Brisbane Lions and Essendon Bombers star to coach Noosa Tigers

A former AFL star with more than 100 games across two clubs will make his coaching debut with the Noosa Tigers as he searches for QAFL premiership success.

Noosa Tigers senior QAFL head coach Matt Leuenberger. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The Noosa Tigers have landed a major signing in the form of former Essendon and Brisbane ruckman Matt Leuenberger.

The 203cm star retired from the AFL in 2018 after 29 games for the Bombers and 108 for the Lions.

He was taken with the number four pick in the 2006 draft and is now hoping to have a key impact on the Tigers.

“The fact that Noosa are in the QAFL and being it’s such a respectable league it brings a level of professionalism, hunger and appetite from the playing group which is quite attractive and what interests me,” he said.

“That’s blended in with the community aspect where you can come down on a weekend and the crowd is full of people you see walking the streets.

“The club holds a strong place within the region and so I feel like I can add value which is enticing to be a part of.”

Matthew Leuenberger of the Bombers and Max Gawn of the Demons contest for the ball during the Round 6 AFL match in 2018. Picture: Joe Castro.

After not winning a single game in the club’s 2021 maiden QAFL campaign, the Tigers bolted into the finals when finishing 6th in 2022.

This season proved to be too tough of an ask for outgoing coach Chris Rourke and his side after ‘starting from scratch’ in the off season due to player turnover.

Leuenberger, 35, said he hoped to improve on the Tigers six win and 12 loss record from 2023.

“There’s huge success at the junior level here at Noosa and you’ve got colts, reserves, women’s and seniors so bringing it back to that community angle it’s exciting to think you could be a young kid here and when you hit 18-years-old you could make the senior team if you’re good enough,” he said.

“You don’t even have to consider that option of having to drive an hour away to another club to continue your football so we’re implementing those processes to reach an aligned club culture which I think is really important.

“On-field I’d love to get some good results, acquire guys that want to stay and be a part of what we’re hoping to achieve and that development of junior players so there’s a never ending crop of local kids coming through before the recruiting on the back end takes care of itself.”

Noosa Tigers senior QAFL head coach Matt Leuenberger. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Leuenberger said he hoped to implement a number of characteristics and coaching pillars from the AFL of today.

“From when I started playing to when I finished, the culture in football really shifted,” he said.

“In the early days it was very old school in that shouting, ranting and raving got the best out of the player whereas now it’s more of a nurturing father role or disappointed dad which you see through Craig McRae and Chris Fagan for example,” he said.