By TERRY WILSON
MILESTONE games do not come much bigger than what is facing Broadbeach champion Josh Searl on Saturday afternoon.
A long-time Broadbeach stalwart – the bearded warrior has never worn any other jumper than the blue and white hoops – will be playing in only his second seniors grand final when he runs out against Morningside in the QAFL decider at Yeronga.
That makes it a very special event in itself.
But making the season finale even more memorable for the 29-year-old star is that the clash will mark Searl’s 150th seniors game for the Cats.
Searl missed the bus in 2018 when the Cats were beaten by Palm Beach Currumbin in the grand final at Yeronga.
But the chance is there for him and teammates to go one better and get premiership number three for Broadbeach after limited success for the flag-starved club for 49 years.
Two flags (in 1987 and 1996) and two grand final appearances (in 1976 and 2018) can be looked at as poor pickings for a club with one of the most buoyant junior programs in south-east Queensland.
For instance, St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt is Broadbeach’s most famous junior product.
Searl obviously never made it as high as Riewoldt but he remains one of the most popular players produced by the club after playing more than 200 junior games.
These days a half-back specialist after a long career on-ball, Searl has been at the Cattery long enough to know that a drink from a premiership cup will quench an insatiable thirst.
It will taste like liquid gold.
Yet personal glory is not on the Searl agenda. Team ethos is number one.
“We have worked pretty hard over the last few years and two grand finals in three years is a pretty good effort, just making them,” he said.
“But we have to make sure to get out there and take our opportunities this time.”
Searl said he is ‘not too worried’ about the 150-game milestone.
The team and winning that elusive third flag for the Cats are the missions for Searl, who has twice been best and fairest player at the Cats (2014-2016).
