whom will be looking to close out their seasons with a premiership medal to match their representative honours. Bottom-ager

STATS THAT MATTER

The disposal count is dominated by the two clubs’ engine rooms – Nolan and Reeves rank second and third respectively in the competition, with Maurer fourth and O’Brien seventh, setting up a midfield battle that could decide the destination of the flag. Blattman’s goalkicking title (42 majors) gives Bond University the game’s most prolific forward, but Southport counters in depth, with Christensen (35), Miller (18) and Baldwin (17) all among the competition’s leading goalkickers, plus Davies (12) offering another avenue to goal. Williams’ 16 majors give the Bull Sharks a second reliable scoring option. At the coalface, Nolan’s competition-leading 108 clearances headline the contest, with Maurer’s 90 the best return for Southport and Reeves and O’Brien the next-best for their respective sides.

PREDICTION

Southport’s season-long dominance over Bond University, headlined by the 37-point Round 13 win and a 56-point demolition of Coorparoo in the qualifying final, makes the Sharks deserving favourites to complete an historic three-peat. Bond University’s finals form should not be discounted – the Bull Sharks have won consecutive finals by a combined 53 points and boast a genuine advantage through the middle in Nolan and Reeves – but Southport’s blend of contested ball winners and multiple forward-line options, allied to the psychological edge of the 2024 decider, is the difference on Grand Final day.

Southport by 22 points.