Adrian Felici: Broadbeach Cats 1996 premiership player dead at age 43

The Gold Coast football and cricket community is mourning the loss of one of their greats.

THE Gold Coast football and cricket community is mourning the loss of one of their greats following the death of Adrian Felici.

The 1996 Broadbeach Cats premiership Australian rules player and cricket club member died of a heart attack last Thursday at the age of 43.

“It’s so sad,” Broadbeach Cats general manager Jason Cotter said.

MORE FOOTY

REMEMBERING LATE GREAT WHO DIED AT THE FOOTY

SUN OVERCOMES SECRET PAIN TO REACH 250 GAMES

“He was just a really nice, laid back guy who nobody ever had a bad word to say about.”

Felici was instrumental in the Cats 1996 flag success, with the tall forward kicking 16 goals in three finals games, including six in the grand final against Labrador.

He kicked 85 in total that year as a 19-year-old, with the club winning the colts, reserves and senior premierships.

Statistics are murky but it’s understood Felici played 78 senior games between 1996 and 2004.

Cotter was the playing-coach in 1996 and lauded Felici’s football ability that drew the attention of AFL clubs.

“He was a very good player. There was some AFL interest in him because he was a big guy, about 195cm tall,” Cotter said.

“He was a booming left-footed tall forward who was a very accurate kick for goal.

“He also played cricket for Broadbeach and played old boys, he was still playing old boys footy recently and still playing cricket. He will be missed by all.”

Cotter said the Cats would honour his memory by wearing black armbands in their first home game of the 2020 season on July 25, a game that just so happens to be against Labrador.