Broadbeach wins first senior premiership in a quarter-century in 38-point win over Maroochydore

A five-goal to one final term cemented a famous Broadbeach victory in the QAFL Senior grand final on Saturday. FULL RECAP >>

Twenty-five years removed from the club’s last senior premiership, Broadbeach exorcised its 2020 grand final demons and defied a gallant Maroochydore to lift the QAFL Senior premiership cup on Saturday.

The Cats kicked away in the final quarter to record a 14.6-90 to 8.4-52 win at Fankhauser Reserve.

Broadbeach finally has its flag.

It took until the early stages of the final quarter, but when Grogan Medallist Jordan Moncrieff turned to the crowd and roared after putting the Cats up beyond five goals the Broadbeach faithful found its voice.

The Cats piled on five goals to one in the final quarter to run out 38-point winners.

Holding a shaky 15-point lead at the final change following a zero goals to two third quarter the Cats looked ready to be run down by Maroochydore’s trademark final quarter flurry.

But the football gods who so spited them a season earlier flipped the script.

Broadbeach, in its 50th anniversary year, had its long-awaited flag.

In scenes reminiscent of the 2020 decider the Cats started slowly, conceding the first two goals of the game before the ball had even made its way inside Broadbeach’s attacking 50.

But as skipper Josh Searl promised during the week, this version of the Cats is made of sterner stuff and they showed it in reply.

Four goals on the trot lifted them back into the contest and though Maroochydore responded with two late majors to enter quarter-time up by a point, the consensus was the Cats were playing the better footy.

That became clear mid-way through the second when Ryan Gilmore and Brad Lowe goaled in short order to put the Cats clear by 18 points.

Gilmore goaled again from an incredible solo effort through the middle of the ground before recently-crowned Grogan Medallist Moncrieff bagged his first of the day on the stroke of halftime to send the Cats into the sheds up by 25.

The premiership quarter came and went without a Broadbeach goal, and after Maroochydore’s string of comeback finals wins the Cats would have been nervous holding a 15-point lead at the turn for home.

Sensing another comeback win Maroochydore piled on the early pressure but crucially for the Cats they made the breakthrough, when Jackson Fischer finished an end-to-end to put them back out beyond 20 points.

But the real dagger came two minutes later from the boot of Moncrieff and the Broadbeach faithful on the hill started to find its voice.

That grew notches when Lowe added another not long after and from there it was a procession to the premiership.

The Cats’ 12-month evolution from beaten premiership favourites to 2021 flag bearers was epitomised in Nicholas Burton’s stunning chasedown tackle in the final quarter leading to the goal which got the Broadbeach crowd singing in unison.

Silky skilled defender Liam Nelson was awarded best on ground for his run and dash of halfback which set up many a Broadbeach attacking chain.

QAFL SENIORS

Broadbeach 14.6-90 (R. Gilmore 3, M. Lower 2, J. Moncrieff 2, B. Lowe 2, S. Jasper 2, N. Burton, J. Fisher) v Maroochydore 8.4-52 (L. Laing 2, M. Scholar, M. Steven, L. Robinson, J. Hill, J. Giles)

‘True Broadbeach man’ remembered by club, footy family

Broadbeach senior players will wear a black arm band in their QAFL grand final this weekend following the passing of club stalwart Terry Young.

The Cats shared a tribute to “a true Broadbeach man forever” to their Facebook page on Thursday.

“It is with a heavy heart that the Broadbeach AFC inform past players and members of the passing of former player Terry Young,” the post read.

“Terry was a great servant of our club as a player, captain, coach, committee member and more recently, chairman of the license club.

“Terry also employed many footballers in his scaffolding business.

“Our condolences are with Terry’s family in these very sad times.”

The Broadbeach footy family paid tribute to Young in the comments.

“RIP great man - an inspiration when gorwing up and lucky to have had him as a coach,” Richard Wells wrote.

“RIP Terry. A great Cats man and a great Cats family. We were all a little harder at the ball when Terry was watching ...,” Philip Tiffin added.

Broadbeach has teams competing in the QAFL Colts and Seniors grand finals at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday.