Southport Sharks and Bond University to face-off in QAFLW rivalry
QAFLW powerhouses Southport Sharks and Bond University will face-off in the latest chapter of the Gold Coast rivalry. Check out the players to watch and keys to victory for both sides here.
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The latest chapter in the growing rivalry between Bond University Bull Sharks and Southport Sharks QAFLW sides is set to be written this weekend when the two sides face-off at Bond University Oval on Saturday.
The Gold Coast sides have been powerhouses of the QAFLW in recent years and with both sides starting the season 3-0, there is plenty on the line in this grand final rematch.
Check out our in-depth preview of both sides ahead of this highly-anticipated encounter.
Bond University
Bond coach Andy Lovell was excited to see how his side matches up with the in-form team of the competition.
“It is exciting to test ourselves against them, they’re obviously high talented” he said.
“We’ve been building our game, we had a pretty slow start to our pre-season but I feel like we’ve built reasonably well over the last five weeks since then but this will be our biggest test by far.”
Bond had a turnover of 25 players from last year and has turned to the reserve grade side to replenish the squad this season.
Lovell was beyond impressed by the way several rising stars have stepped up at QAFLW level throughout the opening games of the season.
The breakthrough seasons of several stars previously in reserve grade has reduced the burden felt by the wholesale departures during the off-season
Lovell said the contest work will be key in this weekend’s clash with Southport.
“When you get to the level that our teams are at, the contest becomes critical,” he said.
“Stoppage work becomes important because whoever wins that gets territory.”
Key players
Grace Moodie: The Bond captain has led brilliantly from halfback and will be crucial for the Bull Sharks in preventing the lethal Southport attack.
Skye White: A key tall defender who has been in fine form this season.
Ella Calleja: Calleja brings elite talent and experience across the half forward line and has picked up three goals this season.
Shannon Nolan: Nolan is in career-best form in the midfield and is damaging around the contest.
Maisy Evans: An impressive talent who has been one of the best Bull Sharks this season and has chipped in with five majors.
Kendra Blattman: Bond’s leading goalkicker so far with six goals from three games, she is set to have a pivotal role in this blockbuster clash.
Opposing danger players
Steph O’Brien: “She’s been huge for them in particular,” Lovell said.
“She’s obviously won back-to-back Zielke Medals, she’s the most influential player on the ground given her size, experience and talent.”
Megan Hunt: “Gives them real strong physically and an important player,” Lovell said.
Southport Sharks
The Sharks have been unstoppable through the opening three games, scoring 432 points and conceding just 39.
Southport coach Matt Lappin promised an attacking brand of football and has been impressed by the way his side has implemented the new playstyle.
However, with the Sharks facing another unbeaten side, Lappin is aware they will be in for their toughest challenge yet.
“We really look forward to these games,” he said.
“We’ll prepare our girls really well, we were lucky enough to play Bond in a pre-season game at their facility so we’ve had a bit of a taste of their style of footy against ours this year.
“We’re looking forward to seeing how we measure up against them when we’re playing for four points on the weekend.”
Lappin said a major focus headed into this contest was to ensure his side stuck to their game plan.
“Getting the game played the way we want to play will be the challenge,” he said.
“Bond is probably going to try and do the same thing at their end, try and get the game played their way and take away a couple of our weapons.
“If we can play our Sharks brand of footy that we have done so far this season we’ll be hard to stop but there’s another team out there trying to play their brand of footy.”
Players to watch
Steph O’Brien: A ruck who has the class and ball skills of a midfielder and few can stop her when she’s at her best.
Madeleine Watt: The Queensland rep has stormed out of the blocks and been one of the standout players among a stacked Sharks roster.
Olivia Meagher and Maddy Baldwin: The duo have been a force to be reckoned with in attack and have combined for 22 goals from three games.
Opposing danger player
Shannon Nolan: “She really caught my eye in the pre-season game and I’ve been noticing she tends to be their number one possession getter each week,” Lappin said.
“She was really hard running, good agility and busy at the stoppage, she looked like a well-rounded player.
“She’s the one player I will be looking at on the tape and making sure that we’re ready and prepared for her.”
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Originally published as Southport Sharks and Bond University to face-off in QAFLW rivalry
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