Cairns Hockey: 20 rising stars to watch in the U18 grand finals
Cairns Post hockey writer Rowan Sparkes outlines 20 young guns to watch in this year’s Cairns Hockey Association under-18s grand finals.
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The next generation of hockey stars will take the turf this weekend for the Cairns Hockey Association under-18 grand finals.
The A-grade games will be livestreamed on the Cairns Post website and the best junior talent in the region, including a spate of regional and state representative players, will be on display as they aim to put their best foot forward in pursuit of the ultimate reward.
Brothers Hockey Club will be looking to complete a clean sweep of the age group, having claimed the minor premiership in each of the three U18s divisions.
They will face Saints in the U18 Men’s and U18A Women’s deciders, to be held respectively on Friday and Saturday night, while Brothers TAS will take on Souths in Friday night’s U18B Women’s grand final.
Cairns Post hockey writer Rowan Sparkes has outlined 20 young guns to watch in the U18 Men’s and U18A Women’s grand finals.
BROTHERS U18 MEN
Brayden Naess
A dynamic centre forward, Naess is a prolific scorer, with 15 goals in nine U18s appearances.
He attracts plenty of attention from defenders but if he gets any space in the circle, the ball’s going at the box at breakneck speed.
James William-Carey
A very solid defender and a workhorse at the back.
He often uses his massive overhead to get his side out of trouble.
Cade Coghlan
A confident midfielder who uses his size and athleticism and is very strong on the ball.
He likes to run with it and possesses great distribution on both sides of the field.
Nathan Winkel
The dependable fullback rarely makes an error and is an integral part of the team’s structure.
He has the ability to transform defence into attack in the blink of an eye.
Ryan Cartwright
An exciting centre half who has an incredibly well-rounded game.
He is very athletic, strong on the ball, can run all day and has excellent vision.
SAINTS U18 MEN
Maxwell Williams
The Tablelands striker has been big up front and is no slouch when it comes to finding the back of the box.
He can score goals from anywhere and also possesses a mean drag flick.
Josh Annison
Saints stiffened their defence up in the second half of the season and a lot of that could be put down to Annison.
He will often be given the task of marking the opposition’s best attacking player.
Aden Conlan
The midfielder plays a key role for Saints, controlling the tempo of their game through the middle.
He is strong in both attack and defence and can distribute the ball extremely well.
Joseph Glover
The up-and-coming goal keeper has been a standout for Saints this season.
With a high workrate, it’s not unusual to see the youngster make three or four saves in the one circle penetration.
Kyle Overlack
Another youngster earmarked for bigger things, Overlack has taken his game to another level in 2020.
He reads the game well and is always looking to create opportunities.
BROTHERS U18A WOMEN
Shaylee Atkinson
A very solid player who rarely puts a foot wrong on the turf.
She has exceptional vision and can score goals and create goal scoring opportunities at will.
Ashleigh Seivers
A fantastic runner who is very strong on the ball.
She is an aggressive player who doesn’t mind going through with her body.
Mia Hodge
The reliable defender is extremely hard to crack and can dominate a game from the back.
She has a number of handy skills in her game, including the ability to launch a drag-flick missile from a penalty corner.
Lily Watts
A youngster who brings aggression and loves getting stuck in through the middle.
She possesses a strong big-hitting game as well as a sharp short passing game.
Ruby McMenamin
A complete player who is incredibly athletic and has a number of skills to her game.
With a great hockey brain backing up her talent, she is a versatile player with an ability to do a job in any position.
SAINTS U18A WOMEN
Bree Pendrigh
A consistently strong presence in the midfield.
Her great distribution skills and ability to eliminate a defender from a play allows her to create attacking opportunities.
Sophie Glover
An attacking weapon who is always hungry to score more goals.
She can break the game open with her speed and is a constant threat for opposition defences.
Zara Seivers
A player that is always willing to go out on the turf and work for her teammates.
She is very handy at linking up with other strikers on the team, but can also score goals herself.
Liv McArthur
An effective player in both attack and defence, McArthur is an integral part of Saints’ team structure.
She can create an opportunity just as effectively as she can halt an opposition raid.
Talytha Macdonald
A fit and fast player with an exceptional workrate.
She is extremely versatile and has the ability to play in any of the lines and do a job.
Originally published as Cairns Hockey: 20 rising stars to watch in the U18 grand finals