By Grace Knight
The Bond Bull Sharks have put the QFA division on notice with a commanding seven-goal win over premiership fancies Carrara at The Canal.
Jack Tilley was the star with seven goals confirming his status as the competition’s premier key forward.
Bond are sailing smoothly through the QFA and QAFLW seasons with all four teams winning on the weekend and are now comfortably positioned in the top four of their respective ladders.
It was a highly anticipated match between the Bull Sharks and Saints in the QFA seniors and their percentage-boosting 44-point win secures second spot on the ladder.
Both sides showed aggression around the ball given the significance of the outcome, however it was the Bull Sharks’ unwavering skill that ultimately clinched the 85-41 victory.
How it unfolded
Bond’s intent was clear from the start with Tilley booting the first goal of the day within seconds of the first centre bounce and he followed up with more goals at the 12-minute and 15-minute marks.
Carrara struggled to break through Bond’s exceptional backline and only managed to kick their first goal in the late stages of the first quarter.
They appeared to find their footing during the second quarter however Bond maintained their lead with a half time score of 45-28.
The Bull Sharks continued their momentum in the third quarter, building on their scoreline while keeping Carrara at bay.
They went into the final break with a comfortable 60-34 lead and four-goal-to-one final quarter sealed the deal for the Bull Sharks.
Who’s hot
Tilley was undoubtedly the standout player of the game with a season high seven goals.
Grant Trew delivered an excellent performance in the backline, supported by Wyatt Bacon and Will King.
Ollie Burrows-Cheng, Nathan Rataj and Axel Moore also showcased their relentless work ethic in the midfield.
What they said
In what was a very significant game for the Bull Sharks, head coach Luke Mansbridge expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and composure throughout the match.
“I’m really stoked for the boys,” Mansbridge said.
“They’ve been working really hard so it was great to see it come out on game day and it’s a fantastic reward for all the work that the boys have put in.”
As the Bull Sharks head into the back end of the season, Mansbridge revealed his aim to maintain their top-two position in hopes of securing a home final.
“It feels great to jump into second,” he said.
“We’re aiming to finish in the top three but if we can finish in the top two and be able to play a final at home that would be great for the boys.”
In other games
The men’s reserves also continued their winning streak, trumping Carrara 59-46 to retain first place on the ladder.
In their away game, the senior women’s team defeated the University of Queensland 38-29.
The reserves women also claimed a convincing 71-7 victory.