The familiar sound of AFL sirens will soon be blowing out from sports grounds across the Gold Coast with the 2023 football season kicking off in April.

Running onto the field at the local Broadbeach Cats Junior Football Club will be more than 600 budding young boys and girls aiming to score goals in the hope of taking their team through to their competition finals.

Kollosche is this year throwing its support behind the Cats’ burgeoning juniors’ club by providing sponsorship through its Community Fund.

The Kollosche Community Fund is an initiative established for the purpose of giving back to those in the community who need support.

A percentage of every sale made by Kollosche agents goes into the Fund with the business providing a total of $500,000 in financial support to local charities, sporting clubs, individuals and not-for-profit organisations over the past year.

Husband and wife Kollosche sales agents Jason and Nicky Cunningham championed support for the juniors’ competition.

“It seemed like a logical fit,” says Jason, who is president of the Broadbeach Cats Junior Australian Football Club. “Kollosche already sponsors the seniors’ competition, so we are really proud and pleased that it has now thrown its weight behind the juniors.”

Nicky says being able to give back to organisations in the communities in which Kollosche agents work and play was highly gratifying.

“Seeing how we’ve contributed to the club and wider community through our commissions is really rewarding for us as agents.”

Jason says the latest sponsorship will go a long way to help to develop kids’ skills, with funds used for training, expert coaching and award ceremonies.

It also allows us to put on events such as sausage sizzles and pizza nights. These types of social activities help to not only strengthen the club’s connection with players and their families but the wider Broadbeach community.

“It is so important that young kids have role models and a safe avenue through which they can be active, while also making vital social connections.”

Jason has acted as the junior club’s president for the past five years, championing the growth of its membership by promoting the club’s family friendly and inclusive approach to the game.

“The club recognises the importance of fun and enjoyment, and encourages the values of development and participation in junior Australian football,” he says.

Kids can become involved in the juniors’ competition from as young as age 5 through to age 17, with the club running an Auskick skills session for those aged between 5 and 9 who are new to the game and want to learn the basics.

Girls Make Their Mark

In recent years there has been a growing contingent of girls signing up to play, with two of the Cats’ under-15 girls progressing to make the AFL All-Australian team.

Junior girls co-ordinator Alera Heyward (pictured top left) says the girls’ competition is something she hopes to develop and nurture further this year, with the club introducing a Sisterhood program.

“The girls simply love footy, I think more than the boys at the moment,” Alera says.

“We have gone from only having one team of under-17s girls in 2019 to having more than 160 girls last season and hopefully we will have significantly more before the season starts in April.

“This year we have also started the Sisterhood program where our senior members mentor the younger girls in the hope that they will transition into the seniors’ competition. 

“Having the senior girls to look up to is an amazing thing for the younger girls. It gives them support and helps to grow the club culture between the junior and senior members.

“Also, with both boys and girls able to play, a lot more parents are also starting to join up, strengthening the Cats’ reputation for being an inclusive, family friendly club.” 

Sign-on for the upcoming 2023 AFL season is now open. Anyone wanting to be a part of the Broadbeach Cats Junior competition can find out more on the club’s website.