2023 Champions League Team Previews: Part One
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 competitions 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 one of the previews, we take a look at the hosts of the tournament, Paris Cockatoos, as well as the men’s and women’s Edinburgh Bloods sides.
Men’s Competition:
Paris Cockatoos
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
We have been in pretty good form, consistent and not many injuries. So hopefully that will hold us in good stead for the tournament.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
Clement Dony. Once you see those shorts you won’t be able to look away.
Are there any major changes in terms of players or coaching staff that will impact your team’s performance?
Nothing major, we have been pretty settled for the last couple of years.
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
As the home club we are looking forward to hosting everyone and hope they have a good experience in Paris. We do like a trip away together though.
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
We are in it to win it.
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
Playing very competitive footy and getting together with clubs from all over Europe.
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
Julien Dagois.
Which team do you consider the biggest threat to your chances of winning the Champions League?
Good question, there are several teams we haven’t seen before/haven’t seen for a while so I guess we’ll find out on the day.
Edinburgh Bloods
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
It’s been great. We have had brilliant numbers at training and the excitement is there to improve on what we produced last year.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
Both non-Australians. Sam Stokes will be looking to repeat his effort to be in the Champions League Team of the Year. We are excited to see what Jack Kennedy can do in his first European tournament after finishing Runner-Up in the club best and fairest in his debut season.
Are there any major changes in terms of players or coaching staff that will impact your team’s performance?
Adam Governi has joined Jim Brosnan as a co-coach of the men’s team this season. 13 of the Bloods premiership winning side will be in action at Champions League.
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
Excited. We are looking forward to the change, and we have a big off-field contingent coming along with many taking the opportunity for a short city break.
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
We would like to establish ourselves in the top half of the competition. If we can get there, who knows what can happen and if we can take a scalp and break into the top four.
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
The competition is phenomenal and really sets our season off in a great way. We always learn a lot from other teams we play against and see where we can improve. The social element of the competition is always a highlight to catch up with familiar faces from across the AFL Europe community.
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
We’re lucky to have a few that you would be comfortable with taking the shot. From the Aussies – Jake Van Meel hits them sweetly. From the local – Captain Fraser Smith would be the pick.
Which team do you consider the biggest threat to your chances of winning the Champions League?
Hard to go past the Irish teams and the West London Wildcats. We’re also very excited to see what we get from Amsterdam and what Paris can produce in their first home tournament.
Women’s Competition:
Edinburgh Bloods
How has the lead-up to the Champions League been for your team this year?
It’s been really positive in terms of numbers on the training track. We have had a couple of recent injuries with the ladies that play rugby through the winter – but we’re confident they will be fully fit for Paris.
Which players should we be on the look-out for during the tournament?
Laoise Casserly has been in brilliant form on the training track and is raring to go. We are also confident of big things from Charlotte Blair after her development last season.
Are there any major changes in terms of players or coaching staff that will impact your team’s performance?
No major changes in the Bloods women’s. They are still led by coach Sian Furniss and captain Lorna Murdoch.
How does your team feel about the change in location from Amsterdam to Paris for this year’s tournament?
Excited. We are looking forward to the change and we have a few new faces to the team and what a way to introduce them. We have a big off-field contingent coming along with many taking the opportunity for a short city break.
What are the ambitions for your team at the 2023 Champions League?
We finished fourth in our first Champions League last year in Amsterdam so would love to repeat that. We do have a tough draw on the day so will need to be at our best.
What is your team’s favourite part about competing in the Champions League?
Our girls that came to Champions League last season loved the whole experience. It’s such a brilliant tournament to play in and see how the best teams in Europe go about their game style.
Which player in your team would you trust the most to kick a goal after the siren to win the tournament?
Jenny Potter has really developed her game over the last 12 months. She kicked a critical goal late for Scotland in the Euro Cup so we would be hoping she could do the same for the Bloods if required.
Which team do you consider the biggest threat to your chances of winning the Champions League?
The Irish teams and the London teams have set the bar high in the past. We have tough pool matches against them all so fingers crossed we can cause some upsets.
