Three Moreton Bay United senior sides are just 90 minutes from grand finals. It’s a fitting reward for a great season and a year's hard work.
Just 12 months after avoiding relegation, our senior men host Brisbane City in a blockbuster at Wolter Park tomorrow (6pm).
Jets finished runners-up in the NPL – our second highest finish ever – and the prize now ahead is a trip to Suncorp Stadium for the final next Sunday!
This is our first senior men’s semi-final since 2018 and comes partly on the back of a fine season's record at Wolter Park.
“Our home form (7 wins, 2 draws in 11 games) has been very good and the support we get," captain Declan Smith said. "... the energy that brings, will be important.
“We’ve had a week off and I think it's worked for us. We did a session last Saturday, used the extra time to fine-tune tactics and haven’t lost any momentum (from the regular season).
“We’re in the finals which is where we want to be. City have found form in the second half of the season, so it’s going to be a great game.
“There may be some nerves, but it’s a big occasion. That’s where I think the (Australia Cup) Heidelberg match may help us.
“That was a big cup tie, with a big atmosphere and good experience for us, especially the younger players in our squad.”
Brisbane City, who finished fourth, have won five of their last seven NPL games, including knocking Lions out in the opening finals round.
Jets’ Under 23 men travel to premiers Gold Coast Knights on Sunday (1pm) for a third successive semi-final after a stunning finish snatched fourth spot at Lions.
We scored two goals in the last six minutes to win 2-1, take all three points and move back up into fourth place – at Lions’ expense!
Jets face a big challenge on Sunday but their proved against Lions, the spirit and determination within the squad.
“After coming from behind in a must-win clash against Lions last weekend, we’re really excited to be in the finals series,” coach Sam Dickinson said.
“We have a lot of young players who have been juniors at the club - some going as far back as 2015.
“It shows how dedicated the boys are and is a testament to the approach of our Youth development program led by Matt Poole.
“For the players to be in a senior environment and have a chance to win a trophy, makes us really committed to giving it everything on Sunday and representing this club proudly.”
For a second successive season, Jets’ Under 23 women are in the semis, this time travelling to Virginia on Sunday (3pm) for a place in the FQPL 1 grand final.
Jets qualified comfortably in third place having been around the finals places most of the season, despite having to rebuild the squad this season.
However, coach Matt van Daalen said they had “achieved the targets set at the start of the year”.
“Finishing third was the target I had for the team and myself,” he said, “so I’m very happy that as a group we achieved that.
“There are always injuries, players stepping up, changes, but all the players handled that well and this is the result.
“I want them all to enjoy Sunday. Play as well as we can, work hard, it may be quite tactical on a smaller field … but the most important thing is to enjoy it.”
Matt also urged Jets players, especially from the younger girls’ age groups, to come along to Virginia and support the Under 23s.