GSFLW 2024: Bulls coach Sheridan Kowald says premiership win a credit to support from Mt Barker community

A maiden Great Southern Football League Women’s premiership for the revitalised Mt Barker marked a fairytale club transformation and a true celebration for the town, according to coach Sheridan Kowald. Entering 2024 with only three victories since their inception in 2020 and handed the scorned wooden spoon every year, the Bulls underwent a long-awaited resurrection under their new coach. They led for most of the game but were dangerously close to being the bridesmaids after Albany — seeking revenge for last year’s grand final heartache — were made to rue two crucial chances late in the piece. But the Bulls, on their home deck of Sounness Park, held firm through resolute defence amid a slog-fest in front of a jam-packed crowd, lifting the cup with a thrilling 1.4 (10) to 0.5 (5) triumph. Sheridan Kowald, from Kojonup, said her side’s win came on the back of strong support from the town and community of Mt Barker. “The whole town got around us this week, and they’re the ones setting us up and had all the faith around us,” she said. “You look around and see how many people are getting around us and it’s really nice for the town. “I’m so proud of the girls and it’s really amazing — it’s a moment I’ll never forget.” With five minutes to go in the game and leading by one straight kick, the Bulls had to scrap and bullock their way to victory while the ball was stuck deep in the Sharks’ forward 50 for most of the dying stages. When Sharks’ Stephanie Grant shanked her shot from 20m out to even the ledger before goal sneak Amarlie Weinert failed to convert a tough snap in the final minutes to snatch the lead, the Bulls had done enough. The Bulls’ dominance in the engine room gave them territory control allowing them to set up expertly behind the ball piloted by gun rebounding defender Kiarni Stevens, who relentlessly thwarted any dangerous Sharks attack. “Defensively as a unit, we played really well, and that is what helped us stay in the game,” Kowald said. “We had a lot of emphasis on our structure behind the ball especially, and I think they really pulled it off. “We just stuck to our structure and the girls just played with their hearts on their sleeves and didn’t give up, and they were the only two things I wanted from them.” The Bulls commanded the midfield battle led by superstar ruck Georgia Kowald and crumbers Sophie Richards, Kaitlin Eades and Saige Askevold. Georgia Kowald was everywhere, providing enormous effort for the entire match, giving her on-ballers first use at every opportunity, and was rightly named best on ground. “I think our midfield as a whole has been the best in the competition all year, and I do believe we have the best four midfielders in the whole comp,” Sheridan Kowald said. “I think they’ve been the answer to a lot of our wins this year. “Georgia (Kowald) was amazing tonight . . . and in my eyes, the best ruck in country football, and she went out there and blitzed it.” Bulls’ forward talisman and competition-leading goal kicker Mikayla Balloch broke the deadlock midway through the second quarter as the only goal kicker of the evening. Sharks skipper Abbi Ballard fought hard for her side all night, while Kiahn Perry, Marlee Ashton and Taiah Curtis were also strong competitors. Sharks coach Marcus Gleave was devastated after losing his second successive grand final. “It’s high-pressure footy, and it was there to be won for us in that last quarter but you just put it down to inaccurate goal kicking,” he said. “When you lose two in a row as a coach, you sort of start to question well, ‘what is it that I’m doing wrong?’ But I’m super-proud of these girls that they could even get to a grand final.”