COACHING SHOCK
LION WEIGHS FUTURE
BOTH grand final coaches could be missing from the 2019 QAFL season with Chad Owens revealing he may not be around to chase a third premiership with Palm Beach Currumbin.
Owens has dropped a second coaching bombshell, declaring he was contemplating stepping down as head coach of the Lions just days after winning a second QAFL flag.
It comes after Broadbeach Cats coach Brett Andrews said he was unlikely to be in his position next season.
“I’m not sure yet, we will see how we go,” Owens said when speaking about 2019.
Owens said he had been considering giving up the top job for some time and stated his decision centred around his young family.
The successful coach has two young sons, Luis, who turns four on Saturday, and Connor, 1.
Owens also works as a teacher at Palm Beach Currumbin State High and is one of four coaches who run the school’s football program.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a little while,” Owens said.
“It’s not a bad way to go out, winning a grand final.”
Owens has spent nearly a decade working with QAFL players in many positions.
The respected mentor spent five years as an assistant at Labrador before working in the same position at Palm Beach Currumbin for 12 months.
Owens took over from former Lions head coach Daryn Cresswell in 2015, taking the club to a grand final in 2016 before winning two flags in 2017 and 2018.
If Owens and Andrews do step down, it will mean three of the four coaches from the Gold Coast-based QAFL teams will have left their post.
Aaron Shattock announced in August he would not continue at the helm of Labrador beyond this year.
Surfers Paradise Demons mentor Brad Moore could be the only ongoing coach of the Gold Coast clubs.
“I’m staying for another year at least and for as long as I can,” Moore said.
“It’s an exciting group of players I’m working with.”
Moore said most of the playing group had already stated their intention to stay together next season.
“We are fortunate that we look like our list will stay together next year,” Moore said.
“The guys are excited about what they were able to achieve this year and are really determined to go further.
“They have had two years playing under me and they are getting more experience at senior level. They are just about at the right time in their playing careers to do well.”