AFL powers-that-be would probably argue that Jasmyn Davidson’s 100th game as a Bull Shark last weekend had always been written in the stars.
It’s hard to argue otherwise.
Back in 2020, the ruck-turned-midfielder had only just become accustomed to running out for Assisi College before Gold Coast Suns Academy scouts had whisked her away into a development program.
It was all part of a push to build a pool of athletically capable prospects to help lay a foundation for the arrival of AFLW in SE Queensland.
Davidson isn’t complaining for a second.
“It was pretty cool to get identified,” she says.
For Davidson, the freedom that comes with the wide expanses of a football field had instant appeal.
“All that open space. I enjoyed it from the get-go.”
Now in her seventh season at Bond – her eighth season of footy overall - the soon-to-be veterinary nurse has become just the second female Bull Sharks player behind club legend Paris Lightfoot to chalk up a ton.
“I feel really proud to have played a lot of games for a club I love,” she said.
“And to be second to achieve a hundred games behind Paris is awesome. We played in the 2023 Premiership side together and we’re good friends, so it feels very special.”
As is custom, Davidson’s name will now be embossed on one of the benches perched on the small hill at the southern end of the Bull Sharks’ home ground, The Canal.
By her own admission, Davidson has come a long way since those early moments in 2020.
“I only played one season of any kind of footy before starting at Bond,” she said.
“I was pretty young and shy. To be surrounded by all these strong, mature adults was a real eye opener.”
She admits she was learning the game on the fly.
“My brother played for Coomera Magpies, so I’d watched him do his thing. I guess I learned a bit from that. Otherwise, it was just a case of having a crack and seeing what happened. Looking back, I was bumped up into Senior footy pretty quickly given my inexperience, but it all worked out.”
She says the arrival of former AFL player and assistant coach Andy Lovell to the club was a real turning point.
“He’s an amazing coach,” she said.
“He cares so much about everyone, and he just knows his stuff. He’s always helping us improve our skills and learn new plays.”
Bond University Bull Sharks host Broadbeach Cats at The Canal this Saturday.