Why Southport Sharks QAFLW side is one of the most dangerous teams in state league football
From wins of more than 200 points, to an incredible percentage of 684 after four rounds, is this Southport Sharks side the most dominant state league team in Australia?
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The Southport Sharks QAFLW side has asserted itself as not just the team to beat in the state but one of the most dominant state league sides across the country.
The Sharks will take on University of Queensland this Saturday with the hopes of making it a 5-0 start to what has been a barnstorming start to the season.
Former St Kilda and Carlton AFL player Matthew Lappin took over as coach this season and made the promise to bring an exciting, attacking brand of football to Fankhauser Reserve.
His guarantee immediately came to fruition in round 1 when the Sharks demolished Yeronga South Brisbane by 219 points.
It then continued in round 2 with a 124-12 win over Maroochydore before two even bigger statement wins in the games that followed.
The Sharks comprehensively defeated the Aspley Hornets by 62 points - a side which finished the 2024 season second on the ladder with 12 wins and two losses and only missed out on the minor premiership on percentage.
Southport then comfortably won the Shark Showdown against Gold Coast rivals Bond University by 28 points in a grand final rematch where they led the entire game.
The most concerning thing for rival teams is there is little reason to believe the Sharks will take their foot off the gas, with Lappin putting pressure on every player to play for the full four quarters every game.
“We’ve got a really strong squad of 60 odd players, there’s players in our reserves who are playing terrific footy as well,” Lappin said.
“So anyone who takes their foot off the pedal is going to leave themselves vulnerable to not staying in our team.
“We’re not worried about our players taking their foot off the pedal because if they do there will be somebody else who’s ready to jump into their spot in the team so it is healthy for the club to be in that space.”
The Sharks are ranked No. 1 in almost every major statistical category in the competition and have dominated possession as they average more than 360 disposals per game - almost 100 more than their average in 2024.
In comparison, the North Melbourne AFLW side, which claimed the 2024 premiership in an unbeaten season of dominance averaged just 265 disposals per game.
Southport’s Stephanie O’Brien, Kierra Zerafa and Madeleine Watt all rank in the top four in the league for disposals and all three were a part of the Sharks side which claimed the premiership last year.
Sharks football operations assistant manager David Ashkar said although the handful of new signings have helped, it has been the new game style which has helped elevate the players to the next level.
“His (Lappin’s) game-plan is more outside, more run, a lot more handballs inside to get it to the outside so we have to attract players who can actually execute that,” he said.
“It is an attractive way of playing, instead of playing stoppage contested ball, which a lot of women’s play.
“I think getting it on the outside, moving it quick has really suited the list we’ve got.
“Girls loving playing that way and I think it is attractive for supporters watching when you’re kicking 15 goals.”
The Sharks have added the likes of the Bindi and Tyla Crabtree and Olivia Meagher to an already stacked roster.
However, with the competition limited by a salary cap and player points system, shrewd signings and a strong emphasis on attacking football has been the catalyst for Southport to explode in 2025.
Ashkar believes the Sharks program is as good as it gets and while the club is more than happy in the QAFLW, believes it could compete in be a force in any state league across the country.
“I think our program’s pretty close to an AFL program, as close as you can get it,” he said.
“We’ve got Matty Primus (VFL men’s coach) you’ve got ‘Skinny’ Lappin that have all been in AFL, you got Steve Daniels (former VFL and NEAFL coach), you got some really good people around our players that they can learn and maximise their development.
“In terms of clubs I think we’re up there as a club, I know it’s a great program, I think we’d be competitive in any other league but I am happy in this league.”
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Originally published as Why Southport Sharks QAFLW side is one of the most dangerous teams in state league football
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