BOND University has survived a gallant comeback from Aspley Hornets to book a spot in yet another QAFL Women’s Grand Final. The Bull Sharks looked on top for most of the match against the Hornets, but Aspley refused to yield, even having a late shot on goal in the final 30 seconds that was defended bravely by the Bull Sharks defence.

In picking up the 4.7 (31) to 4.3 (27) victory, Bond University advanced through to its fourth grand final in six years, and eyes off back-to-back premierships. In a rematch of last year’s decider, the Bull Sharks were again the better side, albeit in a far tighter display than the 45-point win at Brighton Homes Arena almost 12 months ago.

The match was hotly contested for four quarters, but the visitors were fast off the mark with top-age AFLW Draft prospect Mia Salisbury setting up Leah Kaslar in the goalsquare for the first major. Up the other end, Jasmyn Davidson was doing a superb job one-on-one against Jessica Stallard.

While both teams had a stack of turnovers early due to the pressure, it was a shot from Christy Landwehr – who marked a dump kick out of the defensive 50 by Louise Tyson – that sailed straight. At the last moment its low trajectory dipped by pick one contender Havana Harris was on the line, and too tall and strong for the smaller Lucy Pengelly marked and slotted it from point blank range.

Aspley hit the scoreboard once after a poster from Stallard midway through the term, but Davidson and the likes of skipper Paris Lightfoot and fellow defender Jemma Blair were keeping the Bull Sharks on top. A couple of late behinds to both Salisbury and Bronte Parker extended the lead out to 13 points at the first break.

It took a while, but in the sixth minute of the second term, Stallard provided a piece of magic with a drop punt from 35m hugged against the boundary that sailed home for the Hornets’ first. Aspley was starting to gain more ascendancy, and had made Bond Uni pay for a miss a few minutes earlier when Ella Calleja ran onto a loose ball getting there before Tiarna Ernst but miscued the kick.

Jasmine Kawa – who had done a pretty good job in the ruck at times against the much taller Harris – was getting it done defensively as well, taking a mark on the goalline to save a certain major for the Hornets late in the first half.

Though the danger was not over as the visitors would respond shortly after with Sophie Balcombe enormous all game, pushing up the ground to intercept in the 16th minute, then propelled it forward for Charlotte Taylor and Tahlia Meyer to combined. The ex-AFLW talent went back and nailed the goal from point blank range, handing the Bull Sharks an extended 15-point lead at the main break.

Aspley has become known for its slow starts, but fast finishes, and it looked like being another case of that when attacking hard forward. In the fifth minute, Emma McNaughton marked at the top of 50 then put it to Stallard’s advantage, taking her first mark of the game protecting the ball drop against Davidson. She went back and kicked her second major and celebrated with a fist pump towards the home fans.

No sooner had Aspley enjoyed some momentum, and Parker snapped that joy with a right to left bender just inside the right goal post. That came 10 minutes into the third term after Jessica Davy came off sore. The Aspley player would return, but the lead was now out to double-digits again.

In an almost immediate response, Holly O’Flaherty tried to take matters into her own hands with a thumping kick inside 50, and a few minutes later, it was McNaughton getting on the end of one with a clever snap after a great play from Maddison Tallis driving the ball inside 50.

Funnily enough, Tallis would follow the trend McNaughton had set after providing the assist for Stallard’s second goal, by kicking an absolute ripper in the last quarter. In a battle of the two Queensland representatives, Lilu Hung used her body well against Harris to tap the ball towards the boundary inside 50. Tallis ran onto it and with no space to move took a flying shot which to the disbelief of most, threaded the eye of the needle through the goals.

That came at the 13-minute mark of the final term, with neither side having been able to break the goal-scoring drought in the term. Milne had a great opportunity earlier in the quarter but under pressure tugged it too narrow.

The goal was just reward for Aspley who through Stallard moments earlier had put the ball to space in front of late inclusion Drew Barnes. Running goalside ahead of two Bond Uni backs, Barnes received the cruellest of bounces, popping up which allowed both Lightfoot and Meyer to tap it away and lock the ball up.

The major from Tallis had cut the deficit to just three points and the intensity in the match had skyrocketed. However there was another couple of twists to come. Just a minute later, Meyer hit-up Ella Calleja 40m out. Calleja’s set shot was true, going all the way to the line before being punched by the Aspley defence.

However with no celebration nor claims of being touched by the Hornets – and players returning to their positions as per a ball-up, everyone had resumed expecting the shot to be a match-winning goal. However just as the goal umpire looked set to call it, the umpires referred back and was deemed to be touched, much to the delight of the home fans and Aspley players.

That crucial decision could have changed the course of the game, with Aspley then running it down the other end and Stallard marking inside 50. Needing to launch a long bomb, the ball fell short and was punched further away from goal by Bond Uni, as players clambered into the defensive 50 in the dying moments of the match.

A couple of ‘almost moments’ were created with Aspley forwards trying to get boot to ball, but the pressure and a case of lost footing followed by a fierce tackle from Bond Uni locked the ball up. Before the umpire could throw it aloft again, the siren sounded with the Bull Sharks ahead by four points and stamping their ticket into the 2024 QAFLW Grand Final.

Harris was superb across the match despite giving away a few free kicks. She found her fair share of the ball, competed hard and was able to catch the eye with her work around the ground. Likewise her Queensland State Academy teammates in Salisbury and Milne were fantastic, while Balcombe out of defence and Meyer getting it done at both ends were among the better players.

For Aspley, Kawa and Pengelly did their best up against Harris, with the other one helping out in defence when not in the ruck. Ernst showed her experience in the back 50 with some crucial punches, while Hung in attack provided a target and Alanna Perry was consistent through the middle.

ASPLEY 0.1 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.3 (27)
BOND UNI 2.2 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 4.7 (31)

GOALS:
Aspley: J. Stallard 2, E. McNaughton, M. Tallis
Bond Uni: L. Kaslar, H. Harris, T. Meyer, B. Parker

RMC BEST:
Aspley: J. Kawa, T. Ernst, L. Pengelly, L. Hung, A. Perry
Bond Uni: H. Harris, S. Balcombe, M. Salisbury, N. Milne, T. Meyer