Nathan Quick has returned to hopefully lead the Broadbeach Cats back to finals following a year playing in Brisbane

Last year marked the first time in Nathan Quick’s 14-year football career that he strayed away from the Broadbeach Cats.

LAST year marked the first time in Nathan Quick’s 14-year football career that he strayed away from the Broadbeach Cats.

Having joined the club as a junior, Quick has chalked up 158 games for the club and was captain when the Cats clawed their way to the 2018 QAFL grand final stage.

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The defender even lined up on two-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Robert Copeland in his first game of senior football for the Cats against Zilmere, which turned out to be his first senior win.

“I obviously learned a fair bit from him but that’s why you play seniors, to play against the big boys,” Quick said.

Broadbeach QAFL player and Life member Nathan Quick. Picture Glenn Hampson

But 14 years down the track, a scholarship offer to complete his exercise physiology masters at the University of Queensland saw Quick depart the Cats and feature for the red lions in QFA Division 1.

“It was disappointing timing having to leave right after making the grand final but if I didn’t do it last year, I don’t know when else I might have gotten the opportunity,” the 30-year-old said.

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Now after one year away, the playing life member has returned to Subaru Oval with hopes of featuring again on the grand final stage. But Quick admits his grand homecoming was never a guarantee.

“It wasn’t always the plan and I wasn’t sure if I was going to play because it all depended on work and if I would be able to fit it all in,” he said.

“I was lucky enough to get a job on the Coast but if I was going to play, it was always going to be here so everything worked out.”

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Quick’s QAFL return hasn’t gone perfectly to plan either – the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the 2020 season to be postponed indefinitely.

But if the Cats do get on the park this season, Quick expects Broadbeach to feature prominently at the pointy end of the season.

“In my time, this year is the most talented list we’ve had,” he said.

“If we do get the chance to play, hopefully we can push for a premiership.”