An unexpected Century in the QAFLW

It’s hard to believe that the Bond University QAFLW program started out as a group of students most of whom had barely even touched a footy.

Current Seniors captain Paris Lightfoot has been there from the start. 

She still shakes her head in disbelief at how a way to catch up with mates over a ball rather than a book has come so far.

 “The first official year of the club was in 2015,” Lightfoot said.

“We were a very small uni student-based team at that point. 

“Most of us had played netball or other sports, none of us had any AFL experience. 

“We had about nine  players and often had to borrow players from other teams. 

“We lost our first game by over 100 points. Maybe it was our first few games actually.”

Fast forward nearly 10 years and the club from humble beginnings is ready to celebrate its 100^th QAFLW game this weekend. 

“It seems like just yesterday we were progressing into the QAFLW,” Bond AFL board member Sam Schiphorst said. 

“It’s amazing to see what the girls and the program have achieved so far.

“We’ve had a number of girls drafted into the AFLW and we are now the most successful program at introducing talent into the AFLW.

“We won our first QAFLW senior premiership last year. In 100 games we have achieved so much.”

So how does a group of misfits with no prior footy experience become one of the most formidable QAFLW teams in the league?

The answer is nearly a decade of developing a vision and program that not only fosters great players, but also great people.

“It’s all come off the back of hard work by so many players, administrators and coaches,” Schiphorst said.

“Everyone has been really committed to the vision of creating a program where we not only build good players but good people.

“Everyone has really unified in our ‘four teams one club’ approach across the men’s and women’s sides.”

The first building block tackled by the clubs’ administrators was bringing on a coaching staff who could drive development.

“We managed to get David Ashkar to come on board as our coach,” Schiphorst said. 

“He had been coaching the Suns boys’ academy. 

“Through a lot of hard work and structures that David put in place, we were able to win the Premiership in 2017.

“And that set us on the journey to continue growing the program into what it has become today.”

The women’s break-out year saw them into the QAFLW league where they entered not just a senior side, but also a reserves team. 

“The reserves’ success is a testament to the way that the coaches and administrators have built the list,” Schiphorst said.

“They put a real focus on not just the top level of talent but the lower levels as well, understanding that it’s a squad mentality that wins you premierships, not just a couple of individuals.”

The success of the reserves, arguably one of the best performing Bond University teams, proved the program structure of working from the bottom up was a winning one. 

Then the university introduced the Riewoldt AFL Excellence Scholarship, aiming to get talent into the squad while they completed a degree. 

“In 2018 Bond brought in an AFL scholarship for Bond university students,” Lightfoot said.

“Arianna Clarke came on board through that and we started to get more AFL talent into the program. The university started to really invest in the female space.”

The systems set up by Lightfoot, her friends and the administrators, saw to it that people who came aboard could flourish in a supportive environment.

“We look at developing the girls as players but also as people,” Lightfoot said.

“It’s always cool when some of them get drafted and go on to bigger and better things. 

“It’s the players that put in the work, utilise the environment we foster, the facilities, training and coaching, that see the most progress.

“Everyone gets to know each other on a deeper level as well, which is great.

“I think that’s why a lot of our girls stick around for an age. Its why I have stuck around for 10 years.

“It’s because of the relationships. It’s just that kind of club where everyone is super close - the players, the coaches, the men’s and women’s sides.”

Adding to the foundations laid out for him, Andy Lovell came aboard to drive the senior side to their first premiership win. 

“Andy has obviously been integral in getting the club to where it is today,” Lightfoot said.

“When he came on last year, he really helped in taking us to the next level.

“He led us to our first senior female premiership and hopefully we can back that up this season.”

Andy’s expert touch has been noticed by administrators and players alike.

“Lovell has brought another level of professionalism to the program with his experience,” Schiphorst said.

“He is able to prepare the girls for what they are likely to experience in the AFL system if they were to get there.

“He provides them with the best opportunity to succeed at a state league level as well.

“His preparation, paired with the relationships and rapport he has built with the playing group, has been phenomenal and is one of the pillars of his success.”

Bond’s AFL clubrooms are a testament to the hard work of all those who have walked through its doors since 2015. 

On the walls visible for all to see are the many reserves premiership trophies, and now one from the senior side.