On Saturday, for the first time since 2004, the QAFL Broadbeach Cats Seniors will be playing in a qualifying final.
The Cats will be up against Palm Beach Currumbin, who they haven’t beaten this season in their two encounters in round three and round nine, however they are quietly confident they can win.
Senior General Manager at Broadbeach, Jason Cotter, said that Palm Beach will be in for a surprise this Saturday afternoon.
“The side that runs out on Saturday is a side that’s never run out against Palm Beach before. So, they’ll certainly be weary. We think we are in with a strong chance, especially coming off a really good month. We really feel like we have momentum,” said Cotter.
The significance of this weekend is profound at the Broadbeach cattery, in a year where changes have beared fruit for the whole club.
Appointed as General Manager only at the start of this season, Cotter explained the changes that have led to this season of success.
“It’s been a fine tuning in philosophy and creating support networks in and around the coaches that was certainly a focus of mine. And obviously list management, training, preparation and recovery methods have changed. This is all a part of becoming a QAFL club of destination,” he said.
Cotter also highlighted the revising of talent pathways for their QAFL squad and coaching staff.
“It’s been about acquiring talent from our junior club which is really strong. A lot of them coming through and the boys that go to the academies and play higher level footy they come back to us as their local club,” said Cotter.
“It’s also about the coaches. This year Corey Fulton, Tim Deacon and Dave Edwards have come on board. We’ve also put in a high-performance manager in Brad Leedham and we’ve made sure we have our medical procedures up to scratch,” said Cotter.
The momentous occasion of a 13-year drought of playing qualifying finals hasn’t gone to the heads of the Broadbeach squad.
“From my perspective, they’ve all got a lid on it. They certainly have a spring in their step playing finals but they understand there’s a few weeks to go in a finals campaign so, all that’s needed is to replicate the same things we’ve been doing week in week out,” he said.
It’s been a long time between drinks for Broadbeach and nobody recognises it more than Cotter who was a part of the glory days for the club.
“I have been involved with the club in the past. In 1996, I went to Broadbeach and player coached and was involved there when the club won all three grades; under 19s, reserves and seniors,” said Cotter.
The next step for Cotter and the Cats is the continued development of their reserve squad.
“Our next target is to get the reserves up, we prefer to call them the development squad. We like to play young guys in that and they only just missed out on finals this year, and that in itself is an improvement as well,” said Cotter
The milestone final for Broadbeach is at 2pm this Saturday afternoon, at Salk Oval Palm Beach.
By Aaron Goodwin
