Seniors |Sharks book Grand Final berth with dominant second half
Southport is through to the 2026 QAFLW Grand Final after defeating Coorparoo by 56 points in Saturday’s Qualifying Final at Fankhauser Reserve.
The Sharks recorded a 9.10 (64) to 1.2 (8) victory, overcoming a tight opening half before breaking the game open after the main break.
Coorparoo struck first with the opening goal of the game, before Southport began to find its rhythm. Maddy Baldwin (three goals) responded with the Sharks’ first and soon added another, helping the home side take a 14-6 lead into quarter time.
The second term became a grind, with neither side able to kick a goal. Southport added four behinds but continued to restrict Coorparoo, taking a 12-point advantage into half time.
The game changed after the main break. Southport found space and began to capitalise on its opportunities, piling on four goals in the third quarter while keeping Coorparoo scoreless to take a 40-point lead into the final change.
The Sharks finished the job with another three goals in the last, while the defensive unit held Coorparoo to just two behinds across the final three quarters.
Steph O’Brien (19 disposals, six clearances) led the way among Southport’s best, with Lilly-ann Ryder (15 disposals, seven tackles) and captain Rianna Schipp (21 disposals, eight tackles, one goal) influential throughout the contest. Scarlett Featherstone (14 disposals, one goal), Holly Wall (20 disposals, six tackles, two goals) and Siobhan Ross (12 disposals, three tackles) also played important roles in the win.
SOUTHPORT 2.2 2.6 6.10 9.10 (64) COORPAROO 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.2 (8)
GOALS: Baldwin 3, Wall 2, Christensen, Featherstone, Ryder, Schipp
BEST PLAYERS: O’Brien, Ryder, Schipp, Featherstone, Wall, Ross
Reserves | Sharks surge into Grand Final
Southport has locked in its place in the 2026 QAFLW Reserves Grand Final, defeating Bond University by 54 points in Saturday’s Qualifying Final at Fankhauser Reserve.
The Sharks ran out 9.7 (61) to 1.1 (7) winners, absorbing Bond’s early pressure before taking the game away from the visitors in the third quarter.
Bond University brought plenty of heat early and, despite Southport controlling field position, Bond kicked the opening goal of the contest. Grace Cooper looked dangerous from the outset and quickly answered with Southport’s first, before Georgia Hunt and Cooper again found the goals to give the Sharks a 16-point advantage at quarter time.
The second term developed into a stalemate, with neither side able to generate consistent scoring opportunities. Southport managed one goal for the quarter while keeping Bond scoreless, stretching the margin to 22 points at half time.
The Sharks made their move in the premiership quarter, finding another level and piling on five goals. Southport’s pressure and ability to lock the ball forward proved decisive, opening up a 51-point lead with one term remaining.
With the damage done, scoring dried up in the final quarter. The Sharks added three behinds and again kept Bond scoreless to close out a convincing Qualifying Final victory.
Olivia Robinson was among Southport’s most influential, while Georgia Hunt and Avalon Pearce made their presence felt around the ground. Neive Ryan, Cooper and Taneille Krzyska were also key contributors.
Ryan finished with three goals, while Cooper, Hunt and Kaylea Kobzan each kicked two.
SOUTHPORT 3.4 4.4 9.4 9.7 (61) BOND UNIVERSITY 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 (7)
GOALS: Ryan 3, Cooper 2, Hunt 2, Kobzan 2
BEST PLAYERS: Robinson, Hunt, Pearce, Ryan, Cooper, Krzyska
