Cats on mission to reign supreme
JELLYMAN-TURNER HOPEFUL OF DYNASTY
THE Broadbeach Cats are out to not only win back-toback QAFL premierships on Saturday – but to create a dynasty of club glory.
With no losses to their name for season 2022, the Cats are favourites to take out former VFL side and competition newcomers Aspley at Coorparoo.
But the Cats will also compete for Colts glory, a feat Lucas Jellyman-Turner believes could be early signs of a long reign for Broadbeach.
“They’re a really good group (the Colts), we’ve seen the excitement grow throughout the year, even with pre-season them joining in on our training sessions and then also some of them playing their first game as a senior player.
“We’ve had quite a few changes each week because of how strong we are through the development and Colts squad. It just means you can build a dynasty, not just a couple of years – you can build for the next five to 10 years with that group of players.”
Despite the target on their back, Jellyman-Turner said they weren’t letting the pressure set in, rather enjoying the end of what had already been a dominant season.
“We’re just enjoying the week, getting through training, getting through work this week and enjoying it with the fellas,” he said. “We’ve had some lucky wins through the year, we’ve had some good wins and some close wins, we’ve had ones we probably should have lost, but it all comes down to this.”
The Cats have made four of the past five grand finals, while opposition Aspley return to a QAFL grand final after 11 years in the NEAFL and then VFL.
Aspley defender James Nelis said his teammates were feeling ready to take on the Cats in what will be their fourth clash in eight weeks.
“It’s a massive opportunity for our club as a first year back in the QAFL since the NEAFL was formed,” Nelis said.
“Broadbeach are a great outfit, they’ve been the benchmark all year and deserve to be favourite but we’re obviously backing ourselves to go in and win.”
The Gold Coast were by far the most dominant region in season 2022, with five of the six grand final teams across the three divisions from the Gold Coast.
There had been discussion around whether the coast should have held grand finals given their dominance over the competition, but Jellyman-Turner said he had firm belief Cats supporters would make the journey up the M1 regardless.
“We were lucky last year and sort of blessed to have it at Southport. It would have been even better to have it at Broadbeach, where we played our earlier final this season.
“But coming up to Coorparoo, it’s a neutral ground, neutral setting and obviously all our supporters will come up anyway. Hopefully for everyone that comes up and makes that trip, we can put on a show for them.”