Bond Bull Sharks have come from 14 points down at half time to win their first ever Hart Premier League grand final by defeating Kedron-Wavell Cougars 61-60.
Matt Webber was there.
'Inch by inch. Play by play. Until we're finished.’
So says Tony D’Amato - played by Al Pacino - during his famous locker room monologue in the 1999 Oliver Stone American football film Any Given Sunday.
I’m not sure if Bond Bull Sharks Head Coach Bec Stower came up with something just as effective in the half time huddle at Nissan Arena last night, but whatever she said, it seemed to have the same effect.
After the kind of slow start that had become a nuisance all season, Bond was chasing its tail for most of the first half.
They’d claw their way to within four or five points, but then the Cougars would surge.
In the shadows of half-time the Cougars machine flexed its muscle and piled on six goals in a blink and they looked to have all the answers.
Even in the modern super shot era when game’ scores can change quickly, fourteen points represents a long way back.
To top it off, the Cougars rarely come second.
Only two other clubs have won this competition over its twenty-odd year life span. One of those is now defunct.
It wasn’t just the weight of history that Bond had to overcome to haul itself off the canvas.
The Cougars entered the finals in season-best form.
They’d romped to the minor premiership off the back of eight straight wins including a comprehensive win over Bond in the first week of the finals.
They’d earned a week off to freshen up.
Going into half time, they looked understandably confident.
But if the Cougars have a well-earned reputation for consistent success, the Bull Sharks have quietly developed one for usurping expectations.
Fourteen down at half-time? Time to get to work.
An inch here, an inch there...
Suddenly, little moments were having big consequences. A fingertip. Arms over. A hard-won deflection. A block.
When all these moments added up, they equalled an extraordinary turnaround that left the usually unflappable Cougars visibly rattled.
So how did it happen?
The injection of Kirra Tappenden into goal attack provided some serious spark and forced the Cougars defence to move in unfamiliar ways.
It got the big Bond crowd involved, too.
The roar that accompanied Tappenden's long range two to put the Bull Sharks into the most unlikely of three-quarter time leads was a genuine roof-lifter.
The insertion of Georgia Bodle into wing defence added back-half zip and allowed Jayden Molo to impose herself in attack.
Earlier, Mia Stower had enjoyed plenty of exciting moments despite being heavily double-teamed. Skipper Sophie Westover, also closely checked, was busting a gut, too.
Throughout, Kaylin van Greunen was a tower of strength at the shooting end under all sorts of physical pressure.
The tall timber defensive trio of Lauren Aubrey, Tehya Hyssett and the indefatigable Maddie Ryan were brilliant. They just flat out refused to stop - always moving and confusing attacking space.
To single out any one player over another in a team so impressively defined by collective effort is fraught, but when Sasha-May Flegler was announced grand final MVP no one was going to argue. She had a remarkable night – skilful, assertive, ever-present, and calm. She’s a hell of a player.
Leadership proved critical.
Westover has been an inspired captaincy choice this season.
She’s embraced the challenge of it with open arms.
Her heartfelt acknowledgement of the tirelessly supportive contribution of season-injured teammate Joesi Gisinger in her victory speech speaks volumes about what matters most to this extraordinary group. No one is more or less important than anyone else, and everyone is a leader in their own way.
You only need to observe the game’s frantic final minute to understand that.
Clinging to a one goal lead, Bond had to ice the clock by playing keepings off. Everyone stepped up to take their turn at maintaining possession. No one waited to be told where to go or what to do. Everyone took responsibility for their role.
Four years ago, this club was all but finished.
Head of Netball, Kim Boland, ensured that it wasn’t by maintaining a Bond presence at Ruby level.
When Bec Stower took coaching reins of the re-born Sapphire team a year later, many bumps and bruises were endured. They have the 2023 wooden spoon to prove it.
But three seasons on and the Bull Sharks have pulled off one the greatest grand final performances you could ever hope to see.
That many in the raucous ‘blue and gold’ crowd were introduced to Bond Bull Sharks netball at junior-level Bond Cubs clinics and will now represent the Bull Sharks at next week’s State Titles is a testament to the strength of new foundations.