BAFC Season Update PART A
After our first 6 week block of matches, the bye presents an opportunity to update our supporters as to how we are progressing leading into a season defining block of 8 straight matches.
Seniors 6-0 202% 1st Place
Obviously, the club is happy to be undefeated at this stage of the season. Our ability to run out games strongly has been evident with credit to S & C Coach Jordan Siebenhausen and to the players for their efforts over summer. A tough travelling fixture of 3 Brisbane games in 4 weeks all resulting in convincing wins should assist in the winter months as we basically don’t leave the Gold Coast for 2 months straight.
In our first fixture, a huge crowd including a great contingent from 1996 triple premiership year were on hand to see a hard fought win against Labrador. It was great to welcome Broadbeach juniors, ex-Suns and current Sharks players Connor NUTTING and Andrew BOSTON into the team for what will likely be their only appearance in the hoops this season.
Brad LOWE was BOG with 4 goals (equal to Morningside’s total) at Esplen Oval, which was looking good with a new scoreboard and revamped viewing areas. The following week was the Sam JASPER show kicking 8 in a commanding win at Sherwood.
In the traditional May holiday weekend Sunday local showdown v Surfers Paradise again in front of an excellent crowd, the opposition blanketed us and played the game on their terms for large parts of the afternoon. Broadbeach juniors Liam NELSON, Josh SEARL and Riley WINTER were all named in the best with Winter kicking 4. Whilst relieved to get the win, all acknowledged that our disposal at times let us down under pressure.
Danger signs early against GRANGE who came out of the blocks with the 4 first goals of the match. Fortunately our experienced leaders helped to steady the with 2020 B and F winner Max LOWER racking them up and Jordan MONCRIEFF kicking 9 ably supported by Nick BURTON with 3. Despite our players looking forward to the bye and the club being hit by injury and unavailability, a strong win in our last start rounded out the 6 week black with the Mayor kicking 10.
The club has also been able to blood several youngsters in the opening rounds of the season with no less than 8 teenagers making their debut in the hoops. Academy prospects Bodhi UWLAND, Ryan PICKERING (both Colts last year) and Connor Munro (Cairns) have all played seniors in the opening rounds, adding to the club’s reputation as a club of choice for talented young players. Club juniors Riley WINTER, Cody HARRINGTON, Jake ROGERS, Finn BROWN & Brayden TAYLOR have also been provided senior opportunity as the club continues to build for the future. In addition its been good to see the development of 21 year old Al RAYNER, a Cats player since he was 8 years old- string together a few matches in the seniors. It is likely that this impressive list of debutants will grow in the coming weeks so watch this space!
Reserves 3-3 102% 7th Place
The development teams fortunes have fluctuated with player availability at times as is the nature of reserves football, however 2 strong wins of late and the prospect of returning players post bye has coach Scott Abercrombie optimistic for the rest of the season. Again the club has chosen the path of fast tracking player development with colts eligible players Hamilton Howard, Kai Reynoldson & Aden Conlon among others being provided opportunities at the level. The return of Jai LYONS, Harry ROWLES and Jasper SHOENMAKER after the bye and soon after key recruits Ben KERNICK and Jacob WELSH will certainly add to the club’s depth.
VFL Aligned Players Update
13 ex- Broadbeach or currently aligned Cats players played last Friday night in the Sharks v Suns VFL match with a further 2 (Ace and Sauce Conroy) out injured for the Suns. Ryan GILMORE was a late inclusion for Fraser Thurlow and is likely to return to the Cats for this weekends game against Noosa.
The club appears to have done a good job preparing players for VFL with BOSTON, NUTTING, CLARK all appearing at the Cats before heading to Southport and doing well. We are especially pleased for Michael SELSBY who has been with the Cats for a couple of years and whose form in the first few weeks of QAFL footy led to his debut in the VFL a couple weeks back. Rhys KING is aligned to the Cats and has done well to play every match at Sharks after coming across from Bond Uni. Ex Sun Josh HALL has also chosen Broadbeach as his aligned club and will likely suit up at the Cattery for a couple of matches as he returns from a knee reco in the coming weeks.
Long time Cat Harry ARNOLD has signed as a mature aged top up with the Brisbane Lions and we eagerly await Harry’s return from a shoulder injury in approximately 4 weeks, and Lucas JELLYMAN-TURNER who has been a revelation across half back appears to be edging closer to an opportunity on Aspley’s list.
