PRELIMINARY FINAL
Bond University v Southport Sharks
Saturday July 29th, 1pm
Bond University, Robina
Hearts will be racing during tomorrow’s Bond University QAFLW Preliminary Final between Bond and Southport, with both teams only one win away from a Grand Final berth. The match will take place at Bond’s home ground at Robina at 1pm and the weather forecast is looking promising for a great day of footy.
Bond will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing qualifying final against University of Queensland where they went down 48 (7.6) – 9 (1.3). While Southport will be coming into the game hot after a convincing 55 (7.13) – 14 (2.2) victory over Maroochydore in their elimination final.
All eyes tomorrow will be on the battle between Bond’s half back line of Caity Thorne, Captain Paris Lightfoot and Jess Maher against Southport’s half forward line of Bre McFarlane, Hannah Davies and Caitlin Miller. All six players are quick and can take a solid mark. This half back line has long been of Bond’s strengths and they will need to be at their best on Saturday as they aim to repel the constant threats from Southport.
Bond enjoy playing on the wing and tomorrow expect to see them want to take advantage there. Their wingers Georgia Hutton, Sienna McMullen and Annie Muir work well together and will be threatening. Southport could look to utilise experienced winger and former AFLW player Selina Priest on the wing, to minimise their influence.
Another important battle ahead of tomorrow will be between the two rucks. Southport’s Lilly Pearce is arguably the best ruck in the competition and will be up against Southport’s Jasmyn Davidson. Reflecting on past experience, Davidson is expected to rise to the challenge. In last year’s Preliminary Final against Maroochydore, Davidson was up against the league’s best ruck in Jacqui Dupuy, who has since signed with the Gold Coast SUNS AFLW. She proved on that day, she can mix it with the best.
Players to watch:
Bond University:
Midfield Courtney Sexton is the team’s organiser and her teammates will be looking to her for direction and energy.
Southport:
Poppy Boltz is the power behind the Southport midfield and is coming off a huge haul last week where she had 36 possessions against Maroochydore.
Forward Darcie Davies is also coming in strong after bagging four majors last week.
Last time they met:
Bond and Southport played each other twice in two weeks in Round 13 and 14 last month. In Round 13 Southport upset Bond at home and the week later Bond repaid the favour.
In both games, both teams were missing key players so tomorrow’s match will be a whole new ball game.
Where to from here?
The winner from tomorrow’s match will head straight to the Grand Final against the University of Queensland on Sunday August 7 at Leyshon Park.
Can’t make the game? Watch it here: QAFLW | Cluch.TV
Insights provided by QAFLW Commentator Daniel Viles.
