Can the Tigers continue their good run of recent years?
Noosa Tigers believe they can overcome the loss of several experienced players and continue their recent success in the 2013 Allied Pickfords Cup.
Senior coach, Wayne Fletcher, said the loss of captain Adam Bovalino to a mining job in West Australia was a blow for the club but still had faith in his current crop of players.
“It’s obviously a big loss,” Fletcher said.
“He was a great on-field leader.”
Fletcher believes that despite the loss of Bovalino and other senior players, the next wave of Tigers would relish the chance to step up.
Jack Tickner, Stuart Allen and Jack Hendrie, all in their early 20s, are three players that Fletcher said could step up into more senior roles this season on the back of some hard work this summer.
Teenagers such as Harry Opie, who has been on the rise in recent years, could get more of a chance with gaps to fill in 2013.
“Harry has been knocking on the door of senior footy and he has been training the house down this year,” Fletcher said.
“There’s a couple of under-18 blokes – Ben Fuller and Lincoln High – who have also been training exceptionally well.
“It will be good to have them possibly lining up for senior selection come first game this season.”
It won’t be hard for Noosa’s developing youngsters to find someone to look up to, with new captain Peter Trompf, a product of the Tigers’ junior pathways.
Fletcher said Trompf’s attachment to the Tigers made him the perfect choice for captain this season.
“Trompf is a very inspirational leader. If anyone can fill the void he can,” Fletcher said.
“He’s very passionate about Noosa and passionate about the game itself.”
With Tromp leading the way on the field, Fletcher believes the Tigers can continue to improve upon their preliminary final finish in 2012.
“We’re not looking to take a backward step this year. The last five seasons we’ve made the finals and that’s our intent again this year,” he said.
“Our senior competitors will be going out with an expectation of winning.”
Fletcher knows there are some areas to work on for the side if they want to push for a grand final berth.
“Last year our defence was quite strong but I think we need to convert more of our inside 50s,” he said.
Noosa opens its 2013 season against Wilston Grange on April 20 at Weyba Rd.
