A Queensland Firebird, a highly respected former Cougar, and one of regional Queensland’s most outstanding up-and-comers headline a new look Bond Bull Sharks netball squad and establishes Bond as a prime netballing destination.
Mia Stower will join her mother and Bond University Head Coach, Bec, at Bond after 23 Suncorp Super Netball games as a Queensland Firebird.
Stower is smart and agile goal attack with a reputation for accurate long-range shooting.
With Hart Sapphire and Ruby Series netball incorporating two-point super shots this year, her addition to the squad couldn’t be timelier.
In an added familial twist, Mia’s younger sister, Evie, has emerged from the 2023 Bond Bull Sharks Development Squad to earn a place alongside her big sis in the senior playing group.
Strong, skilful, and experienced midcourter Jayden Molo is an important signing for Bond after serving a lengthy apprenticeship at Brisbane North Cougars. A resilient and tough competitor, Molo adds some serious steel to the Bull Sharks mid court engine room.
Also making the jump from the Cougars talent factory is Lauren Aubrey. With tall defenders like hens’ teeth in state league netball, Aubrey’s arrival is a welcome one.
Tully-raised Queensland pathways project, Sasha-May Flegler, offers extraordinary athleticism and versatility to Bond’s strengthened mid-court group.
The highly touted teenager represented Australia in Fast5 netball at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games. She’s also a state-level softballer.
In a particularly exciting development, a number of Bull Sharks will be hitting the books at Bond.
Among these are last year’s sharp-shooting MVP and Queensland U19 representative, Kaylin van Greunen. She’s enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Sciences.
Alongside her will be livewire midcourt prospect Charli Pearse who joins Bond from Gold Coast netball nursery Somerset College after a few years honing her skills at the Gold Coast Titans. She’ll study a Bachelor of Actuarial Science.
Bond University Netball Operations Manager, Kim Boland, says she is thrilled at how the squad has come together.
“We were so excited by the amount of interest we had locally and from interstate from triallists ahead of the 2024 season,” she says.
“I think those who registered probably saw a well-organised and passionate franchise and a happy, hungry playing group and they wanted to be a part of it.”
“Our 2024 group builds upon a solid foundation. Returning players have had to work extremely hard to retain their positions, and our new arrivals are super exciting. Mia Stower delivers so much skill, capability and experience. And Jayden Molo is such an impressive competitor. We are absolutely rapt to be giving Sasha May-Flegler an opportunity. She is an incredible young athlete with an outstanding work ethic."
"It’s also particularly great to see student athletes among the squad. Being a preferred destination for those who want to study and play elite sport is an important part of what we want to develop here.”
Rounding out the new arrivals is a pair of midcourters from interstate and a promising Fijian.
Chanelle Byers, a Tasmanian underage player known for her impressive turn of speed, has signed on. So too Sophie Westover, a former South Australian U19 player, who joins the Bull Sharks after playing in the powerful Netball SA Premier League.
Spring-legged defensive utility and 2023 Fijian World Cup squad member Naviniya Sivo will join Bond after a stint at Carina Easts Tigers.
Last year’s Sapphire team captain, Hannah Le Sage will wear the yellow and blue again. She’ll be joined by fellow returning shooters Abby Boland, Jorja Gisinger and Elka Macaulay.
Dakota Newson – recently announced as a Queensland U19 squad member - Joesi Gisinger, Ocean Karekare and last year’s Ruby captain Molly Parry are back.
Defenders Maddie Ryan, Ella Spencer, Abi Houston, Tehya Hyssett and Harriet Nicholson are also welcome returnees.
Young, tall defenders Sienna Hyssett – sister of Tehya – and Amelia Cotton have been invited to join the squad as training partners. Both are Gold Coast locals who represented Bond University Bull Sharks U16s at the State Titles earlier this year.