AFLQ StreetSmart Schools Cup grand finals: St Laurence’s Dashing David Lomude face of Cup finals
Subscribe here for News Corp’s livestream coverage of AFLQ StreetSmart Schools Cup grand final weekend: Plus read about some top Cup rookies including St Laurence’s discovery, dashing David Lomude.
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Take a good look at this photo of beaming St Laurence’s College full forward David Lomude. This is what the AFLQ StreetSmart Schools Cup is all about, discovering a raw school talent and giving him a chance to grow and blossom into a key player on grand final weekend.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex will a mecca for Lomude and the best young footy talent in SEQ when the Schools Cup finals are played.
All matches will be livestreamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Sunshine Coast Daily and Gold Coast Bulletin, along with News’ Corp affiliates.
Some of the competition’s best talent was known entering the season, but some, like St Laurence’s Lomude, was not.
RELATED LINKS
WATCH THE SEMI-FINAL REPLAYS HERE
AFL SEQ YOUTH GRAND FINAL REPLAYS - DAY 1
AFL SEQ YOUTH GRAND FINAL REPLAYS DAY 2
AFL SEQ YOUTH GRAND FINAL REPLAYS - DAY 3
At the start of the year the Sudanese-born Lomude was encouraged by St Laurence’s school mates to try his hand at Australian football pre-season trials.
He started in the development squad, but St Laurence’s director of AFL Sam Wiltshire said out of all his players, Lomude’s transition was so significant, he was now a central figure in match plans.
Through 2021, Lomude helped St Laurence’s win the AIC premiership and now enter Schools Cup grand final weekend.
“Three rounds into the AIC I started in my first game and kicked my first goal,’’ Lomude said.
“We ended up winning the premiership and I really enjoy the sport,’’ added the tall Lomude who leap is aided by a basketball background. “I have surprised myself to be honest.’’
It will be St Laurence’s senior boys first visit to grand final day.
“We have been together for 11 months and we came up with a system we wanted to play by,’’ said Wiltshire following his team’s semi-final win last week.
“We felt that got us through. We missed a few opportunities, but in the end it was our ability to play as a team and play to our system which got us there.’’
Laurie’s full forward Lomude was once a rough diamond who now glitters, but he is not the only player with sparkling talent.
A top three player - if not the best player - would have to be Palm Beach Currumbin SHS’s Jed Foggo who will be front and centre as PBC’s senior boys chase the premiership.
Indeed PBC’ SHS were in all four grand finals - the senior males and females, junior males and females where Mia Salisbury (junior girls), Sally Evans (senior girls) and Jai Murray (junior females) will feature
Miami SHS pair Finley Gray and Judd Pollard will be missing from grand final day, but both are fine talents.
One of the best players in the entire competition comes from a catholic college, with Marymount’s Max Hudson a grand prospect.
He is a midfield-forward who is one who will be monitored by talent scouts.
Lauries, Marymount and Ambrose Treacy College were once not traditional Australian football hotbeds, but that has changed in a hurry and Ambrose Treacy College also find themselves represented on grand final day.
They also have a ripping talent from Darwin, Michael Romelo, who kicked the goal of the semi-finals recently with a booming effort from the boundary line, while Aiden Brennan and Finn Mahoney were fabulous ball winners.
Ambrose Treacy impressed with its hand ball and playing on execution, and expect to see more of the same. “We are all out attack now,’’ said head coach Mick Keys.
Gold Coast school Varsity College was also enjoying a wonderful campaign, with the senior girls rising to make it to Friday preliminary final.
Varsity College had the perfect build-up, a tough, tight semi-final tussle with Mountain Creek SHS.
“It was a very hysical game,’’ said coach Simon Foat.
“They (Mountani Creek) really stretched us but I was impressed with our tackling and getting it forward.
“In the final the sides will be very skilled so we will need to make sure we do that again.’’
Watch for Nyalli Milne and Ella Stuart to lead from the front.
Assistant coach Shane Koimans added: “Hand ball and play on - that was a directive from the coach.
“In dry conditions and open expanses, we wanted to move the ball quickly and try and catch their key positions out of position.’’
Marymount’s primary females were in, with Miller Brosnan-Ball at ruck, midfield pairing Bronte Parker and Summer Symmons, along with Alexis Smyth and Chanel Davis all key players.
Yet again Padua College will be represented on finals’ weekend, with Thomas Levi, Jimi Bell and Lachlan Chambers and co. doing the college proud again by pressing for another title.
Villanova College were also in the finals, with Ben Landers, Miller Reinmuth, Byron Dent and young gun Harrison Rizzio likely to lead the way against Marymount College in junior males action.
THE SCHEDULE
Friday
11:30am Oval 2 Primary Female: Toowoomba East SS V Holland Park SS
12:00pm Oval 2 Primary Male: Villanova V Stella Maris
12:30pm Oval 2 Primary Male: St Thomas More V Belmont SS
1pm Oval 2 Primary Female: Holland Park SS V Hermit Park SS
1:30pm Oval 1 Junior Female Preliminary Final 1: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS v Marymount
1:30pm Oval 3 Junior Female Preliminary Final 2: Varsity College V The Cathedral College
1:30pm Oval 2 Primary Male: Stella Maris V Marymount Primary
2pm Oval 2 Primary Male: Whitfield SS V St Thomas More
2:30pm Oval 2 Primary Female: Hermit Park SS V Marymount Primary
3pm Oval 1 Junior Male Preliminary Final 1: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS V Padua College
3pm Oval 3 Senior Female Preliminary Final 1: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS V Kedron SHS
3pm Oval 2 Primary Male: Villanova V Marymount Primary
3:30pm Oval 2 Primary Male: Whitfield SS V Belmont SS
4pm Oval 2 Primary Female: Toowoomba East SS V Hermit Park SS
4:30pm Oval 1 Senior Male Preliminary Final 2: Helensvale SHS V St Augustine’s College
4:30pm Oval 3 Senior Female Preliminary Final 2: Varsity College V St Andrews CC
4:30pm Oval 2 Primary Male Qualifier Pool A Runner Up V Pool B 3rd Place
5pm Oval 2 Primary Male Qualifier Pool B Runner Up V Pool A 3rd Place
5:30pm Oval 2 Primary Female Pool Hermit Park SS V Mooloolaba SS
6pm Oval 1 Senior Male Preliminary Final 1 Palm Beach Currumbin SHS V St Laurence’s College
6pm Oval 3 Junior Male Preliminary Final 2 Ambrose Treacy College V St Augustine’s College
6pm Oval 2 Primary Male Semi Final Pool B Winner V Q1 Winner
6:30pm Oval 2 Primary Male Semi Final Pool A Winner V Q2 Winner
Saturday
9am Oval 1 Primary Male 5th Place Playoff Q1 Loser V Q2 Loser
9:30am Oval 2 Primary Male 3rd Place Playoff SF1 Loser V SF2 Loser
10:15am Oval 1 Primary Female 3rd to 5th Place Rotation Pool 5th Place V Pool 3rd Place
11am Oval 1 Primary Female 3rd to 5th Place Rotation Pool 5th Place V Pool 4th Place
11am Oval 2 Primary Female Grand Final Pool 1st V Pool 2nd
11:30am Oval 1 Primary Female 3rd to 5th Place Rotation Pool 4th Place V Pool 3rd Place
12:15pm Oval 2 Primary Male Grand Final SF1 Winner V SF2 Winner
2:15pm Oval 2 Inclusion Demo Lions V Gold Coast
Sunday
8:30am Oval 1 Junior Female Grand Final PF1 Winner V PF 2 Winner
8:30am Oval 3 Senior Female 3rd Place Playoff PF1 Loser V PF 2 Loser
10am Oval 1 Senior Female Grand Final PF1 Winner V PF 2 Winner
10am Oval 3 Junior Male Grand Final PF1 Winner V PF 2 Winner
11:30am Oval 1 Senior Male Grand Final PF1 Winner V PF 2 Winner
11:30am Oval 3 Senior Male 3rd Place Playoff PF1 Loser V PF 2 Loser
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