The Bull Sharks' QAFLW premiership defence goes on the line at The Canal on Saturday when they face Coorparoo in a knock out semi final.
The reserves are already guaranteed a second chance and can advance straight into the final with a win.
In the QFA it is the final home and away fixture of the season and the Bull Sharks are looking for a strong performance to build confidence ahead of their finals campaign.
QAFLW
Bond v Coorparoo at The Canal
Last time they met:
Rd10, at Griffin Park.
Bull Sharks won 6.6 (42) to 3.2 (20).
Best Players: Mia Salisbury, Havana Harris, Courtney Sexton, Jasmyn Davidson, Nyalli Milne, Tahlia Meyer
The opposition:
Coorparoo are a hard, contested ball side. They are full of experienced and big bodied, tough players who like to keep the game on the inside which suits their combative style.
Shuffling the magnets:
We have lost Imogen Evans to Collingwood but will welcome back our Queensland representative players Havanna Harris, Mia Salisbury, Nyalli Milne, Annabell Foat, Bronte Parker and Aleah Stringer. These girls are all available for selection.
Ones to watch:
Christy Landwehr has been in great form, Ella Calleja has been doing an amazing job across half forward and Shannon Nolan is the model of consistency. These girls have been all our key form players along with Tahlia Meyer.
The focus:
To get our outside running game going. Our ability to take the ball form stoppages to inside 50 so that we can mark and score has been something we have worked on for the second half of the season.
The final word:
It’s a knockout final and we need to be playing at our best against quality opposition who we respect highly. I feel like we have been building strongly and our connection and synergy has been strong in recent weeks.
QFA
Bull Sharks v Coomera at Coomera.
Last time they met:
Rd10, 2024 The Canal.
Bull Sharks won 21.21 (147) to 3.4 (22).
Best Players: Kain Ford, Grant Trew, Ryan Dienjes, Kane Peeters, Matthew Smith, Sam Bowen
On reflection:
Our previous encounter with Coomera was a dominant affair against an opposition that was missing a few players. As always, the Magpies scrap and compete hard so they can never to be taken lightly, particularly as we face them on their home deck in what will be their last game of the season.
The opposition:
The Coomera Magpies have been a team that have struggled in the last couple of years due to player exits and other circumstances. Given it’s their last home game of the season and have a nothing to lose attitude this makes them a very dangerous opposition to play against. Our form in the last 2 weeks hasn’t set the world on fire therefore we need to be absolutely dialed in and ready for the contest.
Shuffling the magnets:
We must wait and test several players who have pulled up with some minor issues from Saturday’s game. There is some hope that Grant Trew who is one of our key defenders may be back post a broken cheekbone. His inclusion will add to the defensive stocks as well as bring welcomed leadership to the group. Apart from Trew it will be a waiting game to see who get through this week’s training.
Ones to watch:
This week we will be looking closely at two of our youngsters Sam Bowen, and Tom Ferguson. Both players have the capacity to break the game open and really stretch the opposition and cause damage on the scoreboard as running goalkickers.
The focus:
We want to break them early and don’t allow them to build any early confidence. Given our talent we should be too strong although as we know there are no certainties and must win this game and win it well to springboard into September with real confidence.
The final word:
This week’s focus has been to freshen the group up physically and emotionally, so we embark on the final game of the year with a real spring in our step looking to win the game well and gear up for what lay ahead in September.
With Andy Lovell