Broadbeach Cats begin to see results from retention and extended pre-season

Broadbeach “spluttered” through the 2019 QAFL season without truly peaking but a successful retention campaign and extended pre-season has injected new life into the Cats.

BROADBEACH “spluttered” through the 2019 QAFL season without truly peaking but a successful retention campaign and extended pre-season has injected new life into the Cats.

At this stage it midfield-forward Nicholas Burton is the only confirmed departure from Broadbeach’s best 22 from last season while Jason Cloke is yet to decide whether her plays on in 2020.

Cats coach Beau Zorko said the added familiarity with the group and a focus on getting more out of the pre-season has Broadbeach, who finished fourth last year before being knocked out in the semi-finals, shaping up to be even better this year.

“The group has benefited from having a lot more familiarity,” Zorko said after starting pre-season mid-November.

Broadbeach Cats QAFL coach Beau Zorko addresses the players. Picture credit: Travis Johnson.

“It’s the second year at the club for the coaching group and we rode the bumps of the player turnovers last year where we spluttered along.

“We never felt like we actually got going.

“We have done some really strong reviews on performances. No one could really fault us on performances against teams below us on the ladder but the big one was we didn’t step up to the next level when it came time to play them.

“Having retained the best part of the group has been really pleasing for us because we have been able to put some specific work in without having to start fresh.

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“We have had a really productive summer in that way. Something I have noted is the player buy-in and leadership of some.

“We may not have seen the best of some last year given circumstances like arriving later through the pre-season and some not doing pre-season at all.

“Off the field the one-club philosophy, where we are looking to create a pathway, I think that has had an impact on operations off the ground and flowed into the playing group as well.

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“We knew we had to get fitter and stronger. We have set guys on specific programs given we came back a bit earlier and been able to manage loads either progressively as they have needed it.

“We have some challenges ahead but if our focus is around improving athletically, improving mentally and taking that into improving our mechanics and our connection with one another it will hold us in good stead moving forward.”