AFL Rd 4
It will be an emotion charged week of football for the Bull Sharks at The Canal with both Thursday’s QAFLW Anzac Day clash and Saturday’s QFA to be called “Ash’s Day” to celebrate the life of Bondi stabbing victim Ashlee Good.
Aslee Good was a beloved cousin to Bull Sharks premiership winning coach and club president Sam Whish-Wilson and Bond University has decided to show its support by naming the fixtures in Ash’s honour and directing the day’s proceeds to the family.
Bond’s AFLW girls are looking to keep their unbeaten streak alive against Coorparoo, the last side to beat them in 2023, while the men will look to bounce back against the Tweed Coast Tigers.
AFLW
Last time they met:
Rd 14 2023.
Coorparoo win 5.7 (37) to 1.2 (8).
On reflection:
Going into this Thursday’s game the team is clear that that the focus against Coorparoo is to be more physical and mentally switched on. We were lacking in this the last time we faced off and it really showed in the final score. We will be working on being better at gaining contested ball, using it to our advantage in our forward 50 to score more this time around.
What’s changed:
We have five new players on our side since the last time we met. We are still working on the team’s on field synergy, but this always comes over time. Through these players we have a renewed sense of energy and it’s been great to see this during our first few games this season.
Shuffling the magnets:
We have moved Jas Davidson from ruck this year to centre half back in hopes she can really bring it in our defensive line. We have also moved captain Paris Lightfoot from half back to wing, hoping to put her speed to good use.
Our skills are better this season than last. Our marking and kicking to advantage has been a huge highlight, really shining in our first two games.
Look out for:
We are welcoming Mikayla Meyer for her senior debut in half back this weekend. She will be one to watch all season. We managed to recruit her from Williamstown VFLW side. Another one to watch is Abbey Bevan, she is easily one of our fastest developing players, working between centre half forward and ruck. We also have our newest Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship recipient, Maisy Evans who has been a great ruck for us in our first two games.
Welcome back:
This round we welcome back Izzy Lowe, a younger player who will run on as one of our full forwards. She has been super exciting to watch as she develops and we’re happy to have her back on field this round.
The opposition:
Coorparoo is a very dangerous team. Their coach does really well developing the girls as players and a unit. The program he has created is building some real talent and a cohesive team. We will need to be well switched on a prepared for a tough and physical contest.
With Andy Lovell
QFA
Last time they met:
Round 15, 2023
Bull Sharks won 13.16 (96) to 4.6 (30)
Where it will be won:
We have made a focus on how we moved the ball into our forward fifty, especially with ways we can give our forwards a better chance to convert these entries into goals. Burleigh Bombers have a very well organised zone defence and last week we consistently played into their hands by bombing the ball long to Jack Tilley who was often wrestling with multiple opponents. If we can lower our eyes and find players leading up at the ball, we will be very hard to beat.
The opposition:
They are building something at the Tigers. Dean Solomon always struggled for numbers in his first season in 2023 as player availability appeared to hinge on other social weekend pursuits. So far this season he has enjoyed greater consistency with his team selection and the performances are mirroring that.
Welcome back:
Felix Packer will play hist first premiership game in over two years when he returns on Saturday after two knee reconstructions. A powerful and agile forward, we hope he can form a damaging partnership with Jack Tilley.
The final message:
We need to respond to last week’s performance against the Bombers. Although we fought hard and there was no questioning our intent, we didn’t get the result we wanted. We can’t see the Tigers as an opponent that recent form suggests we should be strong favourites against and let our hair down with the way we play. Instead we have to treat the game as a chance to be disciplined in the way we stick to our style of football for the entire four quarters. Do that and the result should take care of itself.
With Andy Lovell.