Image by Anthony Byron Photography
by Daniel Viles
Bond’s Continued Defence Means Bond Continues Defence
Bond University earned the chance to defend its Bond University QAFLW premiership with a gritty four-point victory over Aspley in last Saturday’s Preliminary Final at Zupps Aspley Oval.
The Bull Sharks made deeper inside-50 entries than the Hornets across the match and had the better of the first half to lead by 15 points at the main break.
Aspley eroded that lead through the second half and were just three points behind with five minutes remaining after winger Maddi Tallis charged onto a ruck tap in the left forward pocket and dribbled through a narrow gap.
Bond Uni believed they had secured the match a minute later when Ella Calleja’s set shot from 40 metres reached the goal line; the umpires ruled that Hornets fullback Lucy Thompson had punched the ball through before it made the distance.
The final minute saw 2024’s leading goalkicker, Aspley’s Jess Stallard, mark from Louise Tyson at left half-forward; her shot not only fell short but was punched 20 metres forward by makeshift Bond defender Nyalli Milne to complete the victory for the defending premiers.
The match was easily the most contested and least free flowing of the three between these teams in 2024 with both sides succeeding in shutting down the other’s space. After combining for 206 and 160 handballs received in their previous two encounters, this match allowed merely 81; disposal efficiencies normally in the high-70s were reduced to 60% each.
Bond defender Sophie Balcombe became just the fifth player this year to make four spoils in a match as she repeatedly charged out of defence to deny supply to Aspley’s star forwards, while Tiarna Ernst played a similar role at the other end of the ground picking off any inside-50 entry that wasn’t perfectly accurate.
Ruck and midfielder Jasmine Kawa lost the hit-out count to Havana Harris but had the most effective disposals (13) and clearances (7) of anyone on the ground.
In the third minute, Leah Kaslar gave Bond a lead they would never relinquish. Mia Salisbury positioned herself well behind a ruck contest 20 metres from goal, received a low handball from Calleja, and kicked onto the chest of Kaslar in the goal square for an easy set shot.
After weathering a period of dominance from Aspley, forward pressure from Bronte Parker forced a dump clearance straight to CJ Landwehr, who in turn found Harris in the left forward pocket. Harris made light of the narrow angle to extend Bond’s lead.
The personal duel between Stallard and Bond key defender Jasmyn Davidson was a highlight of the evening. Davidson’s spoilsand intercepts made her a clear winner through the first term and into the second, but Stallard created her own opportunity six minutes into the second quarter when her tackle on Balcombe forced her to kick out of bounds. Stallard’s set shot from the pocket was a study in technical perfection.
Balcombe made amends two minutes before half-time when she charged a kick intended for Kitara Whap-Farrar and sent play inside 50. Kaslar found some chaos ball, broke two tackles and handballed to Charlotte Taylor whose swinging kick found Tahlia Meyer in a vacant goal square for another set shot goal.
Davidson led Bond’s defence in defusing Aspley’s first three attacks of the third quarter, but the fourth saw Aspley work the ball quickly from a throw-in on left wing, drive through the corridor and give Stallard her first mark inside scoring distance.
Roles were reversed in the next few minutes as Morgan Lanigan, Thompson and Ernst each showed desperation to keep the Bull Sharks out, but in the tenth minute, stray hands in the back gave Parker a set shot for Bond’s final goal.
Tallis was beginning to find space wide for the Hornets when she brilliantly collected a ball at full speed on the half-volley and split two defenders in the one motion. The play moved through Emma McNaughton at centre half-forward who followed the play into the right pocket, retrieved the ball in space and snap truly to reduce the lead to nine.
In the final term, Bond nearly caught Aspley twice on the counter, but otherwise spent much of the quarter in its own 50. Strong marks from Lightfoot at halfback and Taylor on the wing characterised Bond’s resilience. They couldn’t stop Tallis’ wondergoal, nor get Calleja’s set shot over the line, but the desperation of Milne was the final act in a win that proved the team’s character.
Aspley finishes its seventh season in the Bond University QAFLW having achieved its highest placing, its most wins in a season, most points in a season and highest percentage.
The 24th Grand Final of the Queensland women’s state league will be the first to be played by two teams from the Gold Coast and the second on record to be held on the Gold Coast.
Preliminary Final: Saturday 17 August 2024, 4:45pm at Zupps Aspley Oval, Carseldine
ASPLEY 0.1 (1) 1.1 (7) 3.2 (20) 4.3 (27)
BOND UNIVERSITY 2.2 (14) 3.4 (22) 4.5 (29) 4.7 (31)
Replay and match statistics
Aspley
Goals: Jess Stallard 2, Emma McNaughton, Maddi Tallis
Best: Jasmine Kawa, Louise Tyson, Tiarna Ernst, Lucy Pengelly, Holly O’Flaherty, Eloise O’Connor
Bond University
Goals: Leah Kaslar, Havana Harris, Tahlia Meyer, Bronte Parker
Best: Sophie Balcombe, Mia Salisbury, Tahlia Meyer, Charlotte Taylor, Nyalli Milne, Paris Lightfoot
Find all your information about the Bond University QAFLW at the Competition Hub.
