It is a major semi-final against competition powerhouse Southport on their home deck – the stakes have never been higher and due to the very nature of finals, everything else is amplified too.
The game is quicker, the contests more brutal and the pressure is through the roof.
But the role of every player doesn’t change, and the challenge for coaches in all sport is convincing their troops of that key fact.
Bond’s Director of AFL Andy Lovell stuck to the basics at training this week as he reassured his players that nobody needed to produce the extraordinary, the miracle goal or the towering pack mark to get the Bull Sharks through to the QAFLW Grand Final.
If anything the message was almost the opposite - against a side like Southport the work you do without the ball can be the difference.
“Southport have big key forwards, we reviewed their game last week and they took 17 marks inside their forward 50,” he said.
“So that poses a challenge for our defenders and we acknowledge that, but what we have to really focus on is making sure we don’t allow them to get clean entries.
“So the contest will be critical, but also the pressure up the field, two-way running, helping each other out, the work we do without the ball is the key.
“It may not appear on a stats sheet, but it is real.’’
Last time they met
The Sharks completely outclassed Bond in the season’s first meeting at The Canal in Round 4.
But the Bull Sharks were able to turn the tables in their second meeting at Southport. Jasmyn Davidson, Tara Harrington, Christy Landwehr, Charlotte Taylor, Paris Lightfoot and Courtney Sexton were key contributors as Bond ran out 7.9 (51) to 4.4 (28) winners.
The difference was that Lovell’s troops were able to match it with their bigger-bodied opponents at the contest and then use their speed and skill to get the ball out into space.
“The last time we met we managed to play the game to our strengths,” Lovell said.
“We got them on the outside with our run and carry and our leg speed was a real threat that day.’’
The result was Bella Iverach and Lilly Tarlington were able to kick two goals apiece.
Triple threat
Add Havana Harris, who returns from representative duty, to the established pair of Iverach and Tarlington, and the Bull Sharks possess the most potent trio of tall forwards in the competition.
“If we can get the ball inside 50 quickly I feel like we’ve got the marking forwards to be able to exploit them. Lily, Bella and Havana - that’s a pretty good trio,” Lovell said.
“So as much as we are mindful of their strengths and realise we have to bring our pressure, I think we can cause the some headaches also.’’
The cavalry arrives
The revolving door at selection this season due to Gold Coast Suns academy games and State Under 18s representative football has injected some serious talent back into Lovell’s squad.
Harris, Nyali Milne, Tara Harrington, Sienna McMullen, Josie McCabe, Ava Usher, Mia Sailsbury and Ella Calleja are all available and they return in some excellent form having helped steer Queensland to a whopping 13 goal victory over the Allies in the State game.
The knowns vs the unknowns
It is Southport’s size and experience versus the Bull Sharks’ speed and the irrepressible confidence of youth.
“They are big and strong and experienced, while finals footy is a bit of an unknown to a lot of our players,” Lovell conceded.
“But they have played some big games now and a group of them have come off a lot of rep footy too, so their confidence should be sky-high.’’
Meanwhile back at The Canal
It is the final game of the home and away season against Ballina. The Bull Sharks hold a slight lead over Burleigh at the top of the table due to superior percentage. The priority is to secure the win and if they can then kick enough goals to stay ahead of the Bombers, they will be minor premiers and earn a home final.