From the day he walked into The Canal AFL director Andy Lovell has hammered into the playing group the power of team structure over individual brilliance.
That ethos was on display throughout a massive Saturday at The Canal as Bond’s undermanned QAFLW and QFA senior sides both took down the reigning premiers as they celebrated Community Day.
And it will be called upon against next week as the senior men search for replacements for Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship holder Tom Ferguson, midfield bull Ollie Burrows-Cheng and veteran Trace Buckler who all suffered significant injuries.
The fall out
Tom Ferguson’s season is over. The first year Bachelor of Business student suffered multiple fractures to his radius and ulna. Further consultation with specialist this week will determine if he requires surgery.
“We are trying to work out the best course of action, but he is done for the year sadly,” Lovell said.
“We are really feeling for him because he has thrived this year, he takes the game on, and we definitely look more stagnant when he isn’t out there.’’
Buckler is also unlikely to play again this season. He had just returned from overseas and was regaining fitness in the reserves where he broke his ribs in the reserves, while Burrows-Cheng will miss at least a week after suffering a heavy concussion.
“Trace would have been straight in, so that’s a blow for us heading into the finals,” Lovell said.
“It was a tough weekend, but now there is opportunity for someone else.’’
Lovell’s vision
While the coaching staff were counting the cost of the senior men’s 11.11 (77) to 7.10 (52) victory over Coolangatta, they were also entitled to take satisfaction in the both the men’s and women’s senior sides’ ability to adjust to major personnel changes each week.
The men have endured a horror run with injury with last year’s club champion Jaiden Pengelly, the league’s leading goal kicker Jack Tilley, defensive general Hunter Booth, hard running midfielder Archie Prime and Will King all missing extended periods to injury.
The women have regularly been without eight of their best players to representative commitments, but Lovell expects to be able to welcome back Havanah Harris, Tara Harrington, Ava Usher, Kiara Bischa, Sienna McMullin, Nyalli Milne, Josie McCabe and Kia Salisbury for the finals.
“They are really good players and they make a huge difference and obviously you want your best players available for finals,” he said.
“But what we have preached to both squads and what we’ve been able to show is that if everyone plays their role and commits to our structures, we can be successful.
“Right from the start we’ve instructed our reserves to train and play the same way as the seniors and we wouldn’t be where we are now in either competition without those players who have been called up and have been able to make really important contributions.’’
Training watch
There will be plenty of interest in Thursday night’s training session where two important players will be given fitness tests.
Archie Prime has been recovering from a lacerated kidney and will attempt to prove his fitness while Booth will be looking to satisfy Lovell that he is completely over the effects of a concussion.
What’s next
The QAFLW side will take a well-earned break before heading to Southport in the opening week of the finals after defeating UQ 6.5 (41) to 3.2 (20), while the men face another huge task against Carrara on enemy turf as they attempt to secure a top two finish.
Bond University, Burleigh Bombers and Carrara are all equal on 48 points with two games remaining with the Bull Sharks occupying top position thanks to a superior percentage.
In the QAFLW the Bull Sharks seniors finished second to Southport while the third placed reserves will also play the Sharks who finished fourth.
Despite the reserves earning home ground advantage, both games will be played at Fankhauser Reserve.