Bond University Football Club
Bond University AFL, nicknamed as the Bull Sharks, is a Gold Coast based Australian rules football club operating out of Bond University. The club currently competes in the Queensland Football Association Division Two and the Queensland Women's Football League competitions.[1]
| Bond University | ||
|---|---|---|
| Names | ||
| Full name | Bond University AFL | |
| Club details | ||
| Founded | 2011 | |
| Colours | Blue and Gold | |
| Competition | QFA Division 2 (Men) QAFLW (Women) | |
| Ground(s) | Bond University (capacity: 500) | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
The club is currently one of two universities that supply teams to AFL Queensland, the other being University of Queensland.
History
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The Bond University Football Club was formed in 2011 and entered the AFLQ Division 3 Central league for their inaugural season. Bond would play home games at the Robina Roos' ground on Scottsdale Drive due to unsuitable facilities existing at the university. Nicknamed the Bull Sharks, the club surprised many by compiling a 14–1 record through the home and away season to claim the minor premiership. Bond would suffer a 31-point loss to Jimboomba in the 2011 Grand Final. The club was then transferred to the newly created SEQAFL Division 4 South league which was a combination of former Summerland Australian Football League teams mixed with Gold Coast clubs.
Bond would again reach the Grand Final in 2012 but lightning would strike twice as the Bull Sharks fell to Tweed Coast by 44 points. After a disappointing 2013 season in which the club was eliminated in the first round of the finals, the Bull Sharks moved their home games to the newly created Australian rules football field at the university campus.[2] Affectionately known as the "Canal", the new grounds would prove a successful move for Bond as the club claimed a second minor premiership in 2014. The club went on to win the 2014 QAFA (B) South premiership, defeating Tweed Coast to claim the first premiership in the club's short history.[3]
As a result of their 2014 successes, the Bullsharks were promoted to the QAFA (A) division and impressively claimed another minor premiership in 2015, going undefeated in the home and away season. The club went on to win the 2015 QAFA (A) Grand Final against the South East Suns and in doing so made it back-to-back premierships in separate divisions. This success saw them promoted again to the QFA South competition for season 2016.[4] 2015 also saw the launch of the women's team competing in the QWAFA competition. They compiled a 9–6 record in their inaugural season and made it to the preliminary final where they were defeated by the eventual premiers Zillmere.
In September 2017, the Bond University women's team defeated Yeronga 50–29 in the Grand Final to claim the QWFA Division 1 premiership. 2017 also saw Molly Ritson and Krystal Scott drafted to the Brisbane Lions Women's team as rookies in the 2017 AFLW Draft as well as the team promoted to the QWAFL. The Men however, would suffer a rough season after sustaining mass injuries. Leading to only one win for the Seniors and subsequent relegation to QFA Division 2 for 2018.
Premierships (5)
| No. | Year | Competition | Opponent | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014 | QAFA (B) South | Tweed Coast Tigers | 15.8 (98) – 7.16 (58) | Scottsdale Drive Oval |
| 2 | 2015 | QAFA (A) Seniors | South East Suns | 12.21 (93) – 9.8 (62) | Tidbold Park |
| 3 | 2017 | QWFA Division 1 | Yeronga South Brisbane | 8.2 (50) – 4.5 (29) | Leyshon Park |
| 4 | 2019 | QAFLW Development | Coorparoo | 3.8 (26) – 3.3 (21) | Leyshon Park |
| 5 | 2019 | QFA Division 2 Seniors | Beenleigh | 13.12 (90) – 7.10 (52) | Leyshon Park |
Drafted players in the AFLW
| Year | Name | Team | Draft No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Molly Ritson | Brisbane | 14th (rookie) |
| 2017 | Krystal Scott | Brisbane | 18th (rookie) |
| 2018 | Lauren Bella | Brisbane | 45th |
| 2019 | Charlotte Hammans | Gold Coast | Pre-list signing |
| 2019 | Kalinda Howarth | Gold Coast | Pre-list signing |
| 2019 | Taylor Smith | Gold Coast | Pre-list signing |
| 2019 | Serene Watson | Gold Coast | 18th |
| 2020 | Annise Bradfield | Gold Coast | 7th |
| 2020 | Maddison Levi | Gold Coast | 50th |
| 2020 | Lucy Single | Gold Coast | 57th |
| 2020 | Wallis Randell | Gold Coast | 61st |
| 2021 | Teagan Levi | Gold Coast | 6th |
| 2021 | Giselle Davies | Gold Coast | 30th |
| 2021 | Mikayla Pauga | Brisbane | 46th |
| 2021 | Lulu Pullar | Brisbane | 58th |
| 2021 | Shannon Danckert | Gold Coast | Injury replacement |
| 2022 | Ruby Sargent-Wilson | Sydney | Pre-list signing |
| 2022 | Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap | Port Adelaide | Pre-list signing |
| 2022 | Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap | Port Adelaide | Pre-list signing |
| 2022 | Jasmyn Smith | Gold Coast | 52nd |
| 2022 | Imogen Evans | Collingwood | Free agent signing |
| 2023 | Meara Girvan | Gold Coast | 10th |
References
- "Still happy with move north". Northern Star. 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- "Bond University Bullsharks". Australian University Sport. 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- "Bond University Claims Premership". Fox Sports Pulse. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- "Bond Uni promoted to the QFA South – AFL Queensland". AFL Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
External links
