2023 Champions League Team Previews: Part Eight
With an exciting new location for the 2023 Champions League, final preparations are underway amongst all teams fighting to become champions of Europe in Paris, France. 15 men’s teams and 9 women’s teams will battle it out in their respective competition formats across five pitches at Parc du Tremblay on Saturday April 1st, in what is set to be a massive day for all teams across Europe and UK.
In the competition’s seventh format, the level of play continues to grow, and you will be able to catch all the action throughout the day on our YouTube channel here.
In our final team previews for the 2023 Champions League, the teams featured include South West Suns, Amsterdam Devils and Mid Ulster Scorpions.
Women’s Competition
South West Suns
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
It’s been very good. We have always good numbers on training tracks and the beginning of our season was great. We also took part in the Gallia Cup few weeks ago, and it was a good preparation before Champions League.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
Camille Portal, Clotilde Decaux and Cherry Halfyard have all three shown great stuff during the first part of our season.
Are there any major changes in terms of players or coaching staff that will impact your team’s performance?
Our team has quite changed since our participation last year. This year we have a mixed team with players of experience and some with a few less. But we are all excited to take part in CL23!
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
Paris is almost home for the team, so it will be great to have family and friends come to watch the game. But we also love a footy trip for the team spirit!
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
We love the whole part of the competition. We love fighting on the field and give all we have. But we also like the social part, when we can meet with friendly faces we’ve now known for a long time in the footy community.
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
Clotilde Decaux would be the one, with a strong, long kick!
Which team do you consider the biggest threat to your chances of winning the Champions League?
The Irish and English teams have been on the top of the competition in the previous year, and we expect them to be as good as usual. We’ll do our best to upset them.
Men’s Competition:
Amsterdam Devils
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
We’ve been training indoors and outdoors since January and enjoying mixing new faces with old, getting some their first taste of footy in the Netherlands amongst our warm up games.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
Our fearless ruckman Kevin McDonnell, he’ll jump all day no matter what.
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
Excited! As previous hosts we’re looking forward to a new experience and have regularly played in Paris over the years so it promises to be enjoyable. Many a night has been spent in that Belushi’s bar…
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
We’ve had some good history in the competition in the last few years but as usual we’ll do our best against what looks like a tough group and go from there. Everyone deserves respect.
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
The camaraderie of the teams and players. Each team has had success to be here but we all still value the sense of community that brings people together from across Europe.
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
The one who’s been there and done that, Dave Hall.
Mid Ulster Scorpions
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
We’re building nicely with a good mix of youth and experience. We are lucky that we have been able to draw on the knowledge and expertise of many Belfast Redbacks players at training to help us in our preparations.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
Are there any major changes in terms of players or coaching staff that will impact your team’s performance?
It’s hard to know where we are at after the Leprechaun Cup being called off but we feel we’re well prepared training wise. For a lot of our players this is their first taste of champions league football but knowing the lads they’ll be well fit for it.
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
Amsterdam was excellent but it is always nice to experience new cities and we’re looking forward to getting around Paris and seeing the city.
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
Our age profile means development is our key goal. We will be aiming to take a few scalps along the way but ultimately it’s about developing players and exposing them to the top level of Australian Rules in Europe.
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
Ultimately testing yourself against the best clubs in Europe and then being able to socialise and make friends off the field afterwards. It should be a great weekend.
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
It would be have to be David Miller aka FLASH. The man has been playing Australian Rules since the early 80s and when it comes to the clutch you want that kind of experience.
Which team do you consider the biggest threat to your chances of winning the Champions League?
Every team going in will be strong. The standard in Europe is incredibly high and with the short format momentum is everything and games can take a life of their own. Early favourites would be the West London Wildcats, Amsterdam Devils as reigning winners but my dark horse is the Belfast Redbacks.
