The Noosa Lions had plenty to cheer about last weekend, with multiple teams flying the flag in finals football and the Under-23s leading the way in style.
On Saturday night at Caloundra, the young Lions produced a stirring 2–1 victory over Buderim to secure their spot in the Grand Final — and capped off the night by being officially presented with the Minor Premiership trophy.
The Under-23s came out firing and didn’t take long to make their mark. In just the 5th minute, Jake Mjask’s deflected shot put Noosa in front. Buderim hit back before half-time to level the score, but Noosa weren’t to be denied. In the second half, the powerful running of George Loran broke the game open, his surging run and composed finish restoring the lead. With the clock ticking down and Buderim throwing everything forward, Noosa’s defence — marshalled by the rock-solid Byron Faleono — stood tall to ensure the win.
The senior men’s side faced a stern test against Caloundra in the major semi-final. Caloundra, unbeaten all season and deserved Minor Premiers, showed exactly why they are the competition’s benchmark with an early lead from a sharp strike in the 19th minute. Just as Noosa were looking more threatening- with Lachie Kusabs seeing a powerful header flash wide from a corner and a thumping half-volley from Ollie Blackmore which the Caloundra keeper was happy to scramble away at the second attempt – Caloundra pounced to head home their second goal.
Noosa, however, weren’t about to roll over. After the break, the Lions clawed back into the contest. Oli Williams set the move in motion on the edge of the Caloundra area, holding up play before releasing Takaishi on the left. His cross found Jack Williams at the far post, who bundled it home to put Noosa back in the game. With renewed belief, the Lions pushed hard for an equaliser, with fresh legs off the bench adding extra spark. The closing stages were tense and full of effort, but Caloundra managed to hold on. While the 2–1 defeat meant Noosa missed the direct route to the Grand Final, their fighting display sets them up well for next Saturday’s Preliminary Final at home against Woombye — a game that promises to be another thriller.
Beyond the men’s fixtures, the weekend highlighted the true depth and strength of the Lions across all age groups and divisions. From juniors to seniors, from women’s teams to over-35s, the Noosa blue shirts were proudly on display all over the Coast.
The Women, 1st Division Men, 3rd Division Men, Over 35s, Youth Girls, Under-18 Blue, Under-18 Division 2, Under-15 Division 2, and Under-12/13 Girls Division 3 teams all booked their places in next week’s Preliminary Finals. Meanwhile, joining the Under-23s in going straight through to Grand Final day are the Under-15 Division 1 Boys and the Under-12/13 Division 2 Girls — an incredible achievement that speaks volumes about the club’s player development and community spirit.
Congratulations to every team that took the field in finals football — the effort, commitment, and pride have made the club and its supporters proud. Good luck to all Lions sides in action this weekend. Let’s keep the roar going — go Lions!
