Senior Sunshine Coast Football grand finals preview 2022

Sunshine Coast senior football coaches have revealed their feelings and key players ahead of Saturday’s grand final match-ups. Check out our full grand final day guide here.

2022 Sunshine Coast Football grand final preview

The pinnacle of junior and senior Sunshine Coast football has arrived with a whopping 38 teams across 19 divisions taking part in this weekend’s blockbuster grand finals at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Senior clubs Caloundra FC, Sunshine Coast Fire FC, Noosa Lions FC, Kawana FC and Maroochydore Swans FC will take part in the action on Saturday, September 17.

The junior fixtures will get underway from 8.30am and senior matches will begin from 12pm.

The men’s FQPL3 match will pit the minor premiers Maroochydore FC against Kawana FC and the women’s top league finale will be played between Sunshine Coast Fire and Maroochydore FC.

In the junior divisions there are a number of star players to keep an eye on after their coaches named them as standout talents throughout the regular season.

We caught up with senior men’s and women's coaches who gave their thoughts ahead of their teams’ do-or-die match-ups.

FQPL3 Men’s

Kawana will head into the grand final hoping to make it back-to-back titles after their 2-0 win over Woombye in the 2021 decider.

Competition heavyweights Maroochydore were able to finish the regular season undefeated but suffered their first loss of the season to Kawana in week one of finals.

The loss resulted in Kawana progressing straight through to Saturday’s decider while the Swans overcame Noosa 4-2 in the preliminary final.

Here’s what head coaches Warren Crickmore (Maroochydore) and Brad Lloyd (Kawana) had to say during the week.

Head coaches Warren Crickmore (left) and Brad Lloyd (right).

Q: What have been your takeaways from the match-ups and results earlier in the season?

Crickmore: “We’re not really reading into our loss against them and it is hard to go the whole season undefeated but we did that and our loss was just one of those days where we couldn’t be at our best and Kawana played well on the day,” he said.

Lloyd: “In the win we were able to get a full squad on the park for the first time against Maroochydore so that was pleasing,” he said.

“Both other times we played them in the league we were a bit understrength so it was good to get everyone on the park and put in a good performance against them.”

Q: Where do you think the game will be won or lost?

Crickmore: “Grand finals are all about showing up on the day and we just need to make sure that everyone contributes,” he said.

“If everyone does their job and contributes I think we’ll do okay.”

Lloyd: “Grand finals are pretty volatile so I think it’s whoever turns up on the day,” he said.

“Both teams have good chances of winning but I think the defensive side of things, although it’s a cliche, good defence wins finals.

“Our defence has been okay the last couple of weeks, our attack just needs to gel that extra bit more but if we take our chances that we create I think we’ll go a long way in winning the game.”

Kawana players Ryan Delahunty, Dylan Firth and Kayden Oakes.

Q: Which players will act as game breakers for your team?

Crickmore: “It is and has been all season a massive team effort,” he said.

“I would like to think a few of our players can take control of key moments but that only happens when the whole team is playing their role.”

Lloyd: “We’ve got a lot of leaders in our group and a lot of experience across the pitch,” he said.

“There’s a lot of players that have played in a number of grand finals which is good and so the likes of our captain Ryan Delahunty, Dylan Firth and Kayden Oakes have all played in plenty of big matches.

Q: Final thoughts?

Crickmore: “Obviously with the way the season has been we’ve had a lot of stop starts and then we had nine games in five weeks so now we’re actually missing five first graders that are out for the season and have another few doing injury assessments this week,” he said.

“We’ll know by Friday but all in all I’m looking forward to it so let’s get in and do our best.”

Lloyd: “I’m pumped for one,” he said.

“It’s really exciting and a bit of a different mindset to most other football countries as we get to play in a grand final.

“We’re born and bred with grand finals in Australia and ever since you’re a kid you want to play in a grand final no matter what sport it is so the players are pumped and are really looking forward to the day, the atmosphere and the celebrations afterwards.

“I would like to also say that it’s not just the group and coaching staff that gets a team to a grand final but the club as a whole and our club, our committee, our leadership group and our volunteers have fully supported our venture this year and we couldn't be happier to be playing under that group.”

FQPL3 Women’s

Both Maroochydore Swans and the Sunshine Coast Fire finished behind Woombye FC on the ladder but a dominant semi final 4-1 win in favour of the Fire over Woombye meant they progressed straight through to the grand final.

Maroochydore then met Woombye in the preliminary matchup where the scores finished level at 3-3 but the Swans were able to progress on penalties.

Head coaches Gareth Simmonds (Maroochydore) and Trent Jepsen (Sunshine Coast Fire) both said they were extremely excited for kick-off on Saturday.

Q: What have been your takeaways from the match-ups and results earlier in the season?

Simmonds: “It’s always pretty even between the two of us so I haven't read into the results too much but I expect it to be very even again on Saturday to be honest,” he said.

Jepsen: “We’ve had a good season, new players as always and the first time we’ve had under-23s at the club so we’ve treated it all as a squad,” he said.

“It’s a real testament that both teams are in the grand final and it should be another good contest against Maroochydore.”

Q: Where do you think the game will be won or lost?

Simmonds: “In defence,” he said.

“I think we’re generally strong in defence which gives us a good foundation for attack so if we can get that right we’ll see what happens.”

Jepsen: “Our defence will have to be good as Maroochydore have very quick forwards,” he said.

“If we can hold them up, press high and give them limited room our counter attack ability is then really good and we’ve got players that can score from anywhere on the park.”

Q: Which players will act as game breakers for your team?

Maroochydore captain Danae Pryce (left) and Sunshine Coast Fire talent Chrissy Wegner have been named as players to watch.

Simmonds: “Our captain Danae Pryce was missing last week so she’s a big inclusion to the team and one of our young forwards Ruby Miezitis has been in great form and one I’m excited to see out on the big pitch,” he said

Jepsen: “Most definitely our goalkeeper Alycia Catchpole, she’s an ex-Brisbane Roar player and has a lot of experience so can win games for us and has done that a few times this season,” he said.

“Our gamebreakers would be those in the midfield so Liv Latimer and Chrissy Wegner who also have plenty of experience and just go all game which really inspires the younger girls.

“They drive the team and if push comes to shove they usually lift which is good.”

Q: Final thoughts?

Simmonds: “The girls are pretty nervous but we also can’t wait,” he said.

“We missed out last year when losing in the semi so we’re pretty keen to get out there and get stuck into the grand final.”

Jepsen: “They’re pumped, they’re all keen and for a lot of them it’s their first grand final at the stadium too so it’s a big deal which is good,” he said.”

Originally published as Senior Sunshine Coast Football grand finals preview 2022