Sunshine Coast Aussie rules 2023 grand final previews
Sunshine Coast senior Aussie rules coaches have uncovered their standout players to watch, key tactics and crucial match-ups ahead of a huge weekend of grand final action.
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Five senior Aussie rules teams from across the region will battle it out in their respective competitions this weekend in the hope of bringing back major silverware to their club.
The North Shore Jets, Maroochydore Roos, Caloundra Panthers and Noosa Tigers will field teams in their respective divisions on September 8 and 10.
Meanwhile the Maroochydore Roos QAFL colts team will play their grand final match on September 16 against either Palm Beach Currumbin or Broadbeach.
Read below to find out what each coach had to say ahead of their do-or-die match-ups.
Noosa Tigers vs Caloundra Panthers (QFAW Division 2)
The Noosa Tigers will look to defend their 2022, 2021 and 2020 premierships after progressing through the 2023 season undefeated.
Caloundra on the other hand have risen from a second last placed finish in 2022 to a second placed finish this season.
The teams have only met once this season which came in round 13 and the match finished 2.6.18-5.8.38 in favour of the Tigers.
The match will be played at 10am on Sunday, September 10 at the Moreton Bay Regional Sports Park.
We caught up with Noosa Tigers head coach and former premiership winning player Peter Trompf and Caloundra’s player-coach Angela Doyle.
Q: What has been your takeaways from the earlier match-ups this season?
Trompf: “We played them on their track and they were probably the most well drilled team we’ve played in our league. I’d say they were also the fittest mob so it was a good battle. It was a bit of a slog fest but I imagine with the game being at Burpengary, on a bigger deck and hopefully in some good conditions it will be a bit more of an open affair which could suit both sides.”
Doyle: “Noosa are a really well drilled team and they’re very even across the park so they don’t have many points of vulnerability. That’s the challenge for us but they’re also very fit, well drilled and play a structured game.”
Q: Which players are you expecting to have a big game?
Trompf: “Probably our talls, we’ve got Erin McLaughlin, Keirra Massoud and Eliza Trompf that can all play through the ruck, up forward and even on the ball. Amelia Monk is our backline general so even though the scoreline against Pine Rivers didn’t show a heap of scoring from them it was our defensive efforts that stood out. We didn’t have any passengers and I’d be expecting the same thing come Sunday.”
Doyle: “I definitely think, particularly off the back of last week, I thought Kelly Woods and Emma Pericic were standouts. As was Jesse McMillan who kicked about five goals. They’ll be strong for us through the middle but then also Rachel Crack, our captain, will lead and be strong. I would also expect our fullback Kat Hehir to be very strong down back for us as well.”
Q: Final thoughts?
Trompf: “The girls are obviously super excited. Like anything it takes four years to get yourself into the position to win four flags, I think there’s five girls that will play in their fourth and about eight girls that are new this year. They’ll be relying on the experience of the playing group that’s been there before. They know we’ve got a job to do, we’ll train well and be ready to go.”
Doyle: “We’re just really excited and I think that’s the best thing for us. We’re coming from second last place last season so to finish where we did on the ladder and now make it the grand final, I don’t think our girls could be anymore excited. They’re excited, they’re confident and they’re feeling good so I think they’re ready to go.”
North Shore Jets vs Maroochydore Roos (QFA Division 3 North)
It’s a very similar story for the Jets who despite being promoted from division 4 to division 3, have finished on top of the table for the second year running.
They entered the 2022 grand final with the same win, loss record (12 wins and 1 loss) but will take on Maroochydore after the Roos beat second placed Aspley in the preliminary final.
The sides have met three times this season with the Jets coming away victorious on all three occasions.
The match will be played at 7.30pm on Friday, September 8 at the Moreton Bay Regional Sports Park.
North Shore head coach Ash Rosenow and Maroochydore player-coach Tom Booth gave their thoughts on who would end up us 2023 premiers.
Q: What has been your takeaways from the earlier match-ups this season?
Rosenow: “Maroochydore have been playing together for a long time, us as a group we’re actually quite new together and I think the Roos are a really strong side. We have the utmost respect for them as they’ve been around for a long time and have played in a lot of finals. In the three games we’ve played this year they’ve all been pretty close so I think we match up quite well.”
Booth: “We obviously haven't beaten them all year so they’ve definitely had the upper hand on us on all three occasions. In saying that I think it’s one of those games where it doesn’t matter in terms of form or whatever it’s just about the moments and the game. I think we had our chances when we played them and didn’t execute so it’s been pretty competitive all year.”
Q: Which players are you expecting to have a big game?
Rosenow: “We need big Josh Doran our ruckman, to play a big game. Obviously our focus is getting early centre clearances so Kale Hoggins has also been really good in the middle for us this year. We need Michael Gafa to kick a few goals for us when we get it down there and then Frankie Robinson and Josh Hawksworth have been in good form too. Our whole backline has been super dependable all year and we’ll need them to be strong once more.”
Booth: “I think we started to get everyone back at the right time and I think Ron Wason down forward will be good, he had a really good game against Apsley for us. Cooper D’Elton in the ruck will definitely give us the first bite at it and then it’s up to our entire backline to stand up against their strong forward line. Their forward-line has been really potent with Danny O’Brien and Michael Gafa giving them first opportunities upfront. They are always players to look out for and their midfield as well is pretty elite with Josh Hawksworth who is a former Maroochydore boy. I think they’re going to be the guys that have an impact on the game.”
Q: Final thoughts?
Rosenow: “We’re extremely excited. We’re trying to keep it in perspective as we played in the grand final last year and unfortunately we lost so a few of the boys have been there and tasted defeat. It’s a big driving factor for us this year so hopefully we can come out on top. We know it’s going to be a full four quarter effort and hopefully it’s a good spectacle.”
Booth: “I think we celebrated pretty hard after our win against Aspley because all year we were told they were the team to beat with their list and we’ve been the underdogs all year. To go through last year undefeated but to go out in the finals in straight sets was tough but this year we’ve been the underdogs and are now playing in the grand final is massive. The boys are really pumped and everyone is all switched on for Friday.”
Caloundra Panthers (QFA Division 4 North)
In their inaugural season the Panthers have dominated the six team competition with 13 wins, one loss and an average winning margin of 79.4.
They will play University of Queensland in the grand final where the sides have met three times this season.
The Panthers only loss came at the hands of the Red Lions in round 9.
The match will be played at 8pm on Friday, September 8 at the Moreton Bay Regional Sports Park.
We caught up with Panthers 250-game senior star and now division 4 player-coach Quinten Ross to get his feelings before the first bounce.
Q: What has been your takeaways from the earlier match-ups this season?
Ross: “They are the only team to have beaten us this season and we know their defensive structure is really strong and really sound. It puts them in a pretty good position as they set up well behind the ball but if we can break that down it’ll help us massively.”
Q: Which players are you expecting to have a big game?
Ross: “We’re pretty flush with experience which is our strong attribute. Our captain Hayden Howse will be up for a big one and then we’ve got a young fella at the other end of the scale in Will Coluccio who’s yet to turn 20.”
Q: Final thoughts?
Ross: “The group is very excited. Obviously it is our inaugural year in the competition, a lot of these blokes have played a lot of footy but it’s a very new group and we’re absolutely wrapped to have gotten to the last dance. The whole club in general is very excited, we’ve been starved of a premiership for a bit over a decade now so although it's not division 1 it would still be nice to bring some senior success back to the club. Not only our group but the women’s and the whole football club is excited for the opportunity.”
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