Top players from the Sunshine Coast School Football finals at Maroochydore
Players of an exciting and high calibre range of talent were quick to shine as they laced up on the hunt to finish their school football season on a high.
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Players of an exciting and high calibre range of talent were quick to shine as they laced up on the hunt to finish their school football season on a high.
The semi-finals and grand finals of the inaugural Sunshine Coast Schools Football competition were held at Maroochydore on Wednesday.
While it was a new competition, there certainly wasn’t a shortage of skilled students as a diverse mix pushed hard in the deciders.
St Teresa’s toppled St John’s in the boys grand final while Nambour State College fell to St John’s in the girls final.
Here are some of the standout stars of the two battles.
ST TERESA’S
Boys
Isaac Matthews
“He was impenetrable in the back and he hadn’t played there for me before so he really stepped up,” coach Jeff Tickner said.
Ryan Bauer
“He’s a Year 10 lad and was really prolific at the back there and was really hard to get past,” Tickner said.
“That whole backline stayed strong.”
Jack Williams and Campbell Verster-Deer
“They were excellent,” captain Tom O’Halloran said.
Ahead of the clash coaching staff knew Williams was very calm on the ball and able to read play well.
Verster-Deer was lauded for his work rate prior to the game and lived up to expectations with plenty effort.
ST JOHN’S
Boys
Lochlan Chant
“He missed that last penalty but we wouldn’t have got to where we were without him,” coach John Calvo said.
“He was instrumental in holding our defensive structure and moving the ball forward and really closing them down so many times.
“He missed one kick (penalty shot) in an entire game but that’s not representative of the quality that he is and what he gave the team in that game.”
Carlin Callaghan and Dylan Cassidy
“In defence I can’t go past Carlin and I can't go past Dylan - Both of them kept a very powerful and quick frontline from St Teresa’s at bay which was hard work,” Calvo said.
Harry McMillan
“He was our goalie in penalties,” captain Dylan Cassidy said.
“He’s a midfielder who was injured but came in to help out so he was under a lot of pressure.”
NAMBOUR STATE COLLEGE
Girls
Jess Murtagh
“She was a legend,” captain Shakiah Smith said.
Jess was lauded for her attacking flair ahead of the finals and had plenty of solid runs and shots on goal during the grand final battle with St John’s.
Karley Stevens
“She was always there, and always in it,” captain Smith said.
Stevens was a central defender and worked hard against a potent St John’s attack in the decider.
ST JOHN’S
Girls
Isabella Rossiter and Claudia Dykes
“Claudia just played her heart out and is just heads up and sets up the plays,” coach Kevin Mills said.
“Bella also calls all the plays so I was really impressed with her.
“Claudia is always there defending or attacking she is everywhere on field,” captain Isabella Rossiter said.
Emily Jeffree
“She finally scored,” coach Mills said.
“She was a girl that kept passing it off and passing it off and she finally had a go today so I’m very happy for her.”
Zoe Kretzers
“She made a few good runs and even though she didn’t score this game she scored in the semi and has scored in basically every game we’ve had,” captain Rossiter said.
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