Adelaide debutant Hugh Bond reflects on first game, earns praise for shutting down Jack Higgins
One game down, one big scalp collected. Adelaide debutant Hugh Bond played a crucial win in the club’s win over St Kilda, shutting down Jack Higgins. And, he’s earned huge praise from his teammates who are tipping a bright future.
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When Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks blasted the James Bond theme song in the rooms on Wednesday, Hugh Bond quickly realised he was about to make his AFL debut.
“It was a pretty cool moment,” Bond told this masthead.
“‘Nicksy’ (Matthew Nicks) played the James Bond theme song and 007 came up on the screen and he told me ‘welcome to the AFL’.”
The 50th pick in the 2022 AFL Draft was instrumental as a lockdown small defender on Saturday night, keeping Jack Higgins goalless and looking right at home in front of 34,549 fans.
It’s a role that Bond had barely played until his draft year, but one that the Crows debutant is hoping to make his own after a successful debut in the 32-point win over St Kilda.
The Greater Western Victoria Rebels product said it was a night he would never forget.
“I don’t even know how to explain it, it was so fun,” Bond said.
“You always hope and dream that this day would come but for it to happen is so surreal.”
Bond’s presence was hard to ignore on the broadcast, with the Horsham export’s family and friends making themselves known whenever he was near the ball.
Welcome to your first AFL game, Bondy 🤠pic.twitter.com/kj1kbibsd4
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) July 13, 2024
One of those friends was St Kilda defender James Van Es, who played alongside Bond in both Victoria’s Coates Talent League and at North Ballarat in the Ballarat Football Netball League.
“It was pretty loud out there … I’m very lucky to have everyone down here tonight,” Bond said.
“My whole family is here and all my mates from Ballarat came across which is special.”
Bond spent his time in the Talent League as a tough inside midfielder, leading the league in tackles per game, while his highly-regarded endurance was also on display on Saturday night, covering 15.4 kilometres in the win.
While Bond was impressive as a midfielder, it was a move to defence for Vic Country in the 2022 Under 18 National Championships that caught the attention of the Crows.
The 185 centimetre midfielder-turned-defender tracked Higgins all night, keeping the crafty small forward to just seven disposals and one behind.
The Birdman presents Hugh Bond with his AFL guernsey 🤠pic.twitter.com/nLLydDD7P2
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) July 13, 2024
Crows captain Jordan Dawson was full of praise for the 19-year-old, telling Fox Footy that Bond was a Luke Brown replica.
“He’s fit, he’s quick, he’s strong and he hates getting beaten and loves these sorts of conditions,” Dawson said.
“I’m excited about what he’s got to offer us in the back half of the year.”
Ben Keays, who finished with 24 touches and one goal, said Bond was “amazing” on Saturday night.
“He’s the guy in pre-season who you don’t want coming to you when you’re playing forward,” Keays told this masthead.
“Every team’s got to have guys like that who are selfless and don’t care to get the ball, they just want to lock someone away.”
Bond tallied six disposals and four tackles on debut as the Crows turn their attention to an enticing Friday night clash against Essendon.
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