Roos plan to go one better in new league
Experience tells Bombers to lift Brothers driving Saints to glory
DESPITE losing the 2018 QWFA Division 2 South grand final by six points, the Robina Roos won’t allow themselves to be haunted by any demons.
If anything the club will take enormous confidence from their maiden campaign.
The Roos only lost two games and were the league’s highest-scoring team last season, kicking 111 points more than their nearest competitor.
Yet Robina were held scoreless in the opening quarter of the decider and were inaccurate in front of goal, falling to Morningside by a single kick.
Now the Roos are preparing to take on their biggest challenge yet after they were promoted to QFAW Division 1.
“You learn more from a loss than you do a win,” said Robina assistant coach Marc Rose.
“The girls have been really hungry in pre-season and willing to stay back and do extra work because they realise they’ve gone up a level now.
“We’d like to play finals but we’re taking it week by week.
“We’re going to be realistic because we know it’s a competitive division and last year was our first year but we’re confident we can get there.”
The Roos have been on a recruiting spree as they prepare to field a side in both divisions and no sport is off limits.
“We do have the numbers so far (to field two sides) but numbers are always a challenge and trying to get everyone at training on one night,” Rose said.
“We’ve had a few girls who’ve come over from basketball and soccer as well as other girls from other clubs and they’ve loved what we’re doing and have kept coming back to training.”
Rose hopes to use his 16 years of playing experience across three state leagues to guide the club into a new era. HE has experience at three AFL clubs and returning Burleigh QFA Division 1 coach Shane Williams is hopeful of leading the team to a top three finish.
Williams is at the helm of the Bombers once again following the departure of Greg Mitchell, who has joined Surfers Paradise’s coaching ranks.
The QAFL coach spent four years as Burleigh’s boss between 2013 and 2016 after two years as reserves coach.
Burleigh didn’t win a game in his first year as he built the list but made the grand final in 2013, the preliminary final in 2015 and missed finals by two points in his last year. Now he is back and wants to take the team who finished third last season back to the top.
“Our plan is in place to be a top three side and be a genuine premiership contender in Division 1 this year, setting the club up to be a power for years to come,” Williams said. “There has been a lot of change at the club over the off season.”
Williams was born in Victoria and spent time at St Kilda, West Coast and Brisbane between the 1980s and 2000, working in their medical teams and as head trainer at the Bears, who became the Lions in 1996. TWO international football players are set to help the Carrara Saints defend its QFA Division 2 premiership.
Once AFL hopeful Kilip Andrew will join brother and fellow Vanuata representative Robin at the Saints in 2019 as Carrara try to make the most of their strength and speed to win a second straight flag.
Kilip was part of the AFL’s South Pacific Academy and competed at the international draft combine in 2016. Robin had his first taste of footy through the Saints in 2018.
“Kilip has electric pace like his brother and his athleticism saw him represent his country in multiple sports,” Saints coach Nick Pearson said.
“We can’t wait to watch the brothers run around together.”
Kilip is one of 11 recruits for Carrara heading into the season.
The Saints have retained 23 of their 28-man senior squad from last season, including Ash Templar who kicked 100 goals, midfielder Jordan Grainger and Rhys Nossiter.
Fellow Gold Coast Clubs Coomera Magpies, Robina Roos, Bond University and Coolangatta-Tweed will also contest the QFA Division 2 competition.