It took Maisy Evans one kick and less than two minutes to convince her new teammates she would be a huge asset to the Bull Sharks in 2024.
The 18-year-old kicked off the year with a big move to the Gold Coast from Melbourne after receiving the Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree at Bond University.
And she kicked the QAFLW season off with a goal from her first possession, in the opening moments of the 84-point round 1 victory over Yeronga.
Evans didn’t arrive on the Gold Coast until March, but Bond Director of AFL and senior women’s coach Andy Lovell said nobody who had seen her at training in the weeks leading up to the season opener was surprised she was able to have an immediate impact.
“We were all very excited about what we saw on the track, and we knew she’d be a great asset to our club and our team,” he said.
“She’s tall and athletic and plays to her strengths, but she is also a very clever footballer who can influence the game with little actions that no one else would think of doing.”
Standing at 185cm, her height makes her the ideal ruck
and she has improved her strength while unable to play for the majority of last season after fracturing her ankle in three places.
“I think it’s my biggest strength, having crafty ruck work,” she said.
“I feel like I have rehabbed really well, and I’ve got this urge to come back bigger and better.”
Maisy hails from the home of AFL in Melbourne and started playing footy when she was just 11.
Her parents were rugby people. Dad Ray captained Shute Shield side Randwick while mum Sue represented Victoria, and Evans played a lot of rugby and netball in her youth.
“I remember a friend of mine pulled me along to training and at the time there weren’t many girls playing footy,” she said.
“I found AFL was bit of a mix of the two sports I was playing, and I think that’s why I grew to like it so much.
“I just love the way footy makes me feel, the instant serotonin.”
She worked her way from the St Kilda City Juniors to seniors for the Hampton Rovers before joining Bond University where she has been welcomed with open arms to the Bull Sharks fold.
“I always wanted to move away for university and Bond has such amazing facilities, and the footy program is well-respected,” she said.
“The girls are so lovely to me, there is definitely that community spirit.
“Andy (Lovell) is very supportive, right now he’s kind of a father figure for me as it’s my first time living away from home.”