AIC First XV’s unsung heroes of the season; grand final kingmakers named ahead of the decider
How’s this for a bunch of unsung heroes who have delivered in spades during the AIC First XV season? Named is a terrific 20 players, along with the kingmakers of Saturday’s Ash-Padua grand final.
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The AIC First XV rugby competition’s unbeaten teams will battle for the title on Saturday when reigning premiers Padua host Marist College Ashgrove at Banyo.
The home side will be led into battle by co-captain Will Ross, a big-bodied lock who has had a grand season and classy flyhalf Damon Humphrys.
Ashgrove will be captained by elite openside flanker Seb Gardiner who has also had a campaign to remember.
Who are the key players who could decide Saturday’s round 7 decider, kicking off at 3.15pm?
Each team’s grand final kingmakers, players who could add that extra something to heave their team over the line, are named here along with the competition’s unsung heroes from across all eight teams.
GRAND FINAL KING-MAKERS
Damon Humphrys (Padua)
He is an elite No.10 who gives Padua the edge entering the decider. Having been a member of the 2024 premiership team, he knows how to get the job done in big matches.
The 17-year-old flyhalf was only in Year 10 when Padua butted horns with St Laurence’s in a round 7 grand final back in 2023.
Padua did not win that day at Banyo, but the next year they defeated the same opposition on Crawford Oval in Runcorn and Humphrys was masterful.
Two years on from being a part of that 2023 First XV grand final, flyhalf Humphrys is older, wiser and more skilled with the tools to terrorise Ashgrove.
His kicking game has been key in 2025.
Seb Gardiner (Ashgrove)
The tenacious Gardiner has been a wonderful leader for Ashgrove this season, and a primary threat when his runs angle back on the inside.
Tough and fit, he’s prepared to take a hit challenging the defensive line with the ball, while he also leads his team’s line speed from anywhere on the field.
He could walk into a Colts 1 under-20s line-up right now.
Elliot Aldridge (Ashgrove)
Number eight Aldridge has been as tough as a jackaroo’s boots and a lieutenant to his captain Gardiner.
Whether enforcing himself over the ball, carrying strongly or stopping opponents in their tracks, Aldridge has been an extremely effective big man all season.
Will Ross (Padua)
Young giant Will Ross has lived up to his high expectation because the long-term Reds Academy signing has been enormous for Padua.
There hasn’t been a team that Ross, a stifling lineout operator, hasn’t impeded on this season. If he wasn’t stealing the ball, he was disrupting the lineout so much that the opponent couldn’t get the clean ball away.
He has also aimed up and taken more carries and as such, looms a key point of difference for Padua come Saturday.
Joshua Heinrich (Ashgrove)
Hooker Heinrich is unique in that he is an accomplished tight five forward who is also used as a running threat and capable of scoring tries from 40m out.
The second-year First XV select is on song with his goal kicking and has an 85 per cent success rate entering the game which is a big bonus for the visitors.
Jarah Chaseling (Padua)
A fullback who has gotten better with every experience this year.
Chaseling, a rugby league edge forward, found a home at the back after starting the season on the wing and he has been deadly at times.
Against St Patrick’s on Saturday, the fullback spread his wings both scoring and assisting on a few tries. His speed, quick change of direction and natural inclination to run and challenge defenders gives Padua a great attacking option.
Sean Green and Xavier Howard (Ashgrove)
You need defensive clout in big games and this pair’s ability and strength on both sides of the ball has aided Ashgrove’s sweep of six opponents this season.
Inside centre Green is strong like a second rower, while Howard is as tough as nails with a high work ethic, but he also has a touch of class with his handling and footwork.
Papua New Guinean powerhouse Green has also supported well on the inside if breaks were made by his outside backs.
Nate Clark (Padua)
Clark will wear jersey No.12 for Padua and can also have a big say in this game.
It’s worth noting that the defensive weapon had to play flyhalf for two games this season, one of those games being against St Laurence’s in a closely contested wet weather battle.
He was the Doubles Daley medallist in that game but he is at home in the midfield where he can ball play, threaten with his runs and measure up well on defence.
AIC RUGBY’S UNSUNG HEROES OF THE SEASON
Finn Staley (Villanova)
Blindside flanker Finn Staley has been a great weight for age campaigner. He was a big reason why Villanova were almost able to overcome a red card and a yellow card in a narrow opening-round loss to St Laurence’s.
The lineout jumper was a defensive wonder against equal-top side Ashgrove last weekend where he put his body in front of bigger bodies.
Angus Meredith (Villanova)
A quick-footed winger, Meredith is typical of why Villanova were so competitive this season.
A smart player who made good decisions, outside back Meredith has done the simple things right like defending strongly and applying kick-chase pressure.
He was reliable and very good at what he did on the wing or at outside centre.
Will Tatt (St Edmund’s)
Captain Courageous Will Tatt has just been a fine campaigner for Eddie’s.
Under his leadership, he has given the team more clout and credibility on the rugby field.
As a player he has been a small back five forward, but someone who has always challenged bigger, more grizzly opponents.
Jack Breuer (St Edmund’s)
Breuer has aided Tatt in trying to tame big rivals.
As dependable as the night sky, No.8 Breuer has had another grand campaign after last season making the Team of the Year.
Hard over the ball and brave in defence, Breuer has made tackles at timely junctures this season and always busy in attack.
Zane Smith and co (St Peters)
With captain Zane Smith leading the way, the St Peters forwards have had their moments this season.
Smith has been a fine leader, alongside Harry Muir. A smaller lock, Muir who worked hard to raise his team above the high tide mark.
The likes of Peter Gronwall (flanker) have also rallied around skipper Smith and tone-setting breakaway James Kenny.
Cooper Lynch (St Patrick’s)
Lynch has flown slightly under the radar this year with his consistent, reliable play as a lock for Paddies.
Steady week-in, week out, Lynch gets the job done with no fuss.
He is no flash dan but the tall Lynch has toiled tremendously to reel in lineout ball and ensure all bases are covered at the breakdown.
His ruck arrivals would be off the charts, as would be his head in dark places tally.
Harry Blake (St Patrick’s)
Blake’s brilliant debut season has been somewhat underrated given he is only 16.
The Paddies No.12, Blake has confronted older, more experienced opponents and maintained a high standard with uncompromising defence and attack.
Gutsy to the core.
Tom Ahern (St Laurence’s)
The St Laurence’s flyhalf has been very good this season, an 8/10 performer or better every game in a consistent season.
Also the team captain, Ahern has been a leader on and off the field.
On the paddock, his exit kicks, organisation of backline plays and composure under pressure has contributed to the success of his outside men Gio Koopu (inside centre) and Harry Taylor (fullback).
Henry Page and Nic Nadenic (St Laurence’s)
Blindside flanker Henry Page and his forward utility Nic Nadenic had big jobs on their hands following in the footsteps of past St Laurence’s backrow giants like Tom Nadenic and Ben Davis.
They have performed with distinction, with Page doing a fine job in his all too brief appearances this season due to injury.
The flexible Nadenic, another whose effort was never questioned, switched between lock and No.8 this season after captain Billy Rowan and Liam O’Callaghan went down injured.
Liam Whale (Iona)
Lock Whale has played every game in an Iona campaign riddled with injuries. He is the type of player you’d feel slightly bad for given how the season has unfolded for an undermanned team.
He has simply been that good.
With captain Diesel Hauff often having to finish games early due to his fractured shoulder injury, Whale has had to take on more responsibility at the lineout.
It’s hard to imagine he could have done any more that he was already doing, tackling anything that moves, rolling the sleeves up and getting on with the job to be in all the right spots for Iona.
Oliver Gibson (Iona)
Whale’s tighthead prop Gibson has also been grand in a campaign of consistency and courage.
He has played every match and been damaging running the ball.
The big-bodied prop is also surprisingly skilful. He is a talented, boundary-belting batsmen from the school’s Third XI and can kick a conversion like a flyhalf.
Billy Atchison (Padua)
If zipping to every breakdown wasn’t demanding enough, scrumhalf Atchison went that extra mile when scrums were packed.
To provide Padua an extra defender in the line, Atchison scurried back 10m to his backline once his rival No.9 fed the scrum.
In a wet season, the physical Atchison offered crips service to his teammates.
Jacob Grant (Padua)
Jacob Grant was just busy in 2025.
A tireless backrower who played above his weight, Grant set a high standard with his quick speed in the defensive line and toughness.
He had a cracking game against St Laurence’s in round 5.
Archie Searle and co (Ashgrove)
The Ashgrove tight five of Archie Searle, Hamish Mcalonan, Henry Robinson and Liam Farrelly have contributed significantly to their team’s success both around the breakdowns and in the set pieces.
Ashgrove’s primary forward runners and backs have enjoyed front-foot ball, and a lot of those opportunities have come because of the work of this awesome foursome.
Ollie Millard (Ashgrove)
Fullback Millard has followed suit of his brother Tom who played outside centre with distinction in 2024 to give Ashgrove great assurance at the back this year.
A smart footballer, Millard can sniff out a try or create scoring opportunities with his support play, instincts and skill to the fore when Ashgrove get rumbling in attack.
Under the high ball, Millard has been safe like the Bank of England.
ROUND 7
Villanova v St Patrick’s
St Edmund’s v Iona
Padua v Marist
St Laurence’s v St Peters College
Originally published as AIC First XV’s unsung heroes of the season; grand final kingmakers named ahead of the decider
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