The Bull Sharks’ incredible consistency has continued with both grades returning to the QFA Preliminary Finals.
We asked our Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship recipients Nick Francis and Tom Ferguson about the feeling in the group and what it is like to play for Brisbane Lions legend Shaun Hart.
What can you tell me about Shaun Hart as a coach? How has it been working with him this season?
Nick:
Harty has obviously got a long history in the game with lots of years spent at the top level and therefore has a lot of experience and knowledge about the game. Particularly, Harty played in lots of finals in his playing days and I think he really knows how to get the best out of the group for finals and big games which has been very valuable and should hold us in good stead for Saturday.
Tom:
Working with Harty this year has been highly beneficial for my football because I know the help he has given me has stemmed from his own AFL experience. He has highlighted the importance of defensive running and pressure in my position, whilst also giving me the freedom to work offensively. An aspect that I like about Harty’s coaching style is that he is always open to constructive conversation. He acknowledges when the players do something wrong, but importantly, also recognises when he makes a mistake. Through this, I have developed a trust that Harty wants the best for the team, leading me to accept and respect the decisions that he makes.
Is the Men’s AFL program as good as you thought it would be?
Nick:
I would say it's better than what I expected. This is my first season of Queensland footy and I honestly had no idea what to expect. But, the coaching is excellent and the program and culture of the club overall has been awesome and made me feel very welcome in my first year at the club. It's a great group of lads and training and gameday is always a day I look forward to.
Tom:
The men's program has definitely been better than I expected.
A heavily contributing factor to this is the experience and ability of the coaching staff. Despite being heavily involved in the professional level, the group are able to navigate coaching at a local level. When it is time to train they are attentive and ready, but also allow for players to relax. In essence, they find a good balance where players can improve their footy while allowing it to be enjoyable.
The playing group also attributes to the exceeding of my expectations. This mainly stems from the leadership group, both in the seniors and the reserves. With consistent meetings and time for conversation, they have created a well-rounded environment that wants to win but also wants to enjoy their time with each other.
What’s the belief like in the team heading into these finals?
Nick:
There is a strong belief we can go all the way. It's such an even competition within the top few teams and it is basically who has the best next couple of weeks that will win the flag. We have all the tools we need and a lot of talent and are a really connected group, so hopefully we can get the job done. We will do everything we can to prepare well to give ourselves the best chance.
Tom:
The feeling amongst the group at the moment is very positive. Our most recent game against Carrara has given the boys a good morale boost. It was a challenging game where incidents didn’t go our way, but we came out on top which was needed for the group. Despite going down in a couple close games, we know that on our day, we can beat anyone.
Do you have any team superstitions that play out before each game?
Nick:
Not really, I just try my best to stay chill and relaxed. I always tighten the laces of my boots from the bottom of the laces to the top. My mouthguard is always in my left sock pregame.
Tom:
During school footy, I had a superstition where I used to tape my left wrist for every game. There was no real reason for it, I just thought it looked good and was something I always did. During my first year at Bond, I moved away from it as I realised it was somewhat pointless and just became annoying to take off after the game. However, about halfway through the season I decided to go back to the old tradition and strap it up. It was this game where I snapped my left wrist completely and was out for about four months.
I’ve had no pregame superstitions since.
How are you enjoying this season?
Nick:
I’m loving it, great group of boys and we have a lot of fun together. It is good to have some success so far, but we are looking for the premiership definitely. Personally, I have never won a footy flag before so would love to be involved in one this year.
Tom:
I’ve definitely enjoyed this season. Overall, I have become more relaxed in the playing group and accustomed to the play style of the competition. I have learnt my role in the team and how I can best contribute to each match. Through being more relaxed, I've been able to focus more on the team things which is highly beneficial.
Which players do you think will make their mark in these finals?
Nick:
I think Ollie Burrows-Cheng is a big-time finals player. He will be massive for us again on the weekend. Wyatt Bacon has been in great touch too. Tommy Ferguson will dominate as well.
Tom:
Liam Viney, Kain Ford and Ryan Dienjes.