‘As bad as it gets’: Horror football injury reduces players and coach to tears

A horror football injury left players in tears after they witnessed a season-ending blow to their teammate. Full details here.

Palm Beach Currumbin AFC co-captain Jon Croad will miss the remainder of the QAFL season after suffering a horrific compound fracture in his lower leg in Saturday’s round 1 win over Surfers Paradise.

Just ten seconds into the match, the recently returned ruckman was chasing up a loose ball on the wing when a Demons’ player attempted to take him down, breaking Croad’s leg in the fall.

Two ambulances and paramedics were rushed out to Sir Bruce Small Park to treat Croad, who underwent surgery on Saturday night in hospital.

Jon Croad being carried off by paramedics after his shock injury. Pic Mike Batterham

“He ran onto the ball and there was a player behind him, he tried to tackle him and you heard an almighty crack sound,” head coach Jess Sinclair said.

“I knew straight away it didn’t sound good. His leg was sideways, it’s as bad as it gets.

“We had to be really careful because his shin was strapped so they were worried about the bone moving, and they wanted to be very careful. It’s probably as bad an injury I’ve seen on a footy field.”

Co-captain Croad was set for a massive season before his injury. Pic Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Emergency services were at the field for just under an hour before the game could finally be restarted, where Palm Beach showed true stoicism to take the win 11.10.76 to 8.12.60.

“It’s had a really emotional impact on the footy club, because he’s captain and he’s such a big part of the club. At that point I didn’t care about footy.

“They (the players) were really emotionally, a few of them saw the damage and it really takes you back a bit. A lot of them were crying on the ground.

Croad’s injury was an emotional affair for his teammates, leaving some of them in tears. Pic Mike Batterham

“It was so bizarre how it all played out and to their credit the boys wanted to play and do it for them.”

Croad has since had a rod placed into his leg and will remain at hospital for at least a day more.

“He’s in good spirits, but he’s devastated because he’s had such a good pre-season,” Sinclair said.

“Footy is very much secondary at the moment, it’s just about how he’s doing.”

The 2021 Derrick/Goody medalist had returned to the side for 2023 after spending a season at Sorrento in the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League.

Croad’s injury spiralled into a further hour of hell for the team, with Ben McInneny tearing his calf five minutes later, before Haydn Kiel tore his hamstring before half time.

Benchless, cramping across the field, and emotionally worn, Sinclair said he’d never been more proud of his group.

“It just hit me towards the end of the game, I teared up. I’m just so proud of the group after what happened.”

A GoFundMe has been put together for Croad as he begins the long road to recovery, check it out here.

Coach Jess Sinclair said Croad’s injury was the worst he’d seen in the sport. Pic Mike Batterham

Jess Sinclair solves Palm Beach problem

After the resignation of their senior coach just one week out from Round 1, Palm Beach Currumbin have bounced back to announce the return of Jess Sinclair in the role.

The former AFL player for Fremantle and North Melbourne comes as no stranger to the club, having previously coached the team to a grand final appearance in 2019, and during the Covid impacted 2020 season.

The club have also appointed past player Jackson Emblem to join the coaching team.

Round 14 of the QAFL. Labrador vs. Palm Beach Currumbin at Labrador. Photo of coach Jess Sinclair. Photo by Richard Gosling

“Following an extensive recruitment process over the weekend, officials were pleased to see a high calibre of applicants, but ultimately determined that Sinclair was the best fit for the role,” a club representative said.

“PBCAFC officials are confident that Sinclair’s appointment will bring a renewed energy and focus to the team and look forward to a successful 2023 season under his leadership.”

Millane resigns – March 23

Just one week out from the QAFL season opener, Palm Beach Currumbin have been left scrambling after the shock resignation of newly appointed head coach Sean Millane.

Millane’s appointment was announced by the club in October, with the former VFA/VFL footballer replacing Russell Maloney in the top job, but said “work and family commitments” were the reason behind his sudden departure.

“It is due to work commitments that has a roll on affect with my family,” Millane said.

“(Work) initially wasn’t going to be an issue, but just recently some contracts have been won (which have) escalated my role.

“Being away (travelling) for extended periods and some weekends doesn’t make it conducive to coaching. So then when I am home, I want to spend time with my two boys who are eight and six years old.

“With work escalating and what football needs I felt it would be too much away from my family.”

Club president Darren Redwood said Millane had been a “valued member of our team and dedicated countless hours to coaching”, but would step down immediately.

“Unfortunately, balancing the demands of coaching with work and family commitments has become increasingly difficult for Sean, leading to this decision,” Redwood said.

“The Committee are committed to ensuring that the team continues to receive the support and leadership they need to succeed and appreciate the patience and understanding of our supporters as we work through this transition.

“We want to express our gratitude for Sean’s hard work and commitment to the team and the club.

“We understand that this is a difficult situation, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

In October, Millane told the Bulletin the move from Victoria was a no-brainer given his family ties to the Gold Coast.

“It’s a second home for me, I always thought I’d come up here one day,” Millane said at the time.

Palm Beach are coming into the new season as ones to watch, signing former AFL defender and 241-game player for Melbourne, Hawthorn and St Kilda, James Frawley earlier this month.

Frawley adds to the club’s increasingly deadly list including ex North Melbourne player Marcus White, 169-game St Kilda player David Armitage, former VFL player Christian Buykx-Smith, SANFL premiership player Carl Nicholson, 2019 Grogan Medallist Frazer Neate and returning player Jon Croad.

The search for a replacement is already underway before their season opener against Surfers Paradise on April 1.

In other local football news, the 2022 floods have continued to cause disappointment for the Lismore Swans who announced they have been unable to find enough players to field a men’s or women’s senior side for the upcoming season.

The club, who compete in the AFL North Coast competition, are in conversations with the Swans Junior club about bringing the clubs together to secure their future.

Acting president Austin Curtin said the senior club would support the junior teams in 2023 who would continue to compete.

Sharks sign Foggo

The Southport Sharks have signed emerging footballer and Northern Rivers product Jed Foggo for 2023, after impressing at pre-season training.

The big-bodied halfback and midfielder, who said he tries to emulate Brownlow medallist Patrick Cricks on the field, made the moved from the Gold Coast Suns VFL side after 12 games there.

The 19-year-old will be one of three or more players under 22 years of age on the Sharks list, with VFL bylaws forcing stand-alone clubs to sign at least three players under 22.

“It’s really exciting. I didn’t expect to be contracted this early this year, but after not getting picked up in the draft this year, I’m just glad I can make somewhere home,” Foggo said.

“I knew it was unlikely I’d get picked up, but I’m still glad I put my nomination in and had a crack.

“I’m still happy to be playing VFL like last year, I am really happy to be here, but hopefully I can have a good year, and put my name out there (in the draft again).

“I like to base my game around Patrick Cripps, he’s a big-bodied midfielder who throws his weight around, he’s a good contested player.”

Coach Steve Daniel said he was happy to sign an emerging player with Foggo’s size and experience.

“We have already been so impressed with what we have seen of him at training, and we look forward to seeing what he can do on the field in 2023,” Daniel said.

The Southport Sharks have also signed a former college basketballer for whom “footy was never the plan” for 2023.

Charlton Offermans played basketball with the Rockhurst University Hawks for three years before making the move back to AFL, a sport he played in school before moving to America to pursue college basketball.

The dual athlete said it was “never the plan” to find his way back to AFL after basketball, but since returning home in 2020 has played with the Brisbane Lions in the VFL and Labrador in the QAFL.

“It’s an honour, there’s a lot of great players and coaching staff here,” Offermans said.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, it’s a real honour to be part of it now.”

Offermans will join the group as a player with plenty of potential, but will have a lot to prove with significantly less experience than many of his teammates.

Growing up in Townsville, Offermans focused on basketball as a junior before living his college basketball dreams to follow in the footsteps of Townsville Flames legend and mum Bridgette Offermans.

“I haven’t played much football. I was about 17 when I started playing, I started in the ruck doing school footy up in Townsville and got involved in the Gold Coast Suns Academy and played for Labrador, then focused on my basketball journey before coming back about a year and a half ago.

“I had dreamt of it my whole life, ever since I was four, it was everything I wanted to do (college basketball).

“Footy was never the plan, but now that I’m back playing, I probably don’t have the height for basketball so I think footy suits me a lot more.

“I really want to learn and keep getting better, and I believe Sharks is a great place to do that.”

Bond bolster coaching ranks

Bond University line up possibly the state's most formidable coaching trio in Andy Lovell, Matt Kennedy and Shaun Hart. Photo: Cavan Flynn/Bond University

What started as a friendship at the Brisbane Bears three decades ago has turned into what looks to be the most formidable coaching trio in Queensland football.

Two months after signing former Gold Coast Suns assistant Andy Lovell as Bond University’s new director of football, the club have announced Brisbane Lions triple premiership player Shaun Hart as coach education and cultural development manager, and former Lion Matthew Kennedy as head of strength and conditioning.

A 2001 Norm Smith Medallist and 273 AFL game player, Hart is a former director of coaching at Port Adelaide and head of personal excellence at the Gold Coast Suns, while Kennedy comes as a 188-game Lion and former strength and conditioning coach at the Lions and Suns.

With over 600 AFL games experience between them, the trio will lead Bond’s quest to enter the QAFL, with teams currently in the QFA Division 2 and QAFLW.

“I’ve been blessed to be part of AFL footy at the highest level for a long part of my life, 30 odd years, so I’m very thankful for that but things change and now is an opportunity to invest in young people in and around Bond and build a really great community club,” Hart said.

“Performance and wining are the end product of the people, so for me it’s about the people and helping them take a journey to get them from where they are to where they want to go to … which hopefully take us on a journey of success both individually and collectively.”

Bond University will need to win multiple premierships in Division 2 and then 1 if they wish to eventually progress into the QAFL.

But Hart said the Bull Sharks won’t let their ambitious goal — which will inevitably demand results — get in the way of developing players off the field, an approach Hart said wasn’t always taken in his time in the AFL.

“I do think it’s shifting (AFL club’s approach to winning), I think there will always be a reality at the very elite level that there’s a requirement to win, there’s money involved in the game and the corporate activity in the game, but I think (focusing on wellbeing) has been a missing piece.

“At the AFL level, they’re starting to get it a bit more right but I think particularly at levels below the elite level, there’s no excuse for it to not be the key focus. People have to come before performance and relationships before results.”

Kennedy, who will oversee fitness in both Bond’s men’s and women’s programs, said he was confident he’ll get the group into peak physical condition for 2023.

“I want to get them as fit as anyone in the competition just so that it gives them a chance to compete,” Kennedy said.

“I just love working with this cohort, they’re willing to learn, no ego, and really good fun.

“They’re really compliant, really coachable, they’re a really different group. They’re well educated so they absorb information quickly. I don’t think it will be too hard to get them going.

“We’ve certainly got the right personnel on the top line, and we’re getting there with the players no doubt.”

Kennedy said it was “special” to be able to join forces with Lovell and Hart after many years as teammates and rivals in the AFL.

“Harty and I, our lives have run parallel pretty much. One of the reasons I came onboard was particularly Shaun Hart, who’s a very, very close friend of mine.

“We started our careers together in 1990 at the Brisbane Bears, played together for 13 to 15 years, worked together at the Suns for 10 years, and to be able to work with him again in a similar capacity and knowing what he brings excites me.

“To have a deep connection with these two guys is pretty special. It’s nothing to do with the money, you don’t do it for the money but to have those strong connections, to help some young people, that’s why I do it.”

BOSTON RETURNS TO THE SHARKS

Andrew Boston joins the Southport Sharks. Photo: Southport Sharks.

Southport Sharks stalwart Andrew Boston is returning to Fankhauser Reserve in a new role as assistant coach for 2023.

Boston, who played for 16 games for the Gold Coast Suns, is one of the Sharks most decorated players as a premiership co-captain and two time club best-and-fairest winner who has 79 senior caps for the club.

Boston retired from VFL football last year and had since been playing QAFL football for Labrador.

“I’m very happy to be back,” Boston said.

“I missed the people and culture here. It’s going to be different being a coach and not a player, but it is a challenge I’m looking forward to.

“The reason I’m most excited about coaching is I just want to give back and pass on my knowledge.

“I’m also really excited to work with the likes of Matt Primus and Steve Daniel who are terrific coaches.”

Coach Steve Daniel said it was welcome news to bring Boston back into the Sharks environment.

“He was a fantastic player and he has a tremendous knowledge of not only the game but our game plan as well,” Daniel said.

The club will also welcome former North Melbourne listed player Matt McGuinness.

McGuinness was on the Kangaroos’ list for three years, but battled a foot injury which saw him miss the majority of the 2021 season.

The 22-year-old, 195cm tall defender played 17 matches in the VFL this season, averaging 17 disposals, six marks and two tackles a game.

“I spent three years on North Melbourne’s list but that unfortunately didn’t work out for me so that’s why I’m moving up here,” McGuinness said.

“I’m super excited. It’s the next step in my journey to move from Victoria to the Gold Coast and continue playing in a professional environment.”

McGuinness was drafted as a defender at the Kangaroos but spent a chunk of time developing his forward skills.

SON OF A GUN WANTS VFL PREMIERSHIP

Jackson Edwards joins the Southport Sharks. Photo: Southport Sharks

The son of an Adelaide Crows legend has his sights set on VFL glory as he signs with the Southport Sharks as part of his quest to return to the AFL.

Jackson Edwards, whose father Tyson played 321 games for Adelaide, has only just signed with the 2023 VFL runners-up but is already aiming to secure the club’s first premiership.

Edwards, 23, was selected by the Crows in 2018 as a father-son draft but was dropped after one year and has since played for West Adelaide in the SANFL for the past two years.

“It’ll be exciting playing footy with Southport, hopefully we can play some finals footy and go one step further than they did last season,” Edwards said.

“This is the best club for me to continue my football journey with and I hope I can help contribute in helping the club to go one step further and win the VFL.

“There are some great players and coaches here and I am looking forward to getting to know them.

“I know Boyd (Woodcock) from South Australia, I don’t think I got to play against him but it will be pretty exciting to play with another South Aussie.”

Southport coach Steve Daniel said the club was excited to add someone with a lot of experience at state league level.

“We think Jackson will be a great addition to our side, and we look forward to seeing what he can bring,” Daniel said. Edwards also comes with experience at Glenelg and comes to the VFL having played 48 SANFL senior games.

The mid-forward said he was in search of a “new opportunity” when he made the move.

“Obviously the lifestyle (was a factor), it’s the best spot for me to develop my footy with some really good coaches and some really good players around me as well to take myself to another level.

“I felt like I needed a change up … I didn’t play any games with Werribee (in the VFL) so I wanted to make the move and see what the VFL is like and hopefully continue to push my passion and goals to play AFL footy.

“It’s a childhood dream of mine (to play AFL footy) and I want to continue to push that dream.”

CATS GO FISHING FOR SHARK

Labrador v Broadbeach QAFL semi-final at Cooke Murphy Oval. Labrador player Thomas Reeves Picture: Mike Batterham.

The Broadbeach Cats have added to an already strong line-up for 2023, signing on VFL aligned player Tom Reeves after two seasons at Labrador.

Reeves finished third in the Tigers’ best and fairest and was elevated to Southport’s VFL list for part of the 2022 season.

The Cats have also recently signed Reid Polak, a former WAFL player for Perth and Subiaco who looks to be the ultimate all rounder for the club.

CARRARA HUNT NEW COACH

Geelong v Williamstown VFL match. Williamstown's Stephen Mccallum pushes off Geelong's Joshua Hunt.

The Carrara Saints have appointed two-time AFL premiership player Josh Hunt has senior coach for the 2023 season.

Before joining the Saints QFA Division 2 side in 2022, Hunt played over 200 games for Geelong and GWS over a 14 year career that included two premiers with the Cats.

Hunt’s coaching experience includes roles at the Southport Sharks, Brisbane Lions Academy and National U/19 Allies team.

“After spending last year playing alongside this terrific group of players and people, I’m excited to get started and to see how much improvement we can squeeze out of the entire playing group,” Hunt said.

“I have lofty goals for both the senior and reserves groups after both teams went deep into finals in season 2022 and I have no doubt the feelings the players felt when seeing other teams holding up premiership cups in each grade will drive them across the pre season to find that little bit extra.

“These results don’t just happen, and it will take a buy-in from all involved which will be both fun and rewarding.”

PALM BEACH SIGN GROGAN MEDALLIST

Mt Gravatt player Frazer Neate and Wilston player Tyler Galligan go for the ball. QAFL (Australian football) senior club match between Wilston Grange and Mt Gravatt. Saturday June 5, 2021. Picture: John Gass

Palm Beach have signed 2019 Grogan Medallist Frazer Neate for the 2023 season.

Neate returns to the QAFL after playing in VIctoria’s Murray Football League for 2022, and was a long-time Mt Gravatt player.

LABRADOR SNARE WATTS

The Labrador Tigers have appointed Clint Watts as coach for 2023.

After four seasons at the Morningside Panthers, the Labrador Tigers have brought QAFL premiership coach and player Clint Watts back to the Gold Coast for 2023.

Watts, a former Coolangatta junior and six-time Southport Sharks premiership player, returns to the Gold Coast after three finals campaigns and a 2020 flag with the Panthers as coach.

Watts said after his time at Morningside came to its end, coaching was still ‘in his blood’ and Labrador felt like the best fit to make his homecoming.

“I’m extremely excited to be given the opportunity at such a powerful club, one with great history,” Watts said.

“Growing up in the Gold Coast, I’ve got good relationships with people at Labrador.

“They’ve got a really got list, especially their youth, there’s some really exciting young talent.”

Having coached against the Tigers in their 156-26 demolition of the Panthers in Round 9 this year, Watts said even then he sensed special talent in the group.

“We played the Tigers later in the season … and we sat there and said ‘that’s the best team we’ve seen in three years’,” he said.

“The way they played on that particular day, as coaches we just had to sit back in the box and couldn’t do much, just had to let the game play out.

“They lost six games under ten points, so they’re always there or thereabouts, so it might be about fine tuning so we can turn some of those results around.

“There’s no doubt they’re good enough.”

Watts replaces former Sydney and Gold Coast AFL player Nick Malceski as head coach, who led the Tigers to the elimination finals in 2022.

AFL CLUBS EYE SOUTHPORT SHARK, QAFLW SIGN ‘DOC’

AFL clubs are believed to be showing interest in Southport Sharks forward Max Pescud after a strong season in the VFL. The 20-year-old booted 29 goals and 21 behinds, and notched 343 disposals in the 2022 season.

Celebration of the year? 😆

Southport's Max Pescud certainly enjoyed putting an exclamation mark on the club's preliminary final win in the @VFL. pic.twitter.com/UG87IDaNZu

— AFL (@AFL) September 11, 2022

12 game Port Adelaide player Boyd Woodcock and nine game Gold Coast Suns player Jacob Dawson are not believed to be drawing interest yet.

In the QAFLW, the Sharks have signed on Peter ‘Doc’ Doherty to replace Ryan Davis, who did not take up the offer to coach the side in 2023 after leading them to three consecutive grand finals in the QFAW Div 1 and then QAFLW.

Doherty has coached at the club for the past 11 years in their junior, youth and female football departments.

“I believe it is the best club in Australia for females who want to play AFLW as there is a pathway for girls to go from Auskick to AFLW, which is exciting,” Doherty said.

“The environment we can offer our senior girls is fantastic and allows them to play their best.”

Aspley Hornets sign on Daniel Webster for 2023.

HORNETS LOCK IN WEBSTER

The Aspley Hornets have locked in premiership winning coach Daniel Webster for the 2023 season.

“The playing group we have and the culture we’ve built, we were lucky enough to win the premiership and we want to continue to build the program up,” Webster said.

“There’s always stuff to work on, different things around our game plan that we want to tighten up and improve, we learnt a lot about our group this year.”

GM of Football Mark Perkins said Webster was excited to sign on after bringing the Hornets to a premiership against the undefeated Broadbeach Cats.

“We’re really excited that he’s on board, he’s by far the best coach I’ve come across,” Perkins said.

The Hornets are already looking dangerous for 2023, with Perkins saying at this stage, all players but ruck Finbar Delbridge were coming back. Delbridge has moved to Newcastle for work.

Aspley line coaches Adrian Pilgrim and Mark Seen have also re-signed, while Jarrod Marsh will depart the club after taking on a role elsewhere in the QAFL.

Brent Evans will take Marsh’s place as the third lines coach.

In the QAFLW, Aspley have signed former UQ high performance coach Luke Glacken as senior coach for 2023.

PALM BEACH APPOINT EX-VFL PLAYER AS HEAD COACH – Oct 13

Palm Beach Currumbin have signed Sean Millane as head coach for 2023.

A born and bred Victorian, Millane played VFA/VFL football for Frankston in his youth and comes with coaching experience with the Dandenong Stingrays, Vic Metro and Collingwood’s AFLW program.

The Southerner has spent plenty of time in the Gold Coast, taking on specialist coaching at Labrador in 2022.

“I was quite impressed with them last season, we (Labrador) beat them twice during the year but both times it could have gone either way,” Millane said.

“I knew they were a chance so hopefully we can add a little bit more and improve a little bit and take them further next season.”

Millane said the move up north was a no-brainer with family ties to the area since the 80s.

“It’s a second home for me, I always thought I’d come up here one day,” Millane said.

Millane will replace Russell Maloney, who played a major role in rebuilding the once powerhouse club after they won the 2017 and 2018 premierships.

Palm Beach were knocked out in the semi finals this year by Redland-Victoria Point.

Palm Beach will face the tough task of replacing Western Bulldog Liam Jones who returned to the AFL after the AFL’s vaccination mandate was lifted.

“On top of what he provided on the ground, off the field he was just as valuable. Even when he left he struggled telling the boys, it gives you an idea of the kind of impact he had.”

Palm Beach Vice President Neil O’Brien said the club was on the cusp of announcing a major singing in an AFL listed player, as well as a former QAFL player who is returning to the league after a hiatus.

Nick Malceski has stepped away from Labrador Football Club.

COAST CLUBS LOOK FOR NEW COACHES – Oct 12

Coolangatta, Morningside and Labrador will look for new coaches to lead their senior sides for 2023.

Coolangatta head coach Matthew Ashenden stepped away after leading the side to the 2022 QFA Div 2 premiership.

At Morningside, Clint Watts steps away from the role after four years at the helm. Watts led the club to 2020 premierships in both seniors and reserves

Labrador are also in search of a new coach after Nick Malceski informed the club he was stepping away.

The 210 AFL gamer led the Tigers to the elimination finals in 2022.

Football Manager Shane Hogan said the club were in the interviewing stage with a few “highly regarded” applicants to be announced in the next two weeks.

Jacob Townsend has signed with the Broadbeach Cats for the 2023 QAFL season.

BROADBEACH CATS SNARE SHARK, WELCOME SEAFORD DUO – Oct 12

The Broadbeach Cats have snared a major signing with AFL premiership player Jacob Townsend moving to the QAFL for 2023.

Townsend was most recently signed with the Southport Sharks in the VFL but will move to the Cats as a playing assistant coach.

The Cats will also welcome Seaford Football Netball Club guns Joel Filippone and Ishak Bashir from the

Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.

Joel Filippone won the Seaford best and fairest award for 2022. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Filippone is a running inside mid who won Seaford’s best and fairest for 2022, while Bashir is a big bodied midfielder who was runner up best and fairest.

Southport Sharks player and 2021 Cats premiership player Michael Selsby has moved to Victoria for the 2023 season.

The Cats have also re-signed Lucas Jellyman-Turner and coach Craig O’Brien, while captain Josh Searle has not yet re-signed, although the club are hopeful to retain him.

Matthew Lappin has signed as Surfers Paradise’s QAFL coach for 2023.

LAPPIN TAKES ON NEW ROLE AT SURFERS – Oct 11

Matthew Lappin has been signed to Surfers Paradise as their new QAFL Senior coach for 2023.

Lappin replaces Brad Moore, who in his six year tenure at the club coached them to a 2019 premiership.

Lappin played over 250 games for Carlton and St Kilda, and currently coaches at Hillcrest Christian College.

After Surfers finished the 2022 season with just four wins and 14 losses, Lappin said he was ready to recruit hard and push a “totally new game plan.”

“We need to work hard on recruiting and improve every one of the players who are already part of the club,” Lappin said.

“I’ll be coming in with a lot of experience, 28 years from coaching and playing, so there will be a totally new game plan, new expectations and new standards.”

Lappin was most recently assistant coach of the Southport Sharks in the VFL but said the move was the perfect match for his family.

“It was just a really good for fit for our family, the Sharks involved a lot of travel time this year and a lot go Sunday footy, and with four active kids it was hard work on our family.

“I know a couple of the guys at Surfers quite well and had a lot of trust and faith in what they’re trying to do there.

“When they spoke to me earlier on in the year, initially I said no, but when the opportunity came up later it was different.

“I’ve always only ever been the assistant coach throughout my career so it’s time to jump into the driver‘s seat and have a crack.”

Andy Lovell signs with Bond University as their Director of Sport. Photo: Cavan Flynn.

ANDY LOVELL SIGNS WITH BOND UNI – Sep 29

The Gold Coast could soon have a new powerhouse QAFL club, with Bond University landing one of the biggest off-season signings yet.

Andy Lovell, who played 164 AFL games across stints at Melbourne and West Coast, has been appointed Bond’s new director of football, awakening the chance for the QFA Division 2 side to one day reach the QAFL after already dominating the QAFLW scene.

The signing will lift Bond’s already thriving football department, with Lovell not ruling out an eventual move into the QAFL.

“The intention is to invest in the program and really grow it,” Lovell said.

“(We want to) grow the people, grow the program, keep pursuing that excellence and professionalism, and by extension if that’s what ends up happening (joining the QAFL) then that would be a fantastic thing.

“It’s more holistic around making sure the program is still at the forefront of what’s out there.

“By extension, if you invest in your people and your coaches and your program then hopefully the outcomes follow, and then who knows you could end up anywhere.”

Lovell will bring a wealth of experience from senior coaching positions in the WAFL and VFL, and various roles including player welfare, head of development and senior assistant roles at West Coast, Geelong, St Kilda and the Gold Coast Suns.

The move will further strengthen Bond’s women’s program, who are already the country’s benchmark with 23 AFLW draftees — the most of any club in Australia.

“The (women’s) program is excellent, so our focus is to consolidate that and make sure that continues and keep growing it.

“Even though the program has been really successful, part of the culture at Bond is continual learning and improvement, which is part of the reason they looked to create a full-time director of footy role.”