By any estimation the Bull Sharks’ journey to the Division 1 football Grand Final on Sunday is an incredible achievement.
In fact, you could safely say there wouldn’t have been a football pundit on the Gold Coast that had them as potential South Coast Senior Women Division 1 champions in the pre-season.
For starters, they began the year in Division 2, without a coach and with barely enough players to form a roster.
But this side has torn up the script and crafted an impressive narrative where they evolved from underdogs into formidable competitors poised for success.
They started the season on fire with a series of strong wins and were soon elevated to Division 1 by the competition authorities.
The step up in class made it clear they would need a coach and expat West Aussie Laikha Macwilson was seeking a way to remain connected to the game while recovering from surgery.
Stepping in as coach, Macwilson brought invaluable experience from her time playing in the national Under 21s Women’s Premier League.
It wasn’t long before she experienced the bane of many university sporting coaches, the end-of-semester player exodus.
With about half the squad being international students, it cut deep when six players said farewell and made their way home.
Undeterred, Macwilson embraced the dual role of coach and recruiter, working tirelessly to assemble a new roster mid-season.
Her efforts paid off as she tapped into the wealth of talent available at Bond University, successfully recruiting a diverse group of students, alumni, and community friends to strengthen the squad.
And late in the season she took it a step further by joining the girls on the pitch once her physiotherapist gave her the all-clear.
Despite being labelled underdogs by rival teams, the Bull Sharks demonstrated their resilience, finishing second on the table heading into the finals.
They advanced through the semi-finals with a 3-0 victory over Nerang and will now face Kingscliff in the Grand Final.
“We didn’t expect this team to be as successful as it is, but the commitment and the passion all the girls have shown is the best thing a coach could ask for,” Macwilson said.
“We have a group of girls who are really respectful, will always have a good laugh, and have formed some great friendships.”
The women’s team is not the only one enjoying a successful year.
Bond’s Men’s Division 2 side has also made its presence felt, sitting at the top of the ladder for much of the season and winning the premiership at the end of the home and away season.
Unfortunately, they were then knocked out in week two of the finals.
Star player Kurtis Elder was named the top goal scorer in the league, hitting the back of the net 25 times throughout the year.