The Broadbeach Cats have confirmed their desire to participate in a revised QAFL season

The Broadbeach Cats have confirmed their intent to take part in any revised or shortened QAFL season despite a successful merger earlier this year and a loss of sponsorship putting a drain on club finances.

THE Broadbeach Cats have confirmed their intent to take part in any revised or shortened QAFL season despite a successful merger earlier this year and a loss of sponsorship putting a drain on club finances.

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The Broadbeach Senior Australian Football Club has recently merged with Broadbeach Cats Inc (licensed clubhouse venue), the Broadbeach Robina cricket club and the Broadbeach Juniors Australian football Club to officially be known as Broadbeach Cats Incorporated.

2019 Elimination final of the QAFL Aussie rules competition at Subaru Oval. Broadbeach (blue) v Mt Gravatt. Photo of Benji Neal (cats) and Christopher Murphy.

Many community sporting clubs around Australia are feeling the pinch financially, in some cases declaring they will only play again in 2020 if restrictions on licensed venues and large gatherings are lifted due to the revenue they bring in.

The Cats are still footing bills for the licensed club which has remained closed since March and club sponsors have been forced to pull the pin on agreements due to financial hardship.

But despite the unprecedented impact on revenue, Broadbeach football operations manager Matt Littlechild said the Cats would still be in a position to play should AFL Queensland announce a revised season after the May 31 review deadline.

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“We will be fine,” said Littlechild.

“We are looking forward to hopefully getting back on Subaru Oval this season and we will do our absolute best to win whatever is put in front of us this year.

“We have a great list and the boys are chomping at the bit to get out and play after a good pre-season post-Christmas.

“It’s uncontrollable what has happened but also disappointing as we were building something great.

“We were on track for record sponsorship and supporter’s club membership this season before the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Round 8 2019 QAFL game between Broadbeach Cats and Wilston Grange at Subaru Oval. Photo of Benji Neal (Cats). Photo by Richard Gosling

Littechild also said the Cats were prepared to be road warriors should football and cricket seasons overlap later this year and both Broadbeach cricket and football clubs require the use of Subaru oval.

“We have a strong relationship with the cricket club and hopefully we don’t have to encroach on their season too much but I’m sure AFLQ will have something in place to plan for it,” he said.

“In the end, we will be grateful just to get out and play no matter where, whether that’s at our home ground or not.”

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Broadbeach senior players are also working hard to retain pre-season fitness during the season shutdown.

Newly appointed senior head coach Craig O’Brien has initiated the ‘Corona 300 Challenge,’ grouping players into groups of six and challenging them to run 300km between them.

“We let the boys go for a couple weeks to relax and reset knowing it would be a fair break,” Littlechild said.

“We gave them some running programs at the start but that can get a bit boring.

“The key is constantly changing and coming up with new fitness games and programs to keep everyone interested.”