It is the game the Bull Sharks have been waiting for all summer.
Shaun Hart's men will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they head to Burleigh for the Grand Final rematch against the Bombers.
QFA
Bond Bull Sharks v Burleigh Bombers at Bill Godfrey Oval.
Last time they met:
2023 Grand Final.
Burleigh win 15.6 (96) to 8.8 (56)
On reflection:
Andy Lovell and new coach Shaun Hart probably prefer not to think about the Grand Final too often. It was the only blight on an incredible season for the Bull Sharks who earlier that day had won the QFA reserves premiership a week after winning both senior and reserves QAFLW flags. It wasn’t so much the loss but the nature of the performance that would have haunted the coaches and players over the pre-season. The Bull Sharks were comprehensively beaten in just about every aspect of the game and most positions and too many players were well below their best.
What’s changed:
The Bombers destroyed the Bull Sharks at the stoppages, and they had far too much leg speed outside the contest. Hart and Lovell spent summer working to address this. The club went through 2023 without a recognised ruckman and it cost them in the decider. Experienced AFLQ ruckman Matthew Green was lured to The Canal from Surfers Paradise. They then injected extra pace behind the ball with the recruitment of Nick Scott and Kain Ford, also from the demons. And the final piece to the puzzle was moving jet heeled half back Liam Viney, who missed the Grand Final, into the midfield.
Look out for:
Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship recipient Tom Ferguson has taken his game to a new level this season. The clever half forward missed the back end of last season and the grand final through injury and has spent the time wisely, adding some muscle to his wiry frame. An elite user of the ball, off both sides of his body, and quick decision maker, the 19-year-old is dangerous whenever the ball is in his vicinity and has also be used to great effect as a pinch hitter at centre bounces.
Welcome back:
Hard as nails defender Grant Trew returns after missing the Grand Final and the opening two rounds to suspension. Trew is a hard to play against type backman who generally gets the assignment on the opposition’s best defender and Hart has been eagerly awaiting his return.
The opposition:
Burleigh seem to have picked up where they left off last year and have been in scintillating form in the opening rounds. A 51-point victory over Carrara last week confirmed their status as the team to beat.
The QAFLW teams have the bye.