It is fantastic that community sport is back on, with all forms of ball sports lining up this weekend.
There’s some really good news coming out of the AFL ranks. The Sports Hub Southern Swans will embark on their first finals campaign after finishing second on the ladder in their inaugural season in the QFA Colts North competition.
They play the Aspley Hornets at the Kawana Park AFL precinct at Meridan Plains on Saturday, with the winner moving into the grand final on September 4.
“The lads are up and about at training this week,” coach Doug Stuart said.
“And they will need to be, because Aspley are a powerhouse club in Queensland, current premiers and perennial finals contenders in this league.”
After a shaky start to the season, the Swans won their last eight games in the home and away season and were primed for a great final series when the recent lockdown put everything on hold for three weeks.
“No training for a fortnight can really disrupt a team’s preparation, but we are happy with the sessions we have put in since Saturday,” defensive coach Lindan Izzard said.
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The Southern Swans were formed when four AFL clubs (Caloundra, Hinterland, Kawana and Glasshouse) came together to see how they could keep young men playing football when they leave the junior competitions.
The Swans have players from each of these clubs and the model has been proved, by being competitive against the stronger clubs from Brisbane.
“While winning is always a bonus, the main aim of the Southern Swans was to develop the skills of the young men so they can seamlessly move into any senior team in the QAFL or QFA level in Queensland,” midfield coach Chris Hunt said.
Good luck boys.
Why I chose league over AFL
Just on AFL, I once had a fling with the code.
I actually started for the Nambour Blues in about 1972 and it probably took me nearly a whole season to actually take a mark, but after a while I got a bit of an idea on how to play the game.
I used to play a bit of junior rugby league on Saturday arvo, then AFL on Sunday morning and sometimes fill in for under-15 league at lunchtime on Sunday, if the games were close by.
I played none it very well, but loved it.
I did think AFL was my game. That all changed with a strange twist of fate, when I had a run-in with an umpire that ended up with him saying I pushed him?
I made the front page of the Nambour Chronicle, well maybe a paragraph somewhere, and it was my first time in print, with officials calling for a life ban?
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Thankfully, a goal umpire (a mate’s Dad) gave evidence that the umpire poked me in the chest first, so instead of life, I got six weeks.
In that six weeks I just played league, fully intending to further my career in AFL after I served my time.
On returning to training after paying my penance, I got greeted with: “Oh the bum sniffer is back,” by the Victorian-born coach, as that is what he called league.
I didn’t much like that and decided league was my game, which was probably a win for AFL and a major loss for rugby league.
Crunch time for Falcons
Just on league, The Sunshine Coast Falcons face a defining moment when they take on the strong Wynnum Club in both grades on Saturday.
The Super Intrust Cup game, at Kougari Oval in Wynnum, will be live on Kayo at 2.15pm.
This is must-win for the Falcons, who are currently in ninth spot and can’t afford to lose another game.
It is a big ask against Wynnum, but I guess if they can’t beat them now there is no point being in the finals anyway. Don’t die with the music in you boys.
Local footy finals
In local league, minor premiers Beerwah get the week off in the first weekend of finals.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Kawana host Noosa at 5.30pm and, on Sunday, Maroochydore takes on Caboolture and both should be cracking games.
Check the Rugby League Sunshine Coast website for game times for under-18s and Division 2 games, as there are some great match-ups as well.
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