Round one of the footy season is a weekend like no other.
It is the weekend when all of the pre-season preparation comes together and everyone gets to see what has been happening at Fishermans Road since the end of season 2012.
Round one of the Allied Pickfords Cup and the Maroochydore Roos hit the road to take on the University of Queensland (UQ), the new-comers to the division one competition.
The Maroochy Roos kicked started their 2013 campaign with a strong 10 goal win against a determined newcomer in University at the weekend.
The Senior Roos went into the clash with some solid pre-season form but were taking nothing for granted against University who were a relatively unknown opponent after being promoted from Division Two in the off season.
While the Roos seemed in control for large portions of the match, University kept themslves in it, and even mounted a third quarter comeback, to be within a few kicks at the final break.
However, a seven goal final term from Maroochydore saw off the challenge and secured the club the four points.
Kane Tyson was great for the Roos in the middle of the ground despite limited preperation leading up to the match while Luke Walker looked good in the back pocket.
Jarryd 'Migaloo' Hill helped himself to five goals while returning Roo Mitch Scholard pocketed four.
“I knew they (UQ) would be competitive but as far as what they’d produce, we didn’t have much idea," said Roos coach Brett Maloney.
“The third quarter they really got themselves back in the game.”
“A couple of centre clearances in the last quarter that results in goals for us, put paid to any chance they had of winning the game.
“Against Palm Beach (next week), we’re going to have to play a hell of a lot better.”
In the other game our Under 18s took to the field in their first game since their Premiership win in 2012.
Every team in the competition is out to catch the Premiers and the Roos are that illusive beast in 2013 that every team is striving to be better than.
Coach Steve ‘Moods’ Moody
Maroochydore Under 18s travelled to Uni for what was to be an expected difficult start to the year against the Red Lions!
We started well opening up a good lead at quarter time with Clancy Miller and Billy Mahoney dominating in the midfield, Tommy Buckle rebounding off the half back line and our small forwards in Blake Kennedy and Liam Devine creating plenty of opportunities up front.
The Red Lions hit back in the second and third stanzas providing a real contest and certainly a real contest in and around the stoppages and occasionally trapping us with too many in front of the ball instead of pushing back to help out in defence.
Miller and Mahoney continued their early dominance with assistance from our big ruckman Brock Zeidler and new recruit from Ballaratt, Cameron Hill, providing plenty of run out of the back half of the ground.
Soul Cormick was racking up possessions and with Jayden Johnson-Moody providing plenty of grunt work around the stoppages we knew we had to have a big last quarter.
Fortunately our greater fitness and probably better use of the ball held us in good stead and eventually ran the game out relatively easy winners (on the scoreboard anyway). Congratulations to all boys for their efforts and it provided a good sense of where we currently stand and what we need to do to improve.
We are looking forward to taking on Palm Beach this weekend at home.
The Reserves then picked up the baton to kick-off their season in tight tussle that ended prematurely after a severe injury.
This was written to the Reserves on an account of their attitude and compassion showed during the game and following the unforeseen circumstances which meant that the game finished early and the Roo boys lost by six points.
UQ Red Lions Player Nick Mayes
On behalf of the UQ Red Lions Division One Reserve side (and indeed the club) I would like to pass on our sincere thank you for the outstanding attitude the Maroochydore Reserves displayed on the weekend.
As you are aware, we endured a serious injury to one of our blokes in the third quarter of the reserve grade game on Saturday which in effect, ended the match prematurely.
The incident on Saturday severely hampered the chances of your reserves winning the game (as we were in front when he went down).
Having seen the player concerned in the condition that he was (Fractured eye socket and went in for reconstructive surgery today), caused much distress to many of our blokes.
I just wanted to congratulate your reserve side on their attitude towards this situation, not one bloke said anything negative about it during the stop in play or after the siren had sounded.
When I shook their hands after the final siren, I apologised for the situation (as I felt for them not having a chance to have a crack at us).
Again, every single bloke was excellent about it.
The Results
Seniors
University 9.10-64 def by Maroochydore 19.12-126
Goal Kickers: J. Hill 5, M. Scholard 4, J. Clark 2, K. Tyson 2, D. Magill , J. Raun , J. Simpson , C. Stevenson
Best Players: K. Tyson, L. Walker, H. Wilson, J. Gale, J. Hill, N. Lancaster
Reserves
University 5.4-34 def Maroochydore 4.4-28
Goal Kickers: S. Weuffen , M. Habgood , M. Boston , J. Goldfinch
Best Players: D. Hall, S. McKenzie, B. Fair, M. Boston, J. Goldfinch, J. Wickham
Colts (U/18s)
University 8.3-51 def by Maroochydore 15.10-100
Goal Kickers: G. Douglass 3, L. Devine 3, . Hunt 2, . Kennedy 2, C. Miller 2, . Ilott , B. Forbes , . Buckle
Best Players: C. Miller, B. Mahony, C. Hill, L. Devine, B. Zeidler, . Buckle
Last Modified on 24/04/2013 11:57
