Brothers new coach Michael Rose sets sights on AFL Capricornia finals

Michael Rose has taken the reins and is ready to take Brothers Kangaroos’ women from cellar dwellers to finalists. He reveals how he plans to do it.

Gun midfielder Milly Bartlem will look to lead from the front as co-captain of Brothers Kangaroos' senior women's Aussie rules team. Photo: CYClology - Sports Photography

For Brothers Kangaroos’ new senior women’s coach Michael Rose, this season is all about building confidence within his “super-talented group”.

The team has failed to fire in the AFL Capricornia competition in the past few years, finishing as wooden spooners last season.

Rose is determined to change that and is confident he has the personnel to do it.

“I’m trying to instill belief in the girls at the moment because they have some self-doubt, despite me telling them with full confidence that they are a finals side,” he said.

“They are a super-talented group with so much potential.”

Their ability was showcased in Round 1 of the competition a fortnight ago, when they piled on 101 unanswered points against the Gladstone Suns.

Brothers Kangaroos' Georgia Carroll flies high in the AFL Capricornia season opener against the Gladstone Suns. Photo: CYClology - Sports Photography

Rose is hoping his players will take plenty from that result as they prepare to host reigning premiers Rockhampton Panthers at Kele Park on Friday in the traditional Anzac Day clash.

Their game at 4.45pm is one of three to be played, with the under-17s kicking off the action at 3.10pm and the senior men in action from 6.30pm.

Rose said it was a privilege to play on such a significant day, and he wanted his team to “appreciate the occasion”.

“This is something only Panthers and Brothers get to do and it’s such a special thing,” he said.

“I hope our girls go out there and play hard, put in a lot of effort throughout the whole game and keep their heads up.”

Rose is clearly excited for the season ahead and his goal of guiding his team to the finals was enhanced with talented midfielder Chelsea Carroll just committing for the season.

Brothers Kangaroos player Leilani Nelson. Photo: CYClology - Sports Photography

She will bring some welcome experience alongside the leadership group of co-captains Milly Bartlem and Emily Easey and vice-captains Leilani Nelson and Lindsay Stafford.

Rose said he was looking forward to seeing how newcomers such as Harriet Stedman, who was a natural-born midfielder, developed this season.

He was also keen to watch the development of some of the younger players, including Hannah Ryan and Reese Anderson, who had made the step up to the senior ranks..

Rose said the team was already hitting some key targets already with their consistency at training, with turnouts of 15 to 20-plus players at each training session.

“The big one is to play finals and while we haven’t discussed that a lot, I think we’ll be able to do that if we get everything right,” he said.