AIC AFL players to watch named ahead of takeoff on Friday
AIC AFL First XVIII footy: Players to Watch revealed here, along with news on two big name coaching appointments. Read up on who’s who here ahead of Friday’s opening round of fixtures.
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There have been two big coaching announcements - one by Iona College, and the other by St Laurence’s College - entering the 2025 school season starting on Friday.
St Laurence’s has two-time AFL premiership player Josh Dunkley as its new First XVIII head coach, while Iona College will unleash former Brisbane Lions captain Tom Rockliff as its head coach.
Dunkley will work alongside Jaydon Macauley and Luke Hodge for the 2025 AIC Season at St Laurence’s.
“We are incredibly lucky to have such experienced coaches committed to helping our students become better AFL players, on and off the field,’’ said a St Laurence’s College spokesman.
IONA SET TO LIGHT UP THE COMPETITION
New coach Tom Rockliff, who will have support from ex-North Melbourne AFL star Leigh Harding, said he was inspired to join Iona after driving past the College.
“AFL footy has given me so much in my career, and I thought this was a great time to be able to give back,” Rockliff said.
“I drove past Iona just by chance one day, and I couldn’t believe how impressive the facilities were here. It reminded me of a college in America – that is what it felt like when I drove past.’’
So who will be some of the key Players to Watch this season? Let’s start with the young guns from Villanova College.
Villanova
Zac Joyce
Zac Joyce hails from the powerful Morningside colts side which rose to win the 2024 premiership.
An outstanding cricketer, Joyce was a full forward ace with the Panthers. Representing his school in cricket, Joyce has been a fine top order batter of three First XI seasons.
He was previously a member of the Suns Academy when he moved to Brisbane from Central Queensland, but is now a member of the Lions Academy.
He possesses a great skill level and is deceptive with how much ground he covers in games.
Toby Hall
Hall played on ball for Villanova last season while in Year 10 and continually topped his team’s possession count. What can we expect from the young gun in 2025?
Another member of the Lions Academy, Hall is a competitive cross-country runner which assists with his ground coverage.
Aside from having a big motor, Hall has an uncanny ability to read the game and can kick well with both feet making him a real asset.
Campbell Shaw
Originally from Melbourne where he grew up in Bulldogs country, Shaw arrived at the College last year and immediately earned a place in the starting side as a Year 11 student.
A noted communicator, he has the capacity to make players around him better.
He is a versatile type, someone just as effective in the front or down on the back line, and he will likely play a role at either end as required by the team.
His work rate and ability to win the contested ball will be key for the green machine.
Fraser Smith
A talented sportsman who has joint loyalties between cricket and footy, Smith emerged in senior-school sport as a Year 10 student last year.
Smith has an excellent skill level, often makes the correct judgement in pressure situations and can use the ball cleanly as a result.
He is a rookie, so watch for his improvement as the season goes along.
St Laurence’s College
Ben Morison
Now entering his third season of 1st XVIII football, Morison is primed to make a real difference for his side.
A tough inside/outside player with QAFL senior experience, Morrison has had a strong pre-season where his leadership has shone through with a young group.
Morison will play a crucial role at the contest while also providing a strong presence up forward where he has kicked plenty of goals in the past.
You can’t miss him. He wears bright green headgear.
Harry Graham
After moving interstate from Western Australia midway through 2024, Graham made his debut for St Laurence’s at the QSchools Cup State Finals where he had two impressive outings.
He is a classy player with evident football smarts and elite skills. He is coming off a shark pre-season.
Harry Thomson
Thomson also finished 2024 with a bang.
In the QSchools State Finals, he impressed with his strong inside/outside capabilities.
Highly skilled and lightning quick, Thomson is sure to break lines and create opportunities for his teammates, while having the flexibility to play a number of roles.
Marist College Ashgrove
Van Sanders
A lion-hearted midfielder who has enjoyed an outstanding pre-season, Sanders is expected to pick up where he left off last season.
An Ashgrove local, Sanders will bring relentless energy and a powerful presence in the middle for his teammates to thrive off.
Ollie Reeves
The backbone of Ashgrove’s backline, Reeves will lead the team’s defensive unit and there were few better suited to the job.
Known for his ability to shut down opposition key forwards, Reeves also has an ability to intercept marks.
Watch for the defensive leader to rebound strongly from halfback.
Liam Rice
A creative spark for the boys in blue and gold, Rice may play a slightly different role this season which could add a new dimension to his already impressive skill set.
Last season he did a bit of everything, but if you see a speedy, elusive type causing havoc, there’s a strong chance it is Rice, a fine performer in last year’s AIC First XIII rugby league competition.
St Patrick’s College
Noah Polinski
A year 12 student who has been in the program for three years, Polinski is ready to go out with a bang in season 2025.
A player possessing a very high football IQ, he tends to seems to have time and space.
His calmness and composure on the ball will be crucial for the St Patrick’s boys when the pressure is on.
Nick Watson
Watson has speed and plenty of it. He will spend more time in the midfield this year where the aim will be to have him explode out of the contest and break the lines.
Pat Dalton
A natural wingman, Dalton runs hard offensively and defensively. He leads the way with his attacking transition and also aids with his defensive cover.
Dalton has a tendency to make good decisions and he uses the ball effectively.
Iona College
Ben Lillico
Lillico burst into the Morningside QAFL senior side last season after impressing in the Panthers colts side which was bound for the premiership.
A midfielder who is part of the Brisbane Lions academy L3 program, Lillico is a tough, hard running player with natural ability.
He is a Panthers’ junior to the core, having first started at the club in the U6 age group.
Archie Watts
Another member of the Brisbane Lions academy L3 program, Watts is a midfield-forward who possesses a neat kick, is a good overhead mark and runs all day.
Ryan Gibbs
Every side needs a tall, athletic ruckman, and Gibbs is that man in the Iona line-up. He is someone who can go forward and kick goals.
Ambrose Treacy College
Jarvis Czarkowski
The Patrick Cripps of the team, Jarvis gets in and under on all contests and chips in to help out in the ruck. His voice and determination are invaluable. He is an aerobic machine who will keep running from contest to contest.
Jarvis Warr
With a silky left foot similar to Luke Hodge in his prime, Warr can and will play everywhere.
But his explosiveness out of contests is important for the team. He is currently a midfielder who can impact the scoreboard.
Riley Schutt
A tough inside mid who can also swing into a goalkicking forward or lock down defender, Schutt is a take no prisoner type with his tackling. He brings an intensity to the playing group that his teammates feed off.
Cooper Oghanna
Returning to Australian football after dabbling in a couple of other sports, Cooper is a perfect swingman that can fill a key position at either end of the ground. He enjoys running off half back.
St Edmund’s College
Blake Townsend
Blake Townsend is a trusted midfielder who is good on both sides of his body.
He has great balance in the contest and awareness of positioning around the ground, which will hold St Edmund’s in good stead when they come up against both St Peters and Ambrose Treacy College on Friday.
Jameson McWatt
A small forward that knows how to present and who is accurate in front of goals, McWatt has great awareness to get front and centre.
He is able to quickly snap.
Michael O’Toole
Midfielder O’Toole is someone that plays well above his weight and size. Someone whose tenacity will stand out at some point across the season.
He has a big engine and as such, he will be doing a lot of unrewarded running to hold down the fort.
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