In his first season as Mackay Mavericks coach, Brad Somerville exceeded expectations by leading the local gridiron club to the Reef Bowl, coming agonisingly close to their first ever title.
“All we wanted to do was play great football and improve throughout the year so the fact that we were able to get there was amazing for the boys,” he said.
“They really put in 110% to get us there.”
With the 2023 preseason approaching, Mr Somerville is excited by the growth the sport has seen, exemplified by the announcement of the club finding a new home at Western Suburbs Leagues Club.
“It really sures up gridiron in Mackay moving forward,” Mr Somerville said.
“It allows us to take the next step forward as a football program.
“They’ve got strategic plans out there for future developments, so we want to be involved in that.”
The Mackay Mavericks also welcomed a new roster of coaching staff, with many of the players coming on as coaches including Saige Webber as Offensive Coordinator, Ben Clement as Line Coach, Chase Ayres as Defensive Coordinator and John Williams as Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Mr Somerville said the growth in coaching staff as well as the growth in sponsorship is positive for the sport, with plans for women’s and junior competitions in the works.
“We’re hoping to keep it growing,” he said.
“We want to get as many numbers to training and games as we can, and we want our home games to be a spectacle this year.”
With the game of Gridiron requiring a large roster of players, Mr Somerville said the club is still looking for players, coaches and volunteers.
“Anyone who’s thought about it, anyone who wants to keep fit in the rugby league offseason, anyone who’s interested in even helping out, we’re after all sorts of people,” he said.
Message Mackay Gridiron on Facebook or Instagram to express your interest and keep an eye out for the Mavericks’ first home game.
“It won’t just be a game,” Mr Somerville said.
“It’ll be very American.”
Mackay Mavericks came agonisingly close to their first title in the 2022 season. Photo supplied
