Noosa Tigers and Maroochydore Roos captains preview 2025 QAFL rivalry fixture

Captains from the Maroochydore Roos and the Noosa Tigers have highlighted their key player match-ups, expectations and start to the 2025 season ahead of their highly anticipated QAFL rivalry on Saturday.

Preview for the Sunshine Coast QAFL clash between the Noosa Tigers and the Maroochydore Roos. Pictures: Highflyer Images.

The battle for the ultimate bragging rights has arrived as the Maroochydore Roos take on the Noosa Tigers in this weekend’s blockbuster QAFL Anzac round clash.

In recent years, the match had been a chance for either team to snag their first victory of the season but the 2025 fixture holds some serious weight as both sides have started the year really strongly.

The Tigers currently lead the competition with three wins, already equalling their 2024 points tally, while the Roos have picked up one win and two losses through the first three rounds.

Maroochydore have come out on top in recent years, winning by 45 points in 2024 and 37 points in 2023.

They will also be armed with home ground advantage for Saturday’s 2pm contest.

Ahead of the match, this masthead caught up with captains Josh Govan (Maroochydore) and Jono Freeman (Noosa) to find out how they were feeling ahead of the first bounce.

Noosa Tigers captain Jono Freeman (right) celebrates with Kaine Cates. Picture: Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

Q: How have the opening weeks of the season been?

Govan: “It’s been pretty positive so far. I think obviously we were super stoked with round one to knock off Aspley by seven goals but then as disappointing as it was to go down by a couple points to Redlands I think it just showed that we were more than capable of mixing it with the top teams. It was a bit of a setback, bit of a disappointing game against Sherwood, obviously that was one we all thought we would match up pretty well against but we probably left it a bit too late to do the work and get the win there. So there’s been some good takeaways, we’re one and two to start the year which is probably not exactly where we want to be but nevertheless there’s still been some positive things to take away from those opening games.”

Freeman: “A very strong start for us. A lot of games battled out in the wet, but we’ve come on top every time which has been really great. It’s pleasing for us as a group and as a club as we couldn’t have asked for a better start but there’s obviously still a lot of work to do.”

Maroochydore Roos head coach Steve Wildschut and QAFL captain Josh Govan. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Q: What are you expecting this weekend?

Govan: “I think it’s great for the league and for both clubs in the sense that Noosa have won all three so I guess the expectation is it’s going to be a pretty hot contest. We’ve probably had the wood over them for a number of years in terms of the Anzac Day clash so I know that they would have pencilled this in and targeted it. For ourselves we’ve got a bit of a point to prove just with the history of the two clubs and the clashes over the years. We’re going to expect a pretty big game and probably one that’s a bit closer than in years gone by. I say it every year but it’s just an awesome day for footy on the Sunshine Coast, having two teams in the state league so everyone should try and get down and enjoy the day.”

Freeman: “Maroochydore are always a really strong contested side so we’re going to have to match them in that area and hopefully we can beat them on the outside to put up a good score. They’ve had the edge over us the last couple of years so we’ll be hoping to reverse that this time around. It’s always a great battle and such a special privilege to play our derby game on Anzac Day so I’m looking forward to it.”

Roos ruckman Max McDonald and Tigers midfielders Matthew Gaul. Pictures: TJ Yelds Sports Photography and Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

Q: Which players for your side will be key?

Govan: “I think there’s a host of forwards as you’d expect and probably the two rucks as well. Tom Holt and Elliot Cavallaro, both will be pretty dangerous. They’re short, stocky-built men but always know where the goals are and I think they’ll be a tricky match-up for Noosa. Then the two rucks in Max McDonald and Will Jones, they’re both playing pretty good footy and I think if we’re going to get the result it will have plenty to do with them performing well.”

Freeman: “One of our new players Matthew Gaul has been huge for us so far. In the wet his ability to win contested balls has been massive so I think he’s going to be important for us again this weekend. Maroochydore’s inside midfielders are always traditionally strong, so Matt is going to play a huge part. In saying that it is always a team effort so we’ll need everyone to chip in again like they have to start the season.”