In our final QWAFL team preview, we look at how league newcomer, Maroochydore, has prepared for their debut.
Last time we saw them:
Maroochydore is very much the dark horse of this year’s competition. Having gone through last year undefeated in the QWAFA, the Roos have rightly earned a promotion to the 2017 Bond University QWAFL.
Under coach Stu Jackson, the side had a strong core of several skilful representative players who led the team to their record-breaking premiership, but with their list growing over the off-season there is now more depth to choose from.
With Maroochydore hitting the pre-season training track back in November of last year, they are giving themselves every opportunity to hit the ground running.
What to expect:
It’s tough to predict how well the Maroochydore will do in a higher grade competition, but with a number of new players coming from backgrounds in other elite sports we should see a new-look team from last year.
New recruit Kelly Woods will be thrown into the deep end early after player being named as a co-captain for 2017. Woods, 36, is a former Australian touch player who will likely bring her elite athlete mindset into the Maroochydore dressing rooms.
Don’t be surprised if we see Maroochydore jump out of the blocks with some early wins this year.
On the radar:
Watch out for Jemma Abbott this year. The 17-year-old just keeps getting better and better. Abbott represented Queensland in the Youth Girls National Championships last year and also won the QWAFA best and fairest with 22 votes; five votes clear of her nearest competitor.
Abbott is a very strong overhead mark and is always dangerous in front of goals. She is close to returning from a knee injury in the next couple of weeks and when she gets her chance at QWAFL level, she’s likely to never look back.
2016 Stats (QWAFA):
Ladder Position: 1st
Wins: 14
Losses: 0
From the coach:
“The girls are very hungry to get up into this next level, they really want to test themselves against the best girls in the state. I’m hoping we’ll be sitting middle of the table.”
- Maroochydore coach Stu Jackson
Round 2:
University of Queensland Vs. Maroochydore
4:45pm Sat April 8
UQ – Oval 9 (St Lucia)
By Josh Cheadle
Twitter: JoshCheadle20
