Coaches reveal the players set to star on QAFLW grand final day
The state’s top women’s footy players are set to battle it out for the QAFLW senior and reserve grade premierships this weekend. Each grand final coach has revealed the keys to victory, the players set to star and more ahead of this Sunday’s deciders. Details inside.
The best women’s Aussie rules footballers in Queensland are set to battle it out for glory at Brighton Homes Arena this Sunday with the QAFLW senior and reserves grand finals set to take place.
The Southport Sharks will be looking to go back-to-back as they face the Morningside Panthers in the senior grand final.
Meanwhile in the reserves, it is an all-Gold Coast battle with Southport and Bond University locking horns.
Southport has the chance to go back-to-back in the reserves as well with this year’s decider a rematch from 2024.
We spoke to each coach ahead of this weekend’s grand finals as they revealed, they keys to victory, players to watch and the biggest danger player form the opposition they need to shut down.
Check out our full grand final preview below.
QAFLW Seniors
Southport Sharks
Coach: Matthew Lappin
The Sharks enter the grand final with a target on their back after a simply sensation season.
Southport claimed the minor premiership in style, winning 15 of their 16 games with a points percentage of 796.26.
They boasted the best attack (1704 points for) and the best defence (291 points conceded) and will look to round out their season in style on Sunday.
‘They’ve done a terrific job - the whole club really,” Lappin said.
“We set out at the start of the year to defend both the times the club won last year in the seniors and reserves.
“I think it would be a great reward for a lot of the hard work that everyone’s put in place but we’ve still got a bit of work to do there.
“We’re really excited and looking forward to the challenge that lays in front of us.”
Where will game be won/lost: “I think at the end of the day, if we get our brand of footy and play the game the way we want to play and the way we have done for most of the season, then we’re going to be hard to beat. Their job will be to try and take our game away from us and our job will be to make sure that we execute the way we want to play. That’s what it will come down to, the last two times we’ve been able to do that, we’ve been able to play our brand of footy and it’s been a bit too strong for them.”
Key players: “A lot of the girls played in the grand final last year, so they’re familiar with the occasion. I think our midfield is our great strength, we’ve got Maddy Watt, Kierra Zerafa, Steph O’Brien, they’ve had great seasons.”
Opposing danger players: “I think the Roy sisters (Laura and Gracie) are really good players. Those two have been their key players for most of the year and I know they’ve got a couple of other really good midfielders who played in the state team as well. They’ve got some talent across the park but I think their big strength is their midfield contest and pressure.”
Morningside Panthers
Coach: Damien Richards
The Panthers have taken the league by storm in their inaugural QAFLW venture as they finished second on the ladder with 14 wins and two losses.
Morningside has the second best attack and defence in the competition and boasts an impressive percentage of 306.19.
“The group’s put in a lot of effort throughout the year and throughout the pre-season as well,” Richards said.
“I think it’s a credit to the attitude of all the individuals within the group.
“I was really impressed straight away with the willingness to learn and the work ethic that is in the group.
“That’s what has got us to where we are this weekend.”
Where will game be won/lost: “Southport is really good in the contest in getting from inside to outside the contest. So I guess just trying to limit that as much as possible but then also be able to play our game and run and carry the footy. Whoever can do that better is probably gonna win.”
Key players: “The Laura and Gracie Roy are definitely keys as well as Isabel Levine through the middle. Then up forward Lucy Bellinger and Courtney McDonnell, their experience that they bring to our side is super important. Then down back Lucy McCormick, Kylie Lawrence and Maddy Hennessy are definitely keys to what we’re going to do.”
Opposing danger players: “Steph O’Brien is obviously the man one. Sunny Lappin is a quality player through the midfield. Kierra Zerafa is their sort of barometer and gets them going in there as well. Then Dekota Baron up forward is very good, they’ve got a lot of quality kids in their side.”
QAFL Reserves
Southport Sharks
Coach: Shannan Tate
The Sharks were somehow even more dominant than their senior counterparts this season as they also picked up 15 wins but with a mind-boggling percentage of 1541.57.
Southport scored more than 1300 points through the regular season and conceded just 89.
“It is awesome, it’s pretty exciting, as a coach I haven’t been in this position for a long time,” Tate said.
“We’ve had 45 players who have played in our team over this year, we’ve had eight under-17 girls come up and represent our reserves so it shows that our pathway at this footy club is really on the up.
“Every single one that’s played in our team is part of what we’re going to be doing on Sunday.”
Where will game be won/lost: “Bond are really good at the contest, so we’ve got to be good at the contest. Then on the outside with how we move the ball, we’ve got to try move the ball how we move the ball. bond like to get players back and defend really well too. I think if we can score, we can score highly, I think that should get us the win.”
Key players: “Sienna Burnham of late has been really lighting it up in the middle with her contested work. Holly Wall has played a lot of senior footy, she’s been going great. Bindi Crabtree in the midfield, Abbie Pluples, has been playing a lot of senior footy. I could name the whole side ... it’s a really good team.”
Opposing danger players: “There’s a few there, obviously with their seniors going out, they may have a few senior girls that are eligible to play reserves that have been playing seniors throughout the year. So we won’t know until the sides come out on who that is or what that looks like.”
Bond University Bull Sharks
Coach: Tara Dutton
The Bull Sharks head into this clash boosted by the fact they were the only side to defeat Southport through the home and away season.
This is Dutton’s first season in charge of the Bull Sharks and she has guided the Gold Coast club to second on the ladder with 13 wins, one loss and two draws.
“I am extremely excited, we’ve been working hard all year, we’ve had a pretty green team this year but the girls have just improved each week,” she said.
“I’ve been very fortunate to get such a wonderful group of girls and terrific supporting staff at Bond.”
Where game will be won/lost: “I think it’s going to be whichever team turns up and wants it. It’s going to be on straight away and I think the midfield for both teams is going to play a huge part in how the game is dictated and how it’s going to play out.
Key players: “Definitely our captain Georgia Hamilton, she’s in our midfield and organises them extremely well. Our vice-captain Maddy Furlong, she’s on the wing and she’s always there keeping the voice up between the backs and the forwards as well. Jess Matthews in our backline, she’s our backline captain and Izzy Lowe in our forward line, they organise the team so well.”
Opposing danger players: “I think their young Suns Academy girls have been really solid this year. Sienna Burnham through the centres has been pretty fast but also their older women who are in their as well, they’ve got such a great depth of talent that they’re pretty dangerous across the park.”
