Aidan Taylor 21st birthday came with the ultimate present: a grand final ticket, after Bond University overturned a three-goal deficit to survive a dramatic South Coast Community Seniors Division 1 elimination final against Broadbeach United.
For 70 minutes, the minor premier was playing like anything but.
In a semi-final, the pressure was at its peak. But as the minor premiers’ season hung in the balance, Taylor remained characteristically composed, helping his side weather the storm.
That composure was something head coach Kaden Boehme noticed long before kick-off.
“Absolute calm,” he said. “He does not sweat.”
Taylor is quick to admit that calm does not mean he is immune to nerves.
“Driving to the field, I could feel the excitement creeping in,” he said. “Adrenaline, you know? It’s like, I you just want to get out there.”
And when he does, the Creative Arts student has little interest in being the only one in the frame.
On the left wing, Taylor sees his role as creating opportunities that put his teammates in a position to succeed.
“When you’re attacking, it’s your job to create something. It’s my favourite thing to do,” he
says.
“I do pride myself on being able to read the game quite well.”
It’s a mindset that suits a player who would rather make the final pass than take the final glory.
“A good game for me won’t necessarily like I’ve scored goals,” he says. “It’ll be that I’ve set up goals.”
That love of the game extends beyond Taylor’s role on the pitch.
As vice-president of the Bond Bull Sharks football club, he sees the same commitment across its three men’s teams, where individual results are celebrated as collective victories.
“When all three teams win on a Wednesday night, it becomes a ‘nine-point Wednesday’ and a reason for the entire club to celebrate.”
For Taylor, that sense of belonging is part of what makes the team work. Representing Bond University, he says, carries its own expectations.
“There is a certain pride pulling on the Bond shirt,” he says. “Theres an expectation of excellence that extends beyond the football field.”
For the winger, that expectation does not disappear when the final whistle does.
“If we go out and we lose a game, especially a game that we should win, that can genuinely ruin your mood for a few days afterwards.”
It is a standard, Taylor says, that pushed the group to hold each other accountable.
“Everyone’s going to out there working for, and expecting a lot from, each other.”
The Bull Sharks entered Wednesday night having lost just once all season. Securing the league title with three games to spare.
But down three goals with 20 minutes left on the clock, Bond’s campaign was on the brink of
blowing off course.
Taylor remained confident his team could find something late. The plan was a simple one.
“If it’s not working,” he says. “Maintain possession and try not to rush things.”
It worked.
Bond found the three goals needed to draw level, with Dexter Newman setting the comeback in motion in the 65th minute before John Evans struck in the 83rd.
Just two minutes later, Dylan Tait found an equaliser to make it 3 – 3. The draw forced the game into a penalty shootout.
That’s when goalkeeper Lyndon James stepped up.
He made multiple critical saves to see his side to safety as Bond held its nerve from the spot to claim a 5 – 4 shootout victory and book its place in the South Coast Community Senior Division 1 grand final.
The Bull Sharks face their final test on September 9 at Coplicks Sports Park with a league title double in their sights.