2023 Champions League Team Previews: Part Four
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, UK and Ireland.
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 part four of the previews, the teams featured include Geneva Jets, Waterland Eagles and Copenhagen Barracudas.
Men’s Competition:
Geneva Jets
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
Players off season training running with the added weight of a 4th consecutive premiership medal around the necks has been excellent for strength and conditioning.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
The fake internationals in the London team – always a suspiciously strong squad there.
Are there any major changes in terms of players or coaching staff that will impact your team’s performance?
Dedicated coach finger-on-the pulse McConnachy will free up the on-field leadership.
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
Prefer brownies to baguettes.
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
Get out of blocks a bit quicker and snag a couple wins.
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
Early season footy and a few recovery froths.
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
Seb will channel Iceman in a tight spot.
Which team do you consider the biggest threat to your chances of winning the Champions League?
The Geneva Jets on Friday night.
Waterland Eagles
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
Winter blues, injuries, more injuries & babies being born has been the most perfectly interrupted lead-up.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
Yorne Dik – Full back – Waterland Eagles.
Are there any major changes in terms of players or coaching staff that will impact your team’s performance?
We have a well versed leadership group consisting of long time AFLNL footballers and past CL champions; Tyson Vitale, Neil Cooke and Luke Keesmaat! Laurance Mekahel will also be assisting in coaching & playing in his first CL. We are a relatively recent up and coming club, competing in our first CL so all players and coaches will have a huge impact!
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
We love Amsterdam and have always been very fond of the atmosphere it produces as a venue for footy and as a city!! I think it is Ok for something different but would prefer to have the tournament in AMS again in the coming years. We’re looking forward to seeing what Paris has to offer!
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
We are in it to win it however having fun and enjoying the experience is our focus.
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
Travelling as a team together to play the sport we love against the best teams in Europe.
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
Tyson Vitale.
Which team do you consider the biggest threat to your chances of winning the Champions League?
West Australian Wildcats.
Copenhagen Barracudas
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
The Nordic winter has been cruel and dark as always. We have been training in the wind, rain, sleet, and snow to prepare for CL23.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
Sam Danks and Thomas Page have been training hard all winter. Watch out for their speed and poise around the middle of the ground. Christian Poulsen in defence is also a great example of a first-year player who has a natural aptitude for the game.
Are there any major changes in terms of players or coaching staff that will impact your team’s performance?
A few big-names won’t be able to make it to the tournament this year, namely Emil Thaning our B&F from 2022 and Fraser Lane, our leading goal kicker. However, this gives a chance for some of our other players to prove their mettle for the tournament and upcoming DAFL season.
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
Very happy to be playing in the ‘city of love’ this year.
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
Ultimately, we’d like to take home the trophy this year and think we are in a pretty good position to do so. If this doesn’t eventuate, we’re happy to represent Denmark and the DAFL in an international tournament and show the league the quality of the competition up here in Denmark.
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
We haven’t made an appearance at the Champions League since 2018. It’s a whole new group of players who are excited about the opportunity to stamp the Cudas name into the record books
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
Big Bad Bustling Bram Kerkhoff would do the job. He played in 2 AFL Europe winning Grand Finals last year, so we know he’s got what it takes.
Which team do you consider the biggest threat to your chances of winning the Champions League?
Of course West London Wildcats are always a strong competitor in the Champions League. We have our first match against them in the pool stages and the result could make or break our chances at finals.
