Round 18 QAFL Rising Star: Cassidy Haberfield

Grunt. That’s what Cassidy Haberfield, the round 18 Rising Star nominee, brings to the Surfers Paradise midfield.

The 19-year-old has put his head over the ball time and time again this year, winning his own footy for the Demons, before feeding it outside.

Going head to head with the likes of Kinch, Russ, and Hacket from Morningside last weekend, Haberfield looked far from out of place, getting touch after touch after touch.

“It was a pretty hard game to play in. We were a bit reactive for a while, but I thought we did alright as a team, and played a good type of game style,” Haberfield said.

“I think because we stuck to our structures it made it easier for me to find the footy. When we had the footy it was good, but we were chasing a little bit for a while.”

Out of 15 games this season, Haberfield has been named in the best a staggering 11 times.

It’s this consistency that sees him regarded as one of the premier teenagers in the competition.

“Yeah it’s been pretty consistent. It’s been a year where I have probably had the most games in the same team, so playing with the same people every week has helped me find consistency,” he said.

While he said his stoppage work has been the catalyst for his good year, there is also another part of his game that is developing nicely.

“My stoppages have helped me a lot this year. I’ve gotten a lot of the footy from those stoppages instead of the outside ball,” Haberfield said.

“The inside work has been something that I’ve been alright at for a while. This year I’ve put a lot of work into the outside ball, which has gotten better as well.”

The Haberfield’s have been long associated with the Surfers Paradise Football Club. In fact, they bleed red and blue.

All three brothers, Cassidy, Brody, and Jesse, have played in the seniors this year.

Cassidy, who was a member of Queensland’s Under 18 State Academy last year, is excited with the group currently at Surfers, and the direction they are heading.

“It’s a good feeling at the club at the moment. Even though we aren’t getting as many wins as we would like. I’ve played a lot of rep footy with these guys as well, so it’s been good to work with them again,” he said.

“I think we are definitely on the right track. Results say we are, and the attitude everyone has says we are.”

Now that 2015 is done and dusted, Haberfield can focus on a big 2016 campaign, both personally, and in a team sense.

“Playing every game would be one goal for next year, and to just play as consistent footy as possible,” he said.

“Maybe going up forward and getting a couple of sausage rolls, that would be nice.”

He believes it won’t take much for the Demons to turn it around next year, and be still playing this time of year.

“Hopefully, if we are three goal better side than last year, we should be right up there. We have lost six or something games by about a kick, so if we get better at that we will be right.”

2015 QAFL Rising Star Nominees

*Please note, the winner will be announced at the Grogan Medal on September 21

By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles