Noosa and Maroochydore dominate round five QAFL team of the week

The Sunshine Coast’s QAFL teams have started the 2022 season in solid form with a number of star performers named in the round five team of the week. SEE WHO MADE IT:

Sunshine Coast teams star in QAFL team of the week.

The Maroochydore Roos and the Noosa Tigers have started the 2022 QAFL season in solid form with both teams picking up big wins in the opening five rounds.

Maroochydore who sit in eighth place on the ladder with two wins and two losses got the upper hand over Noosa in their round four matchup winning 11.11.77 to 7.15.57.

Noosa’s new look senior side had also started the season well following a morale boosting win over Aspley in round two, the Tigers sit in sixth place with three wins and two losses.

Several guns from both sides have earnt selection in the round five team of the week this week.

Both head coaches have revealed how their teams were tracking and which players had been the key reasons for their team’s early success.

Noosa Tigers

The Noosa Tigers have bounced back from their winless 2021 QAFL season with key early round wins over Aspley, Wilston Grange and Sherwood.

Head coach Chris Rourke said he was proud of his team’s performances.

“We’re fairly pleased with the start as we played some good footy early and probably tailed off a little bit against Maroochydore who were far too good for us but we bounced back with a good win last week,” he said.

Noosa will head into round six with the bye before travelling to the Gold Coast to take on Surfers Paradise in round seven.

“We haven't had a break as we had a pretty hard pre-season before jumping straight into the season and playing some really good sides and doing a bit of travelling so the boys are looking forward to having the week off,” Rourke said.

“Hopefully we will come back nice and refreshed with some big games ahead of us.”

Rourke, a former Fitzroy VFA senior player, said he had been impressed with a number of his team’s players as well as those selected in the QAFL round five team of the week.

“Seb Rogers and Aaron Laskey have been terrific for us week-in-week-out, Ryley Buntain has been enormous in the back half for us all year and Tommy Templeton is probably our most consistent player as we know what we’re going to get out of him each week,” Rourke said.

“We’ve had good input from a lot of our players this year which has probably made the difference.”

Noosa Tigers in-form player Tom Baulch. Picture: Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

Tom Baulch

Round 5 stats: 32 disposals (11 cont.), 81% efficiency, 3 clearances, 7 marks, 4 inside 50s, 3 goals

“Really happy with our little rock star who missed a couple of early games but has come back and went through the midfield in round five,” he said.

“The attacking side of his game is very good and hoping he can still improve a bit defensively but what he brings to the table is very good.”

Noosa's Jai Fitzpatrick had the most disposals of any player in round five of the QAFL competition. Picture: Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

Jai Fitzpatrick

Round 5 stats: 40 disposals (17 cont.), 85% efficiency, 4 clearances, 6 tackles, 8 inside 50s, 1 goal

“Jai is just a ripping kid and he’s probably one of the most professional players we’ve got,” Rourke said.

“He never misses a training, will play in any position and the work he put in over pre-season is really coming to fruition so really pleased with Jai.”

Noosa Tigers player Ethan Johnstone celebrates after kicking a major against Maroochydore. Picture: Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

Ethan Johnstone

Round 5 stats: 16 disposals, 7 tackles, 4 goals

“EJ has got it within himself to push the forwards around and we really wanted to put the pressure back on their defenders when they were coming out and his efforts with his seven tackles was great,” he said.

“For him to bag some goals as well was great as he has been a great acquisition to the club and is a great leader.”

Maroochydore Roos

After a fairytale run to the 2021 grand final last season, Maroochydore has delivered top-string performances on the road but are yet to score a win in front of their home fans in 2022.

Head coach Ben Jones said he was looking to improve on his team’s rollercoaster start.

“We think we are coming to grips with our game plan but in saying that we have had a couple of up and down weeks,” he said.

Jones said he was proud of the team's efforts against Surfers Paradise and Noosa but said the team was yet to reach their best.

“We took a step back against Wilston Grange and at this level if you're five or 10 per cent off your best anyone can beat you,” he said.

“We know our best football is good against any team in this comp so we will have to bring strong effort and intensity this weekend against Redlands who we rate highly.”

The new Maroochydore senior coach said there had been a few standout players throughout the early rounds, as well as those selected in the QAFL round five team of the week.

“A couple in Jackson Bury who has been playing as a small attacking backman but he won the Anzac medal up at Noosa and has put together four really good games in a row now so he is probably our standout,” he said.

“Sam McLachlan missed round one but his three games since then have been really strong for us as he has a good penetrating kick, is good in the contest and is just a tough player so he’s been another consistent performer for us so far.”

Maroochydore Roos player Sam McKenzie seizes control against Wilston Grange in the QAFL. Picture: Tom Threadingham

Sam McKenzie

Round 5 stats: 19 disposals, 84% efficiency, 6 intercept marks, 2 inside 50s

“Sam has been really strong off half back and makes really good decisions for us,” Jones said.

“His intercept marking is probably the highlight and he’s come from a pretty major injury last year to having four good weeks now and he’s starting to build his season nicely.”

Joshua Govan

Round 5 stats: 36 disposals (12 cont.), 81% efficiency, 8 clearances, 3 inside 50s

“He’s been a really good leader for us and since watching the footage back he was probably a bit better than what we thought on the day,” he said.

“He was fantastic around the contest, strong around the footy, tackled really well and I thought he led from the front again on the weekend.”

Originally published as Noosa and Maroochydore dominate round five QAFL team of the week