NEW-LOOK CAPTAINS TO LEAD BOND INTO BATTLE
A GOOD leader should inspire those around them and after coming back from a year-long injury, Molly Ritson is doing just that.
After being a member of Bond’s leadership group for the past two years, a team vote just before Round 1 saw Ritson emerge as the fledging QAFLW side’s new captain ahead of the 2019 season despite missing the whole of last year with injury.
“It’s a pretty good feeling,” said Ritson, whose side went down 49-43 to Yeronga on Saturday’s season opener.
“I was in the leadership group during my first season at Bond which I think was due to my actions on the field. “I was vice last year but I was injured and had to work on leading with my voice so I think getting captain is a credit to my off field development.”
After an outstanding 2017 which saw her win a premiership with the Bull Sharks and be drafted to the Brisbane Lions AFLW side as a rookie just weeks later, the following year didn’t go to script. A stress fracture forced Ritson to sit out all of 2018.
“It was extremely frustrating,” she said.
“I’ll admit I’m not the best watcher of footy and I’d much rather be out there so I had to pull myself away from the bench at times.”
Now back at full fitness, the 19-year-old said that she is more determined than ever to make it back to the top after injury brought her AFLW dream to an abrupt end. “This time I want it more,” she said.
Former captain Kate Reynolds, Paris Lightfoot, Lions AFLW player Arianna Clarke and former Carlton player Lauren Attard round out the leadership group.