Redland’s Daniel Dzufer is headed back to the Sunshine Coast, signing with the Maroochydore Roos in the QFA (North) competition.
The 25 year-old was heavily sought after by a number of clubs in the NEAFL and QAFL, but the lure of playing with some long-time friends, was simply too much to ignore.
Dzufer, a Caloundra junior, said he couldn’t pass up the offer to return home.
“Getting back to the coast is something I’ve always wanted to do and when the opportunity came up, I jumped at it,” he said.
“I just keep going back to that…the chance to go back to where it all started.”
With most of his family still based on the Sunshine Coast, Dzufer said it would be great to have them at games regularly too.
With some of those long-time friends like Josh Norman in the Roos ranks last season, Dzufer has seen a bit of action in the QFA (North ) competition and is excited about the Roos’ future.
“I played a grand final in ’04 with Zillmere against Southport and haven’t managed to make a grand final since, so a chance to play in a grand final something I’ll be really hoping for this year,” he said.
“When I was up the coast, I went and watched him play and to the standard was pretty impressive, it’s not a walk in a park comp.”
While he won’t be playing for the Bombers in 2015, Dzufer, who lives with three of his Redland teammates, said he would still be a regular down at Dowling Park.
“I’ve got plenty of good friends there and I’ll still go to most of their social functions and support hem and be on the sidelines.”
Maroochydore begins its pre-season on December 1, but there is no danger of their new recruit lacking fitness, with the former Brisbane Lions rookie for Nightcliff in the Northern Territory Football League.
At just 25, Dzufer will be heading to the Roos with plenty of quality football left in his body, an exciting prospect for his new teammates.
Roos senior coach, Brett Maloney, said Dzufer was a major boost for the club, coming off the back of some big coaching appointments and busy off-season.
“Round one is obviously still four months away however we have had a busy past couple of months both recruiting more talent and re-signing the players we already have,” he said.
“The signing of ‘Dzuf’ plus that of Jayden Luca from the strong Mornington Peninsula Football League and the appointment of Andrew Cadzow and Steve Moody to the coaching staff is a great start to the 2015 campaign.
“The next season is shaping up very nicely but there’s still plenty of work to do.”
