By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles
2014 season wrap
After losing an unprecedented 65 per cent of their playing group from the season before, 2014 should be considered a successful year for the Broadbeach Cats. Starting the year behind the eight ball due to numbers on the track, they finished the home and away season in fourth spot, with 13 wins and five losses. Losses in the last two weeks of the home and away season saw the opportunity of a finals double chance slip through their fingers. Unfortunately for the Cats, their season ended abruptly in a 47-point elimination final loss to Mt Gravatt.
Who’s in?
In somewhat of a homecoming, 2013 Broadbeach NEAFL side best and fairest, Ryan Pantic, returns in 2015 after a year with Port Melbourne. Also returning to H&A Oval will be brothers Tayler and Aaron Rolfe, as well as Ryan Dienjes, the Surfers Paradise captain from last year. Adam McConnachie will line up again in Broadbeach colours after knee reconstruction surgery sidelined him for last year. The Cats have also managed to sign three youngsters from Palm Beach Currumbin, Matt Dillon, Bryce Tomlinson and Jacob Guise, as well as young ex Morningside ruckman, Kristian Rooks. To top off their list, Nelson Pollard from the Yarra Valley Football League and 19-year-old livewire Clay Moscher-Thomas from the Ovens and Murray Football League have made the move up North.
Who’s out?
In a stark contrast to 2013, Broadbeach has managed to retain 90 per cent of its senior playing list from 2014. The two notable exclusions from the Cats lineup this year will be Matt Fife, who has gone back home to Wagga, and Nic Ellis, who is spending the year traveling overseas.
Pre-season focus
Coach Wayne Petterd has placed a high emphasis on game focused training and competitive based drills over the course of summer in an attempt to get his players more match ready when the season begins. To compliment this, the Cats welcome back the services of fitness coach Gary Fox, who spent last year working with Southport. After their young list ran out of steam towards the end of 2014, expect a much fitter and better-conditioned Broadbeach outfit.
Coach Wayne Petterd’s thoughts on 2015
“We will be competitive there’s no doubt about that. We were competitive last year with a young and enthusiastic group and this year we are still young but we have added some experience to it. The biggest goal for us as a group is we only lost five games last year, and they were all probably by nearly 80 points. If we can reduce that margin and be a lot more competetive against the likes of Morningside, Labrador, and Palm Beach we are heading in the right direction.
“I’m more than happy where we are at, at the moment.”
Who has the X factor
Keep an eye out for Ryan Dienjes, last years Surfers Paradise captain has been putting in the extra yards over pre-season. His strength is his ability to play across the entire ground, whether it be as the strong bodied midfielder, a goal sneak when forward, or the sweeper across half back, setting up the attack. An elite kick, he is one for Cats fans to watch out for this year.
