Chris ‘Yeendy’ Yeend
Noosa was the Cinderella story of the 2022 QAFL season. After failing to secure a victory in its maiden year in the competition in 2021; the club had a busy pre-season with a solid recruiting campaign and injecting some experience to compliment the youth in the team.
Under new coach Chris Rourke, the Tigers almost took down the reigning premiers on the day of their unfurling of the 2021 flag; and it instilled belief that this new-look team could be a force to be reckoned with.
Noosa played some electrifying and mesmerising football under captain Aaron Laskey. With the injection of Jai Fitzpatrick, Michael Bussey, Tom Templeton and Thomas ‘Prime’ Baulch into the 2022 line-up; the team had winners on every line.
As the season progressed; there was a greater expectation that Noosa were to win more games which is a polar opposite expectation from 12-months earlier when they weren’t expected to win.
The one key issue that stopped the Northern Tigers from taking the next step from being a good team, to a great team was its inability to finish off games strongly against the sides above them. Narrow loses to PBC, Labrador and Broadbeach stopped them from going to that next level.
Noosa’s final game of the season came against Redland Victoria Point in the First Elimination Final. After trailing by a hefty margin, it soared from a far distance to take the lead. Every time it challenged, the Sharks were able to just keep that slight arms’ distance in front and ultimately win by a narrow margin. Like during the home and away season against some of those teams higher on the ladder, there were just a few moments that the opposition snuck ahead.
No-one can take anything away from what this team achieved in 2022; it was nothing short of extraordinary and this group was easily in the top three ‘must-watch’ teams in the QAFL because they were always going to compete hard and as a neutral, or a fan of the team, you just knew that they were five minutes of classy football away from turning the competition on its head.
SEASON 2023
Noosa will enter its third season in the QAFL and second under coach Chris Rourke who led the team to its maiden finals appearance last year.
Rourke will be well supported by Simon Rourke; and Aaron Wilson who will do so while in a playing capacity.
RECRUITS
CALLUM CRISP – Ruck – Myrtleford
RYAN CRISP – CHB – Myrtleford
MALICHI OWERS – Mid – Myrtleford
ROBBIE RUSAN – HFF – Ex Noosa
ZAC VERNON – Mid – Phillip Island
MITCH LANGAN – Key Forward – Williamstown (Ex Noosa)
KEY OUTS
Connor McDonald – overseas
Harry Maher – overseas
Ethan Johnston – Dromana
Tom Baulch – Wangaratta
YOUNG PLAYERS TO WATCH COMING UP THROUGH THE COLTS THAT COULD PLAY SENIOR FOOTBALL
Kooper Bamback, Cooper Ogden, Tom McNally, Tallis Buntain and Dane Larson.
X FACTOR
Aaron Wilson
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SEASON AHEAD
To play finals again
OPPOSITION TO WATCH AND WHY
“Aspley – adding the likes of Freeman and Templeton to the reigning premiers is huge. They will be hard to beat.” – Chris Rourke
PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM YOUR TEAM
Aaron Laskey
Aaron Wilson
Tyler Stack
Robbie Rusan
Fixture rating based on 2022 final Home and Away standings.
10, 5, 4, 6, 11, 1, 9, 10, 2, 8, 12, 5, 9, 4, 11, 2, 3, 6 = 117
The season opener against Redland Victoria Point is going to be a massive test for both teams and an ideal physical hit-out to in a ‘finals-like’ outing.
The Northern Tigers will have a chance to see just where they’re positioned this year with a hat-trick of matches against teams that finished outside the top six including a blockbuster against rivals Maroochydore.
Noosa plays nine matches against the other five finalists from 2022 which will provide a major test for the group in just its third season in the QAFL. Considering the race for the top six will be a very close one; do not be surprised to see the Round 21 clash at home against the Roos to be the one that determines which of these two teams finish in the top six. The last meeting between the pair in 2022 was an instant classic, a draw.
After an outstanding 2022 season, there is expectations on this group to continue to live in the top six for the 2023 season. When this team takes to the field, it is a genuine box office attraction; even if it’s missing a few of the boys that have returned home to Aspley, and Prime. What has come in for them will continue this momentum train and perhaps a minimum, second week of the finals placing.
