The unparalleled reputation of Bond University as Australia’s premier women’s football nursery has earned the Bull Sharks hosting rights for an AFLW match next weekend.
The round 5 clash between the Gold Coast Suns and expansion club Port Adelaide on Sunday September 25 will be free entry and mark the first time the University has held a semi-professional Australian Rules Football game.
Fox Sports will broadcast the season seven showdown live from the University’s boutique oval, affectionately known as The Canal among Bull Sharks faithful.
No other club in the country has produced more AFLW players than the Bull Sharks over the last six years: 23 players have been added to AFLW lists.
“It is really exciting. We have done a lot of work over the last few years building up the strength of our women’s program,” said Bond University General Manager of AFL Michael Swann.
AFL officials selected Bond over another club on the Gold Coast due to the high standard of the University’s oval. The field will now be transformed with television-standard line markings and official league logos.
Metricon Stadium is unable to host the AFLW match due to preparations for a T20 game between Australia and the West Indies next month.
“It is going to be a great experience for us to demonstrate what we have on offer - which is already at a really high level - and to identify other infrastructure opportunities, so we can establish the club as a potential venue for other AFLW or VFL games,” said Swann.
The Suns AFLW team will train at the University in the leadup to the game.
A number of former Bull Sharks players will be available for both the Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide. The Suns squad includes Shannon Danckert, Serene Watson, Lauren Bella, Ellie Hampson and Jasmyn Smith. Twins Litonya and Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap are signed to Port Adelaide but are yet to make their AFLW debuts.
The Suns are organising scaffolding for the broadcast team, as well as food trucks to handle accommodate up to 1000 spectators.
MATCH DAY INFORMATION:
Gold Coast Suns v Port Adelaide – Sunday, September 25
Bond University AFL Oval
1:10pm
Free entry