By Grace Knight
Since trading my notepad for boots and a mouthguard I’ve come to find it’s one thing to write about footy and another to play it.
For almost two years I spent my Saturdays following the Bull Sharks’ footy season working as Bond’s resident sports journalist.
One thing I learnt well before joining this team is that their culture is built on friendship, fun and commitment.
Any spectator can see the way these girls work for each other and represent Bond with pride that is unmatched.
Growing up in South Australia alongside two football fanatics – my brother and father – I was instilled with a love for the game, so writing about it was truly special.
As a Bond University student studying a Bachelor of Journalism, it was the dream job. However, amidst the thrill of documenting the Bull Sharks’ journey, a quiet longing to experience the game first-hand began to grow within me.
So after chronicling the highs and lows of the Bull Sharks’ 2022 season and the stunning double premiership success of 2023, I made the decision to join the frontline of the game I had come to know so intimately from the sidelines.
Around October of last year, I committed to partaking in the Bull Sharks’ preseason, fully aware of my lack of experience (and as I soon discovered, fitness).
I spent nights after work diligently developing my skills in anticipation for the upcoming preseason. I vividly recall my excitement the day Andy Lovell offered to kick with me after I’d spent months kicking the ball up and down the field by myself.
The transition certainly tested my fitness. I remember struggling to run a mere lap of the oval. However, our ghastly preseason boot camp at Casuarina soon sorted that out.
As preseason progressed, I swiftly learnt I needed to excel to earn my spot in the blue and gold jersey.
After a humbling few months of training and skills development, I was elated to play my first game last weekend – in the ruck of all places, and standing a girl twice my size.
For a debut game, I was pretty chuffed with my performance, getting several possessions, and often out-jumping my opponent in ball-ups.
While I still have much to work on, reflecting on where I started, I’m pretty damn proud of how far I’ve come.
The most significant lesson I’ve learnt in my journey with the Bull Sharks is that success extends beyond scoring goals or winning matches.
It’s about embodying the spirit of the team – a spirit defined by friendship, fun and an unwavering commitment to ourselves and each other.