By Daniel Viles
Bond turn out the lights on Southport
A dominant second half from Bond University was interrupted only by a power failure as they defeated Southport by 20 points at Bond University Oval.
With 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter, an electricity outage left the field in total darkness in scenes reminiscent of an AFL match at the Gabba in March 2023. The three-quarter time break was extended to twelve minutes before the final period began with the lights at half-strength.
Southport had the majority of possession and territory in the first half but were kept to just two behinds in the second half as the Bull Sharks scored four unanswered goals.
The Inside 50 count, which ended 32-31 in favour of the home side, doesn’t show how the Bull Sharks defenders, most notably Grace Moodie, Sophie Balcombe and Jasmyn Davidson, broke the connection between the Sharks midfielders and forwards by repeatedly winning possession 40 to 50 metres from goal and counter-attacking.
Four of Bond’s six goals, including all three scored by Arianna Clarke, came directly from turnovers by defenders. The first was in the fourth minute when a Davidson tackle allowed Moodie to begin a chain of possession that ended with Clarke marking directly in front of goal.
Southport responded in 13 seconds when Kierra Zerafa’s centre clearance resulted in Megan Hunt, a teammate of Clarke’s from Brisbane’s 2018 NAB AFLW Grand Final, toeing through a ball that she had forced loose from Moodie.
Maighan Fogas extended the Sharks’ lead midway through the first term when she tapped through an Alicia Gordon free kick that cleared the defence and pulled up in the goal square.
Bond reduced the margin to three points early in the second term when Clarke finished off a movement begun by Moodie winning the ball at centre halfback and releasing captain Paris Lightfoot on the right. Best on Ground Nyalli Milne gathered Lightfoot’s pass in midfield and scythed through the defence to again find Clarke in front of the goal square.
The non-scoring highlights of the first half came courtesy of three leaping marks from Sharks full-forward Dekota Baron, the first of which is a definite Mark of the Year contender, on the edge of her scoring range. After three minor scores, Baron converted her mark from Pluples late in the second to give her side a nine-point half-time lead.
Bond reduced the margin to three points 34 seconds after the re-start when Tara Harrington sent her free kick into a gaping hole in Southport’s defence. Tahlia Meyer gathered, ran and scored unaccompanied.
Clarke’s third goal began with Balcombe attacking an attempted clearance and allowing Abbey Bevan to kick to the goal square. Havana Harris drew the defenders to allow Clarke to mark behind the contest.
Milne began an exceptional final quarter by scoring after 27 seconds. Lightfoot caused the turnover on the wing and allowed Harris to thump a 45-metre kick into the attacking third. Clarke’s clever handball found Milne at full speed bound for an empty goal square.
Tara Harrington finished the goalscoring eight minutes later when she skilfully gathered on the half-volley and stepped around a defender in one motion before shooting truly.
Southport was left to rue several rushed attempts to enter Bond’s 50 and exit their own but had more than its share of stars. Rucks Georja Davies and Tayla Gregory dominated the restarts, Maddy Watt noticeably increased her ball-winning efforts as the tide turned against her side, captain Rianna Schipp broke into space again and again, and Shayla Lloyd regularly won the ball in defence on an outstanding debut.
Bond’s next match is against Coorparoo on Anzac Day while Southport travels to Aspley two days later.
In other matches, Aspley scored 100 points in a match for the first time in its Bond University QAFLW history in defeating Yeronga, Laura Roy’s 12 clearances and two goals took University of Queensland to victory over Maroochydore, and Wilston Grange held on against Coorparoo to record its fiftieth state league victory.
Saturday 13 April 2024, 4:45pm at Bond University Oval, Robina
|
Bond University |
1.1 (7) |
2.1 (13) |
4.3 (27) |
6.8 (44) |
|
Southport |
2.4 (16) |
3.4 (22) |
3.5 (23) |
3.6 (24) |
Bond University
Goals: Arianna Clarke 3, Tahlia Meyer, Nyalli Milne, Tara Harrington
Best: Nyalli Milne, Courtney Sexton, Arianna Clarke, Paris Lightfoot, Sophie Balcombe, Mia Salisbury
Southport
Goals: Megan Hunt, Maighan Fogas, Dekota Baron
Best: Georja Davies, Tayla Gregory, Rianna Schipp, Maighan Fogas, Alannah Welsh, Selina Priest
Saturday 13 April 2024, 2pm at Leyshon Park, Yeronga
|
Yeronga South Brisbane |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
1.0 (6) |
|
Aspley |
2.2 (14) |
4.4 (28) |
9.5 (59) |
16.10 (106) |
Yeronga South Brisbane
Goals: Courtney McDonnell
Best: Charlotte Millen, Peppa Poultney, Courtney McDonnell, Jamie Howell, Chelsea Winn, Camilla Burnett
Aspley
Goals: Jess Stallard 6, Rachael Vetter 3, Jessica Davy 2, Izzy McDonough, Alanna Perry, Louise Tyson, Lilu Hung, Jaimie Bryant
Best: Jessica Davy, Louise Tyson, Alanna Perry, Rachael Anstey, Jess Stallard, Jaimie Bryant
Saturday 13 April 2024, 3:45pm at Enoggera Memorial Park
|
University of Queensland |
3.1 (19) |
4.2 (26) |
6.3 (39) |
6.6 (42) |
|
Maroochydore |
1.0 (6) |
2.2 (14) |
2.2 (14) |
2.2 (14) |
University of Queensland
Goals: Laura Roy 2, Jane Childes, Bridey Condren, Jasmine Dekker, Monique Piunti
Best: Laura Roy, Bridey Condren, Gracie Roy, Jane Childes, Harriet Knijff, Eva Sartor
Maroochydore
Goals: Ellen Hopkins, Jesse McMillan
Best: Jya Epstein, Jemma Foley, Marlee Marshall, Sophie Peters, Jesse McMillan, Demi Norton
Saturday 13 April 2024, 4:45pm at iiNergy Oval, Stafford
|
Wilston Grange |
2.2 (14) |
4.3 (27) |
5.3 (33) |
5.3 (33) |
|
Coorparoo |
0.0 (0) |
1.2 (8) |
3.5 (23) |
4.6 (30) |
Wilston Grange
Goals: Lauren Shackleton 2, Hayley Finning, Naomi Celebre, Summer Hamilton
Best: Charlize Anderson, Zimra Hussain, Summer Hamilton, Mackenzie Findlay, Keyshia Matenga, Uma Brennan
Coorparoo
Goals: Jenae Govan 2, Jacinta Baldwick, Emily Harding
Best: Jacinta Baldwick, Chloe Gaunt, Emily Harding, Alyssa Gall, Ajla Fetahagic, Jenae Govan
Photo by Highflyer Imgages
