Maroochydore coach Steve Moody won’t go so far to call it a ‘rebuild’ but admits the state league squad is experiencing significant change this season.
The Roos were serious contenders for the past two years but there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the side as they head into their opening game of 2021 this weekend.
They’ve lost some key players and won’t see their Brisbane Lions affiliated players until late in the season.
But they’ve made some astute recruits and hope to see former surf sports star Jordan Mercer on the park once she recovers from a fractured leg.
“It’s been an interrupted pre-season,” Moody said.
“We’ve had girls coming and going and a few have chosen not to play for personal reasons, like uni or work.
“But we’ve picked up a few new girls as well and they are handy.
“It will be interesting to see how it pans out. I wouldn’t say we’re stronger than last year but we’re going to look to some of the girls who might have been on the fringes (of selection) last year to step up and become bonafide senior players.”
The Roos will face their best and fairest player from last year in Round 1, after midfielder Mikayla Paugu received a scholarship with 2020 minor premiers Bond University.
“We’re happy for her but it’s bittersweet,” he said.
The likes of Belle Dawes, Lily Postlethwaite and Shannon Campbell will be busy with Lions commitments for much of the season.
Captain Rachel Crack, midfielders Chloe Gregory and Belle Smith and ruck Jacqui Dupuy are in the team’s leadership group and they loom as key pieces to the team’s puzzle.
“I think Jacqui is going to be seen as one of the best talls in the game this year,” Moody said.
Newcomer Sarah O’Grady should be one to watch.
“She’s going to be very handy as a big-bodied midfielder or strong defender.”
And Imogen David has enjoyed a strong pre-season.
“She might surprise a few of us in terms of how she adapts to senior footy.”
Young gun Bri McFarlane is set to bolster the side after a previous stint on the Brisbane Lions list.
“It’s probably a wait and see situation for us because we’ve got so many new girls to senior football,” Moody said.
Ex-surf sports star recovering from injury
Among the roster is former Ironwoman Series champion Molakai paddle world champion Jordan Mercer.
She made a shock move to Aussie Rules during the off-season and has spent the pre-season developing her skills with the Roos, intent on playing state league footy.
But the 27-year-old was struck down by a stress fracture in her left femur and is two weeks into a six-week recovery period.
“That put her plans and ambitions on hold so she may not emerge until Easter,” Moody said.
“She was going along quite well, really enjoying it, improving her skill set and game knowledge.
“This was a bit of a kick in the guts for her, so she’ll have to rest and make sure she’s right when she comes back.”
Moody said she was well in contention to be selected in their Round 1 team, until the injury struck.
“If she was available this week and had trained the last few weeks she could very well have been selected,” he said.
Mercer may now come back via the Roos’ development team in what is essentially before getting a shot at a debut.
The Roos are in their fifth year of competition, after finishing sixth of seven, seventh of seven, third of eight and third of eight.
This year’s competition will feature eight teams and 14 rounds, with a four-team finals.
“I think our strength will be our ability to compete,” Moody said. “To pressure the opposition well.”
“We want to be hard to play against.
“We’re also looking at our ability to run and carry the ball and take up space and hold the ball inside the 50 until we score.”
The Roos meet Bond University in Round 1 of the QAFLW at Bond University on Saturday, 2pm.
Their first home game at Maroochydore Multi Sport Complex is in Round 2 against University of Queensland on March 6, 3.45pm.
