SOUTHPORT Sharks have advanced to the 2025 QAFL Women’s Grand Final in emphatic fashion, downing the Morningside Panthers by 79 points. The Sharks have only lost a single game in the season thus far, and are favourites to take out the competition after their impressive win on the weekend.

Southport set the tone early, nailing the first three goals of the game. The Sharks steadily built a lead over the first three quarters before piling on five goals and six behinds in the final term while keeping their opposition scoreless.

An injury to experienced utility Steph O’Brien late in the second term took some shine off the dominant performance. O’Brien had been one of the better players on the ground until she went down (11 disposals, one goal).

Southport’s Kierra Zerafa was the most prolific midfielder on the ground (35 disposals, 13 inside 50s, 5 clearances) and was particularly damaging with her piercing left boot. Gold Coast Suns Academy trio Dekota Baron, Georja Davies and Sunny Lappin proved a devastating combination

Key forward Baron ended up the leading scorer on the ground (four goals from 16 disposals) and was a constant threat inside 50 throughout the afternoon. Ruck-midfielder Davies was a towering presence in the centre (26 disposals, 30 hitouts, six marks) and worked brilliantly in tandem with Lappin (30 disposals, nine marks, eight inside 50s), the daughter of ex-Carlton and St Kilda midfielder Matthew, who provided her side with seemingly endless run and carry.

Panthers midfielder Kylie Lawrence provided some resistance on the ball, collecting 25 disposals, the most possessions for a Monrnigside player. Their lone goal scorer, Sienna Graham, was also named as one of their best (11 disposals, three goals).

Southport will face off against the winner of this weekend’s preliminary between Coorparoo and Morningside, with the Grand Final taking place on Sunday, September 7.

SOUTHPORT SHARKS: 3.2 | 6.8 | 9.10 | 14.16 (100)
MORNINGSIDE PANTHERS: 1.2 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 (21)

GOALS:
Southport Sharks: D. Baron 4, H. Davies 3, C. Miller 3, T. Brown 2, S. O’Brien, S. Featherstone
Morningside Panthers: S. Graham 3

BEST:
Southport Sharks: K. Zerafa, G. Davies, S. Lappin, D. Baron, C. Miller
Morningside Panthers: K. Lawrence, S. Graham, L. Roy

AROUND THE GROUNDS

In the other contest of the weekend, Coorparoo downed Bond University 4.7 (31) to 3.2 (20) to proceed to the preliminary final.

Kings’ midfielder Grace Roberts-White led the way with 22 disposals, while Shannon Nolan was the Bull Sharks’ most industrious midfielder with 21 disposals.

Lions Academy double bottom-age draft prospect Indiana Scheffler was the only multiple goal scorer on the ground (six disposals, two goals), Chelsea Chesterfield and Edie Fraser were the Kings’ other goal kickers. While Millar Brosnan-Ball, Amelia Ella and Kendra Blattman all scored a goal each for the Bull Sharks.

The Coorparoo Kings will take on the Morningside Panthers this Saturday, August 30 at Jack Esplen Oval.