In 2024 The Bull Sharks created Bond University Netball Club history when both the Sapphire and Ruby Squads advanced to the Hart Series finals. Along the way a host of players made Queensland and Australian squads and were selected into the Super Netball reserves series.
Head of Netball Kim Boland provides her ambitions and predictions for the year ahead.
How have you rated the pre-season and have you done anything differently this year:
Our Sapphire and Ruby Squad athletes are in peak physical condition, having just completed a rigorous 4-month strength and conditioning program. We only just began our court training the week Cyclone Alfred hit which three a major obstacle in our way with the inability to get courts, but we’re fit enough and have plenty of time to get ready for the start of the season.
Our camp at Surfing Australia’s High Performance Centre in Casuarina was a great team bonding experience that really tested our athletes physically. There was a lot of sore bodies at the end of it.
What is your focus for the season ahead:
Our focus for our squads is to build on the success of last season by delivering consistent performances week in and week out, while showcasing the Bond style of netball — clean, skilful, and dynamic. With an unwavering goal of reaching the Finals again in 2025, we’re setting our sights on excellence at every turn.
What change do you expect to see in the competition this year?
In 2025, the competition has transitioned to the HART Premier Netball League, with an additional team joining the Sapphire Series and two teams entering the Ruby Series. The competition schedule has also been shifted to later in the year to accommodate the new Super Netball Reserves competition format. This change provides an exciting opportunity as Firebirds and Lightning Suncorp Super Netball players drop down and participate in the Sapphire Series, elevating the overall level of play.
Ones to look out for:
Sophie Westover has had an amazing pre-season so far and is really developing as a leader. We can’t wait to see how she performs this year.
We have also made several exciting signings during the off-season for both the Sapphire and Ruby Squads and we’re eager to see how these athletes develop within our environment. We're also thrilled to have a number of our athletes selected for the Firebirds Futures and Lightning Bolts in the Super Netball Reserves. We look forward to seeing how their experiences training and competing at this higher level will contribute to our club's growth and success.
What’s your biggest challenge this season and how will you overcome it?
The exciting opportunities our athletes are receiving at higher representative levels does come with some challenges, particularly during pre-season. Scheduling becomes tricky with some athletes such as Sasha-May Flegler, Kaylin Van Greunen and Kirra Tappenden unavailable for much of the pre-season. However, our Sapphire Coach, Bec Stower, is no stranger to this and is fully equipped to manage the rotating door of athletes in her sessions.
Ins
Kirra Tappenden – Sport Leadership Scholarship recipient.
Joesi Gisinger – Ruby elevation
Tehya Hyssett – Ruby elevation
Outs
Hannah Le Sage – Retired
Dakota Newson – New Zealand
Ella Spencer – Jets
The Final Word
We're excited for the year ahead and can't wait to dive in fully #BeBOLDBeBOND