By Terry Wilson
The Broadbeach Cats can ‘most definitely, without a doubt’ bounce back from last weekend’s loss to Gold Coast rivals Surfers Paradise says rising teenager Aiden Fyfe.
Fyfe was playing in just his third seniors game for Cats and, despite the loss, his effort was good enough to earn him the Round 15 nomination for the QAFL’s Rising Star Award.
The trick now for Fyfe is to retain his place in the Broadbeach senior side for the remainder of the 2019 campaign, a task he is looking forward to.
“Definitely, without a doubt, we can bounce back,” said Fyfe.
“I just hope to keep playing well and stay in the seniors.”
Fyfe is only 16 and is in Year 11 at Helensvale State High where he is part of the Australian football program.
At 188cm and weighing 76kg, left-footer Fyfe has plenty of filling-out to do physically.
It was playing against bigger and stronger bodies that Fyfe found the biggest jump from being in the Gold Coast SUNS Under 16 academy to QAFL seniors.
But his skills both sides of the body have surfaced, not to mention kicking four goals in his three seniors games.
Fyfe is a product of the Coomera Magpies juniors where he played for three seasons before switching to Southport where he played for three seasons before trying his luck with Broadbeach after a chat with head coach Beau Zorko.
“I had a talk with Beau and he told me that I’d like it there. He was right,” said Fyfe.
As a junior Fyfe played State rep games at U14s and U16s, U17 Futures Championship and five games with Gold Coast in the NAB U18 League.
He has his dreams, like every other AFL hopeful, but first preference is to play more with Broadbeach, second preference is to be able to return to Southport and play NEAFL.
“I didn’t really want to leave Southport because of the NEAFL,” said Fyfe.
The teenager said one of the hardest things he found being in the SUNS Academy and playing with Broadbeach was not so much the changes in methods but more to do with getting to know everybody.
“It’s a little bit difficult training with two sides – just pretty much getting to know everyo0ne’s names,” he said.
Fyfe becomes the third Broadbeach youngster to be nominated for the Rising Star Award. He follows Harrison Arnold (R8) and Kwaybe Boayke (R13) for that honour.
Like the two most recent Rising Star nominees Kwaybe Boykabe and Hugo Barry, Fyfe played soccer as a kid in Melbourne before finding the national code as an Under 12.
QAFL RISING STAR NOMINATIONS
Round 1: Nathan Colenso, Morningside Panthers
Round 2: Lochlan Harrop, Sandgate Hawks
Round 4: Angus O’Brien, Wilston Grange Gorillas
Round 5: Sam Hilton-Joyce, Surfers Paradise Demons
Round 6: Jack Wratten, Mt Gravatt Vultures
Round 7: Loki Haines, Sandgate Hawks
Round 8: Harrison Arnold, Broadbeach Cats
Round 9: Dan Edwards, Western Magpies
Round 10: Jack Austin, Western Magpies
Round 11: Tahj Abberley, Sandgate Hawks
Round 12: Jake O’Halloran, Sandgate Hawks
Round 13: Kwaybe Boakye, Broadbeach Cats
Round 14: Hugo Barry, Labrador Tigers
Round 15: Aiden Fyfe, Broadbeach Cats
