Coaches nominate: QAFL and QAFLW team’s best trainers in 2024

Training standards have never been higher in the QAFL and QAFLW competitions as the 2024 season progresses. Discover which players are leading the way and driving standards, with every side’s best trainer named.

QAFL, QAFLW coaches nominate. Pictures: Highflyer Images, Craig Slaney Sports Photography and Brooke Sleep Media.

Coaches nominate is back for another year and with the 2024 season underway, senior coaches from across the QAFL and QAFLW have had their say on a range of new topics.

We will reveal who has stood out from each club every week during the season, diving into unique topics such as most versatile player, best rising star, craftiest forward and more.

This week we uncover the players that stand out midweek as their side’s best trainers.

See what the coaches are saying.

QAFL

Broadbeach player Corey Hitchcock, Labrador’s Tom Simpson and Maroochydore rising star Bailey Hahn. Pictures: Highflyer Images and John Gass.

Broadbeach, Danny Nolan: “Corey Hitchcock and Jonah Semmler for me. They can both play in the midfield, on a wing, or at halfback. Just the effort they put in and drive for the team.”

Labrador, Clint Watts: “Tom Simpson, he’s a seven-days-a-week footballer, definitely a standout. He trains all the time, does all the recovery and gym work, anything to get in good condition. Bailey Brown is a young player who’s skilful and lives with the footy in his hands. He’s efficient, good on both sides of the body and just keeps working hard.”

Maroochydore, Steve Wildschut: “He’s a younger guy in our squad but Bailey Hahn is someone that treats every session with the utmost respect and gets everything out of it that he can.”

Surfers Paradise, Matt Lappin: “Alby Jones is a good trainer and a fit and strong half back flank. Axel Moore is another one, he joined us from Southport, he’s a good strong trainer that’s always available.”

Wilston Grange, Brent Moloney: “Dan Lanthois would be one, he’s our vice-captain for a reason and is always pushing people for more which is great. The other contender would be Marly McGregor who always brings great energy.”

Aspley, Adrian Pilgrim: “I’d go with Mitch Crawley. His ability to instruct others, push himself and desire for growth around his own game is great every session.”

QAFL stars Kelly Castle (Morningside) and Ryan Crisp (Noosa). Pictures: Highflyer Images and Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

Morningside, Paul Egan: “Whether it’s in the gym or on the park Kelly Castle is a guy that’s always going flat out and you can see his teammates take notice of his efforts.”

Noosa, Matthew Leuenberger: “One guy that always trains with great intensity is Ryan Crisp. He’s constantly working on his game to improve and get better which rubs off on the players around him.”

Redland Victoria Point, Phil Carse: “Jack Rolls is a pretty elite trainer, he works really hard on the track and he’s a real professional.”

Sherwood, Brett McEvoy: “A young bloke named Xavier Fry, he came up from Melbourne a few years ago and hasn’t played footy for a year or two. He’s a former Oakleigh Charger and has barely missed a session, he was probably one of the hardest workers and biggest improvers fitness-wise.”

Mt Gravatt, Hamish Mitchell: “There’s few that come to mind but I’d go with Jarryd Karo. Even with a broken hand at the start of the season he was at every session and doing as much as he could which has benefited him in his return to senior footy.”

Palm Beach Currumbin, David Armitage: “Little Sam Cilmi has joined us from Point Cook. I can’t recall him missing a session from when he came to the club. He still has aspirations to play at the highest level be it AFL or VFL, and he has all the attributes to do it. He doesn’t miss a beat and trains well.”

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QAFLW

QAFLW standouts Imogen Evans (Bond), Louise Tyson (Aspley) and Lucy Schneider (Coorparoo). Pictures: Clyde Scorgie/Brooke Sleep Media and Highflyer Images.

Bond University, Andy Lovell: “No doubt our best trainers are our captains and vice-captains, but the other one I love to watch train is Imogen Evans (no relation to Sally), she got drafted to Collingwood had a few years in the AFLW, but has since come back and her training standards are elite.”

Aspley Hornets, Luke Glacken: “One player that makes it hard for us to get her off the field after training is Louise Tyson. Everyone wants to be done and dusted and home by nine o’clock so everyone knows she’s the one.

Coorparoo Kings, Rory Lake: “Lucy Schneider is a winger, she’s an elite athlete, does extra running before or after sessions, she’s the first one there and last to leave. Grace Roberts-White is another one, she’s a midfielder with an athletics background, she’s up the front with the 2km and does lots of extra work, rarely misses a session. Has taken her game to another level with lots of work on her skills.”

Maroochydore, Paul Magher: “Training is a lot of fun for us so there would be a few girls but I’d go with Abbey Rankin as one of our standouts. She’s keen to learn and loves her footy.”

UQ, Ross Clayfield: “Laura Clemesha is really tall and has a netball background, she’s played high-level netball. She has heaps to learn but her attitude is great and she’s constantly asking questions and trying to get better. She’ll be at training early to do extras and stay late to do more, she’s just a sponge.”

Wilston Grange, Phil Tonkin: “A player that trains how she plays for us is Jasmin Rivers. She’s always asking questions, plays a key role for our side and does everything with a smile.”

Yeronga, Stuart Mackay: “Two players come to mind and they’re both new to the club in Elizabeth Hill and Alana Lowery. They’re both interstate recruits but they add a great deal of experience and training expectation to our young group.”

Southport Sharks, Peter Doherty: Was unavailable for comment prior to the time of publishing.