Changing of the guard for the Kawana Force
Golden boot surprise packet Ollie Colam has emerged as the leading marksman for Kawana Force following a host of dependable departures
Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sunshine Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FOOTBALL: Golden boot surprise packet Ollie Colam has emerged as the leading marksman for Kawana Force following a host of dependable departures.
Colam, who shocked all in finding the back of the net 21 times last year, is one of only two left standing from Kawana’s grand final winning 11, along with Zachary Munster.
Decorated personnel like Ryan Delahunty, Luke Ricketts, Ryan Smith and Dylan Firth have all stepped away and are not expected to return.
It means the Force will undergo a changing of the guard in a season that will come with an asterisk attached.
RELATED: How Ollie Colam regained his mojo and love of the game,
“Our older boys, they wanted to win that final more than anyone,” Colam said of Kawana’s 4-0 win over Nambour Yandina United.
“Lifting that trophy was so good. Especially for the older heads. Now we need to take on that mantle.”
Colam said before the start of last season he rated himself as a 100-1 chance to win the golden boot, and the likes of Delahunty and Ricketts at 5-1.
Coach Brad Lloyd remains at the helm and has a young, hungry squad at his disposal ready to replicate the men before them.
“We need to start getting these young guys match ready. They have played a lot of football but always they have been guided by the elder statesmen,” Lloyd said.
“They have learned a lot from it.
“But when you have to go out and lead when the chips are down. That’s what they need to learn.”
FLASHBACK: Fantastic Force crowned Sunshine Coast football champions
But Lloyd said the experience lost cannot be replaced.
“Experience is what won us the grand final,” he said.
“Nambour were a much better outfit but they panicked when they couldn’t score.
“Our guys held their own.”
Lloyd’s new crop of kids will play without fear but they have to learn how to control the contest.
That’s where Munster and Colam will prove invaluable.
“Zac works well with the younger guys, he leads them around,” Lloyd said.
“Ollie is the same, even though he is young, he’s been around for a long time.
“They will cherish being leaders.”
READ: The top 10 moments of Sunshine Coast sport in 2019.
Colam had no doubts that Munster is capable of filling the large shoes of Ricketts.
“He is very loud, talks a lot and is so physical,” he said.
“That’s what you need in a captain. He’s a complete player. He will be very good for us.”
Lloyd said the latest round of relaxed restrictions still made life difficult to train.
He said he hoped stage three would be rushed forward.
“We have 300 members if you include juniors, so it’s pretty hard to train,” he said.
“Just having 20 people training at once doesn’t mean much.
“One hundred would be better. They need to accelerate things.”
The competition will kick off on July 11.
NAMED: Man accused of rape in popular beachside suburb
A 22-year-old man accused of raping a person in a well-known beachside Sunshine Coast suburb has found out his next steps in court.
Life after Netflix wellness warrior’s tragic health battle
The former fiance of a ‘wellness warrior’ who died of cancer and inspired a character in a Netflix hit show is an award-winning Noosa real estate agent who has found love again.