The 2014 Season kicked off for the Fiona Winter Realty Noosa Tigers with an away game at Nambour on Saturday. New coach James Gellie, has spent to off season recruiting hard and setting up the new team structure. The Tigers had 7 new players make their Senior debut for the club, Sean Baker, Tom Keehan, Dylan Dempsey, Jed Mullen, Nick Sutton, Sam Dwyer and Zac McDonald. Adding to the list was the return of experienced premiership players, Brett Duke, Tom McKittrick, Troy Duke and Josh Reichman. A new coach and 11 new players into the team, everyone at the club was interested in seeing all the hard work of the off season take the field for the first time.
In hot and humid conditions the game started as expected as both teams hit the packs hard and were trying to set the scene. Jai Fitzpatrick was excellent early and show some real physical presence around the stoppages. Nambour kicked the first goal before Dave Welch opened the account for the Tigers after a strong mark straight in front. Both teams continued with the hard hitting before Welch pounced on a lose ball to get his second and give the Tigers the lead. Troy Duke was good down back and Jed Mullen was creating plenty of run. The game was tight and physical as the siren went for the first break and nothing could separate the teams. Noosa 3-3-21 to Nambour 3-3-21
The second quarter was played out exactly like the first, hard and physical. Noosa was slowly getting on top in the midfield as McKittrick, Winter and Sutton were finding plenty of the footy. Fitzpatrick was again outstanding, Brett Duke was spending some time in the ruck and giving them first use, and Isaac Hughson was causing some trouble for the Nambour backs. McKittrick was the only goal scorer for the quarter as Noosa restricted Nambour to 4 points and adding 1 goal 2 behinds themselves to go into the long break with a 4 point lead. Noosa 4-5-29 to Nambour 3-7-25.
Gellie's half time talk centred around the lack of support for each other and we looked like a team that didn't really know each other. But if we stick to our structure everything would take care if itself, and that's what the Tigers did. Brett Duke got things rolling with a strong pack mark and goal. The midfield were getting the contested clearances and our back six, led by Peter Trompf were really putting the screws on Nambour. Dylan Dempsey was moved into the midfield half way through the third term and really showed his class as the tigers extended their lead to 9 points and the final break. Noosa 6-7-43 to 4-10-34.
At the final break Gellie pleaded with the boys to have faith in the structure and each other. Zac McDonald got on top in the ruck as he gave the midfield first use and McKittrick drove deep into the forward line. Alex Corrigan snapped from 30 out to extend the Tigers lead before Welch kicked his 3rd and from there the Tigers were on top. Nick Sutton was moved up forward and he kicked the next before Ex Tiger Owen Bailey stemmed the flow with a goal for Nambour but at that point the tigers were full of run. Jake Hendrie and Josh Reichman worked hard on their wings and then Lou Fary was playing his role at half back, but swooped on a loose ball across the Tigers half forward line and goaled to put the game out of reach for Nambour. A 5 goal to 2 final term saw the Tigers run out 27 point winners. Noosa 11-8-47 to Nambour 6-11-47.
Noosa finished the game off well and the signs are good going forward as the new guys Zac McDonlad , Jed Mullen, Josh Reichman, Dylan Dempsy and Tom Keehan all got better as the game went on.
Noosa's better players were- Jai Fitzpatrick, Dave Welch, Tom McKittrick, Brett Duke, Jake Fulton, Nath Winter
Noosa's goal kickers - Welch 3, B.Duke 2, Fulton 1, Sutton 1, Fary 1, Fitzpatrick 1, Hughson 1, Corrigan 1
The reserves had a fantastic start to the season with a 105 point win in the early game. The boys had 12 separate goal kicks with Max Paterson and Sam Krushka kicking 5 each. Matt Deans was Noosa's best player and there will be plenty of pressure on the senior group with the likes of Jake Tickner, Shane Davis, Morgan Webb, Travis Fulton and Matty Deans all playing well.
Next week the PJ Burns Noosa Tigers take on Kedron at Weyba road which will be a our first home game for the year. Kedron are expected to finish high on the ladder so this looks to be a big game for both teams and a huge crowd expected . The reserves start at 11-45am and the Seniors kick off at 2pm.
Jas Sherriff (Chief Reporter)
Last Modified on 30/03/2014 11:32