Bulls competitive and ready to charge as action returns

Football is finally back.

The players are drooling over the chance to hit the field and fans are delighted to have the nation’s most loved sport back on the big screen.

The Harvey Bulls women’s team has returned to training and will be competitive in 2020 despite losing joint 2019 Nola Marino medallist Fleur Parker, who along with Matilda, Lisa and Zoe Worsfold has headed to new club Donnybrook.

In round one, the Bulls will travel to the Collie Recreation Ground on July 19 to face off against the Eagles, who will be keen to open their account with wins in both men’s and women’s competitions.

A week later, a trip to VC Mitchell Park awaits, with the league side facing a tough ask against Julian Burgess’s finals-hardened outfit.

It will be a reunion of sorts for the Bulls women’s side, given several of their former players have “donned” navy blue and white guernseys.

The shortened season will consist of just nine rounds after taking a chop due to COVID-19.

Meet the Leadership Team:

The Harvey Bulls Women’s team has a fierce new leadership group this season, as they aim for the presently elusive premiership cup.

With captain Doma Fedele at the helm the players will be in good hands. Fedele has a wealth of experience and is highly respected at the club. She is also arguably the best on ground for the Bulls and will likely rack up several best on-ground performances when the season finally gets under way.

Her right-hand girl Harmony Stazewski-Hose has also been promoted to vice-captain, following another promising season.

Stazewski-Hose (Staz) is very powerful in the ruck and appeared to have maintained her fitness in the off-season with her performance at the Bulls’ training session on Thursday.

Coach Adrian Kirk said Staz had the potential to become the “best ruck” in the league competition.

Staz said she was excited to work alongside Fedele.

“It is nice to be on the same team,” she said. “We played against each other in soccer for many years, and she is someone you want to have on your team.”

The Bulls have also appointed former Peel Thunderbirds ace Maddie Bedford as deputy vice-captain.

However Bedford’s playing status for round one is unclear right now, as she is waiting on scans following a knee injury.

Meet the midfielders:

The engine room is looking strong for the Bulls ahead of the season.

Ruck pairing Harmony Stazewski-Hose and Maddie Bedford will have an array of talent to work with, including Doma Fedele, Rebecca Fry and Larissa Tartaglia.

Fry is a senior figure on and off the field at the club and will be an effective communicator come game day. She is loud on-field and will be a force to be reckoned with.

Tartaglia has improved over the years and has cemented a spot on the ball this year. She is the youngest of the crew, however will be exciting to watch.

Meet the forwards:

The team is full of small forwards this year. They are quick and have a good shot on goal but may be out marked if paired with a tall defender.

Adele Martin, Taylor Skeet and Kiera Bradley will work in front of the goals. Bradley is an experienced player and will use her speed and accuracy in an attempt to get the Bulls over the line. She said she was eager to work with tall forward Laura Skeet who has a long kick.

Skeet spent most of last year setting up goals and barrelling the ball into the forward 50.

Meet the defenders:

This season’s defenders are a mean looking bunch — just what you want in your backline.

There are a few new players, however, Lani Payne has the experience to lead the defensive players through the season.

She has improved throughout the season and has developed the ability to read the play.

New recruit Lisa Joseph will be exciting to watch. She is a former basketballer and will take to the footy field for the first time in July.

Taela McDonald has also crossed over from Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault. She was taught by captain Fedele at school and decided to play with the Bulls this year.

At just 17, the young talent could be one to watch.

Another young player Jezel Herring is also making her debut.

Herring comes from a motocross and horse riding background and said she was inspired by Bedford.

Meet the coach

Adrian Kirk will coach the Harvey Bulls again this season.

Kirk admitted the team was in the process of “rebuilding” after losing several key players from last year.

“We have lost some talent for sure, but these girls have potential and we will work on improving our skills and getting back to the level we were,” Kirk said.

Fleur Parker, last year’s joint Nola Marino medallist, departed the Bulls for Donnybrook and will be sorely missed.

Kirk said he was proud of his leadership team and he had a lot of faith in captain Doma Fedele.

“She is great and the girls really look up to her,” he said.

The experienced coach also said he was excited about the introduction of the junior girls’ team to the club.

“We are thrilled to welcome them on-board.

“We may even get them training with our girls to give them a bit more experience.

“They are 14 and 15 so will be ready to move into the women’s comp in the coming year.”