Courtney Sexton is back for round 14
By Holly Slattery
Bond University’s senior QAFLW side will be vying for redemption against the Southport Sharks in a high-stakes rematch at Fankhauser Oval on Saturday.
The third last contest of the home and away season will challenge the Bull Sharks to prove their power over last weekend’s victors and secure a top spot in the fast-approaching finals.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
Only last weekend the Bull Sharks suffered a 33-point thumping at the hands of the Southport Sharks. The match was rescheduled from earlier in the season after being washed out.
Bond’s midfield was a powerful force which managed a number of impressive inside 50s but the forward line struggled against Southport’s defence and suffered poor conversion.
It will be a different challenge in round 14 with key players back on board.
Notably, forward Jordann Hickey and midfielders Courtney Sexton and Tegan Tatlock will re-join the senior team.
Last week’s seven-goal hero in the reserves game, Mardi Hornby is itching for a recall to the senior side as she returns to full fitness following injury.
“It will be good to have those three girls back,” said Hornby.
“Last weekend we also had several senior players in the reserves team to help them out, so they will be available again too.”
WHERE IT WILL BE WON?:
If she is selected, the Bull Sharks will be relying on Hornby to replicate the strong goal scoring she boasted in the reserves’ 38-point victory over Southport last weekend.
She says it will come down to the forward line’s determination to finish off the rest of the field’s booming efforts.
“We’ve watched back the senior game and in our opinion the score doesn’t reflect how the game was actually played,” Hornby said.
“Our contested footy and our inside fifties were second to none and all year it’s shown that we’ve actually dominated in the stats, we just haven’t converted in the end.
“We need to make sure that when our midfielders and our backline are working hard to get the forwards the ball, we’re actually converting and topping off that hard work they’re giving to us.
“We know that and we know we need to be better if we want to be successful at the end of the year so that’s what we’re working on.”
IF WE WIN:
With just six points separating first and fifth heading into Round 14, premiership success in the senior women’s league remains a vicious battle.
A victory over the table-topping Sharks could see Bond elevate its position on the QAFLW ladder and bolster its contention among Southport, UQ and Maroochydore.
“Seniors need to have that win this weekend,” Hornby said.
“That will determine where we sit for the rest of the year in the seniors and, like we spoke about on Monday night at training, it’s literally going to be anyone’s game this year for the top sides in the comp.
“As you can see in the statistics, there might be a bottom side that hasn’t done so well but they’ve actually beaten the top sides at least once this season and vice versa, so we all came to the conclusion that it’s anyone's game.
“With the reserves, it just depends who’s in the side on the day. We feed into the senior team so it depends what fit-out they have but I’m very confident that the ressies are going to go all the way again this year.”
IN OTHER GAMES:
The men’s teams have a bye this weekend.
The seniors’ women game begins at midday on Saturday, following the reserves’ match at 10am.