Why you should never write off a Queenslander
Roar Rookie By Paul Arandale, 21 Feb 2012 Paul Arandale is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- A-League, Brisbane Strikers, football, Gary van Egmond, Kacey Wehnman, Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory, Tippeligaen
When it comes to Queenslanders you think of toughness, courage, spirit and a never-say-die attitude and Kasey Wehrman certainly fits that model.
As a kid growing up near Mount Isa, there wasn’t much to do except play sport.
Wehrman, like many Aussie kids, tried his hand at cricket and rugby league, but it was g=football he developed a passion for.
Travelling long distances to play football, his talent and commitment at a young age was recognised.
Wehrman was running around for the Northwest Queensland junior representative side when Queensland Academy of Sports development officer Mike Mulvey, who is now part of the Gold Coast United coaching staff, spotted him.
Kacey’s family packed their bags and made the move from one corner of Queensland to other, landing in Brisbane. Wehrman now had a chance to realise his dream of playing in the NSL. Soon his dream would become reality when he made is debut for the Brisbane Strikers against South Melbourne in 1996.
The following season Wehrman was a regular first team starter for the Strikers and played a major role in the club’s one and only Premiership in the 1996/97 season. Wehrman picked up a swag of individual honours that year including NSL under-21s player of the year.
More success followed with a call up to the Australian squad in 1998 and representing Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Wehrman would go on to represent Australia a total of 81 times across all forms of Australian Football.
In 1999 he moved across the country to Perth and helped the Glory win the minor premiership. With success at two NSL clubs and representative honours, Wehrman’s stocks were rising, and it was not long before the Queenslander gained attention from European clubs.
If moving from Mount Isa to Brisbane then to Perth wasn’t enough, Kacey landed in Norway where he would spend the next 10 seasons playing in the Tippeligaen, the highest division in Norway. Wehrman went on to play over 250 games, playing for Moss, Lillestrom, Fredrikstad and Lynn before returning to Australia in 2010 to play with the Newcastle Jets.
Playing in the Europa League qualifiers, winning the Norwegian Cup with Lillestrom in 2007, the 1996/97 grand final victory with the Brisbane Strikers and playing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics are his proudest moments.
Wehrman played against and alongside some of the world’s best players and regards former Manchester City star Uwe Rosler as one of the most competitive and professional players he has played with.
Since returning to A-League things have been up and down for the 34 year old. In his first season back, he was named in the 2010/11 PFA team of the season. The 2011/12 season began well for Wehrman, but a change of coach, playing style and policy on youth meant that Kacey would have to look for another club.
Kacey hopes to enter the coaching ranks one day but believes he still has a few more good years left in him. In the style of a true professional and that Queenslander never-say-die attitude, he is determined to bounce back.
Putting in the hard yards at Jets training, he looks fitter and meaner than ever before. He must be congratulated for his work ethic considering he is probably no chance of being picked by coach Gary Van Egmond.
Whether Wehrman gets another start for the Jets this season remains to be seen but one thing is for sure: there is plenty of life left in this Queensland warrior yet, and he would be a handy signing for any club looking for a leader.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
February 21st 2012 @ 4:08am
Soccerbot3000 said | February 21st 2012 @ 4:08am | Report comment
“When it comes to Queenslanders you think of toughness, courage, spirit and a never-say-die attitude”
No, when it comes to Queenslanders you think of people who never stop going on about toughness, courage, spirit and a never-say-die attitude when they win anything, but fall strangely silent about the apparent absence of such characteristics when they lose. Important difference.
February 21st 2012 @ 9:57am
peeeko said | February 21st 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Nice comment, , very true. A total myth made up by people that haven’t ventured far
February 21st 2012 @ 10:29am
oikee said | February 21st 2012 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Having read his post i think he did travel far.
Queenslanders dont have to travel far, we have everything anyone could wish for right here.
Antonio, you call it crazy, overseas they call it quirky.
You forgot Steve Irwin and Kevin Rudd, another 2 quirky chaps that Queenslanders think are normal.
Lady Gaga will fit in well.
February 21st 2012 @ 10:14am
Antonio said | February 21st 2012 @ 10:14am | Report comment
When it comes to Queenslanders i think of crazy people. Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Bob Katter, Barnaby Joyce, Pauline Hanson the list goes on and on
February 21st 2012 @ 4:34pm
Titus said | February 21st 2012 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
Clive Palmer?
February 21st 2012 @ 4:41pm
The Cattery said | February 21st 2012 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
It’s certainly a big list.
February 21st 2012 @ 7:37am
Seriously, Who says Oi? said | February 21st 2012 @ 7:37am | Report comment
“When it comes to Queenslanders you think of toughness, courage, spirit and a never-say-die attitude”
Yes. Definitely. That’s what people think.
February 21st 2012 @ 9:30am
oikee said | February 21st 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
You never talk about it, it is a spirit.
February 21st 2012 @ 9:39am
Jay said | February 21st 2012 @ 9:39am | Report comment
“When it comes to Queenslanders you think of toughness, courage, spirit and a never-say-die attitude…”
I think of people wearing cowboy hats, women with southern cross tattoos, and farmers whingeing about various things.
February 21st 2012 @ 11:38pm
heart of sydney said | February 21st 2012 @ 11:38pm | Report comment
Yeah and the more “western” the get up the more mundane the agricultural industry. Kingaroy pubs used to be full of “cowboys” in hand tooled leather Dingo(tm) boots and Wrangler(tm) gear every night tired and sweaty after another hard day ropin’ ‘n’ brandin’ all those peanuts.
The latest example of this genre is that horny handed sunburnt son of toil, the tiny but perfectly formed, Campbell Newman whose background is not that of simple b’nana bendin’, cane cutting, land clearin’ folks but a blue blooded political elite – from Tasmania but.
February 21st 2012 @ 12:02pm
sheek said | February 21st 2012 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
It’s a slow day for quality news today……….
I’m not even sure I could say: “Why you should never write off an Australian”.
The qualities of tough country life & personal independence & resourcefulness that underpinned our fighting soldiers in both WW1 & WW2 has been replaced by city dwelling, latte sipping, tree hugging, real estate & fantasy teams obsessed metros.
We will be hopeless in the next war, which might involve fighting for our very own soil. Besides, I’m not even sure what constitutes an Aussie anymore, let alone a Queenslander……….
February 22nd 2012 @ 1:42pm
Bob said | February 22nd 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
Don’t forget sports blogging, oh that might involve you, so no forget that.
February 21st 2012 @ 4:25pm
Clayts said | February 21st 2012 @ 4:25pm | Report comment
Gee there are some pretty narrow minded comments here. Doesn’t take much for people to trun on each other. Sad