Southport hosted Yeronga at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday in Round 16 of the QAFLW.
Seniors
The Southport Sharks have finished the home and away season with a massive 95 point win over the Yeronga Devils.
Maggie O’Connell starred with six goals in the 14.12 (96) to 0.1 (1) victory.
Southport got off to a flyer, kicking four goals in both the first and second quarter.
In the second half, the Sharks kept the scoreboard ticking over to win their sixth game of the season by over 60 points.
Carly Remmos played well in the midfield, Leigh Alder was solid down back and Tayla Gregory was great in the ruck.
Southport Coach Peter Doherty said, “I’m really happy with how the girls played on the weekend.”
“It would’ve been easy to come into the last game of the year with the wrong mindset, against the team on the bottom of the ladder, with the minor premiership locked in.”
“However, their preparation and mindset going into the game was terrific. I thought they were hungry and relentless, which is what we pride ourselves on.”
“Our focus is now obviously on our qualifying against Bond University. We can’t wait. It will be awesome, two Gold Coast clubs battling out for a position in the Grand Final.”
“They beat us last time we met, so we know it’s going to be a challenge, but it is a challenge we are looking forward to.”
The qualifying final against Bond will take place on Saturday the 12th of August at Fankhauser Reserve at 2pm.
SOUTHPORT SHARKS 4.3 8.6 11.10 14.12 (96)
YERONGA DEVILS 0.0 0.0 0.1 (1)
Goal Kickers: Maggie O’Connell 6, Hannah Davies 2, Selina Priest 2, Rianna Schipp, Carly Remmos, Sarah Ingram, Peyton Mackie
Best Players: Carly Remmos, Leigh Alder, Maggie O’Connell, Tayla Gregory, Alessia Smythe, Selina Priest
Click here for QAFLW Seniors’ fixtures, results and ladders
Click here for Southport’s Football Home Page
Reserves
Southport’s QAFLW Reserves have qualified for finals after drawing with Yeronga on Saturday Afternoon.
The 3.1 (19) to 2.7 (19) draw meant that the Sharks finished fourth on the ladder due to having a higher percentage than Yeronga who finished fifth on the ladder with the same points.
Neither team were able to score a goal in the first quarter with both defences holding strong.
Meghan Sullivan kicked the first goal of the game early in the second quarter after taking a solid mark.
Yeronga were then able to lock the ball inside their forward 50 for over five minutes and eventually kicked a goal to lead by three points at half time.
In the third quarter, Jess Malouf kicked a goal to get the Sharks back in front and less than a minute later Meghan Sullivan kicked her second goal.
Yeronga kicked a steading goal five minutes later to cut the margin to four points and peppered the goal late in the third quarter but only managed a point for their efforts.
With a finals spot up for grabs, both clubs threw everything at the last quarter, but neither team was able to score a goal.
Yeronga had a couple of chances to win the game, but like they had all game the Sharks defence held strong.
When the siren went, it took everyone a little while to realise that the draw had meant that the Sharks will make up the last spot in this year’s QAFLW Reserves final series.
Southport Coach Mal Smith said, “It was a very bizarre feeling after the game, but the overwhelming feeling was a sense of relief and pride that we have made finals.”
“Yeronga have had a great year, and we knew we were going to be against it, but credit to our girls they competed all the way into the end and fortunately luck fell our way.”
“We now get to look forward to an elimination final against Bond which will be another challenge but one we are excited for.”
The Reserves play Bond at 12:00 pm on Saturday the 12th of August at Fankhauser Reserves.
SOUTHPORT SHARKS 0.0 1.0 3.1 3.1 (19)
YERONGA DEVILS 0.2 1.3 2.4 2.7 (19)
Goal Kickers: Meghan Sullivan 2, Jess Malouf
Best Players: Madeline Gault, Victoria Winstanley, Meghan Sullivan, Lillian Behan, Casey Wynne, Lateesha Jeffrey
