The Maroochydore Roos have scored a major coup with the signing of former Brisbane Lions listed player and 2013 Redland Best & Fairest Daniel Dzufer.
The key signing comes just weeks after the Roos complimented their coaching department with the appointment of former AFL development manager Andrew Cadzow and Representative coach Steve Moody, both of who are former Maroochydore players themselves.
Dzufer is an immensely skilful running half back flanker who after a standout junior career spent three years as a Brisbane Lions rookie from 2007-09 where he managed a handful of pre-season season appearances and one senior game against Port Adelaide in Round 13, 2007.
Originally from Caloundra, he didn’t take up football until 2000 but won the Alan McLean Medal as the best & fairest player in division two at the Australian U16 Championships and toured Ireland in 2005 with the 2004 AFL/AIS U17 side which included among others Joel Selwood, Marc Murphy, Xavier Ellis, Travis Boak, Patrick Ryder, Scott Gumbleton, Grant Birchall and fellow Queenslander Rhan Hooper.
Since 2010 Dzufer has played nearly 100 games Redland Bombers in the State’s premier football competition where he has stamped himself as one of the clubs senior players. In 2013 he confirmed that after he was awarded a runaway winner of both the club’s Best & Fairest and Player’s Player awards.
The 25 year-old was heavily sought after by a number of clubs in the NEAFL and QAFL, but the lure of playing with some long-time friends, was simply too much to ignore.
Dzufer, a Caloundra junior, said he couldn’t pass up the offer to return home.
“Getting back to the coast is something I’ve always wanted to do and when the opportunity came up, I jumped at it,” he said.
“I just keep going back to that…the chance to go back to where it all started.”
With most of his family still based on the Sunshine Coast, Dzufer said it would be great to have them at games regularly too.
With some of those long-time friends like Josh Norman in the Roos ranks last season, Dzufer has seen a bit of action in the QFA (North ) competition and is excited about the Roos’ future.
“I played a grand final in ’04 with Zillmere against Southport and haven’t managed to make a grand final since, so a chance to play in a grand final something I’ll be really hoping for this year,” he said.
“When I was up the coast, I went and watched him play and to the standard was pretty impressive, it’s not a walk in a park comp.”
While he won’t be playing for the Bombers in 2015, Dzufer, who lives with three of his Redland teammates, said he would still be a regular down at Dowling Park.
“I’ve got plenty of good friends there and I’ll still go to most of their social functions and support hem and be on the sidelines.”
Maroochydore begins its pre-season on December 1, but there is no danger of their new recruit lacking fitness, with the former Brisbane Lions rookie playing for Nightcliff in the Northern Territory Football League.
At just 25, Dzufer will be heading to the Roos with plenty of quality football left in his body, an exciting prospect for his new teammates.
The Maroochydore Roos are still seeking players to for the 2015 season, anyone interested should call Brett Maloney on 0421 641 264 or email coach@maroochydoreroos.com
Last Modified on 03/12/2014 11:01