65+ names: Meet the future Aussie Rules stars on display at Southeast Queensland Junior AFL grand finals
The 2024 Southeast Queensland Junior AFL grand finals have come to a close after three days of intense competition. Meet the 66 standouts who stole the show, including the daughter of an NRL great and the son of an ex-Collingwood star. Full list inside:
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The 2024 Southeast Queensland Junior AFL grand finals have come to a close after three days of intense competition at Neptune Oval, Mermaid Waters.
Broadbeach Cats as the hosting club relished in two home premierships in the Under-13 Mixed Division 1 South and Under-15 Boys Division 3 Gold Coast/ Northern Rivers competitions.
With trophies handed out and clubs celebrating the year that was, we reveal the standout performers from 10 grand finals played over Saturday and Sunday.
U13 Mixed Division 1 South
Oscar Pulford #7
Broadbeach Cats
Offers peer to burn and a wicked kick on the run to put his side in front of the posts. Pulford is quick to make a switch from offence to defence inside 50.
Kaimana White #21
Broadbeach Cats
A pesky midfielder/ forward who put points on and showed off his intercept marking abilities under pressure. White was a classic all-rounder in Broadbeach’s grand final success
Myles Irwin #25
Broadbeach Cats
Irwin is a tenacious defender with a strong boot to clear in sticky situations. His crafty footwork adds an element of surprise.
Fynn Wilkinson #12 – skipper
Broadbeach Cats
A clever ball mover with a selfless attitude which translates to goals on the board for his team. Wilkinson is unphased by a one-on-one contest while holding possession and boasts an especially powerful kick to his forwards.
Kye McIntyre #9
Broadbeach Cats
Played on ball entire game, showing up 110% effort for full minutes under immense pressure and fatigue. Coach Jason Cloke was extremely complimentary of the youngsters performance, labelling him as a standout among standouts.
Harry Cloke
Broadbeach Cats
Awarded: Best and Fairest (Lucas Joyce #19, Broadbeach Cats, runner up)
Billy Payne #4
Broadbeach Cats
Awarded: Best on Ground
Justin Malishev #22
Palm Beach Currumbin Lions
Gets into the contest every time, making him a pest down the entire field. Will appear from nowhere as an extra body.
Callum Samuelson #24
Palm Beach Currumbin Lions
A tall and agile player with game IQ. Samuelson can make quick decisions to avoid a mess in defensive 50s.
Harper Gallagher #15
Palm Beach Currumbin Lions
Provided some relief to Palm Beach in the third quarter with a monster goal over defensive hands despite his own size. He worked 100% the entire match to ensure nothing came easy for Broadbeach at the 50 mark.
U15 Boys Division 4 GCNR
Zac Pentecost #10
Ballina/ Byron
A pocket rocket forward who if left unmanned with make his opposition sorry. Pentecost scored Ballina’s first goal, in the second quarter, to put them in the lead the first time.
David Greenhalgh #15
Ballina/ Byron
Offers a strong boot and impressive tackles. Greenhalgh may not have made the goal kicking list, but was instrumental is getting the job done.
Benjamin Smith #23
Ballina/ Byron
Smith is your classic, hard working teammate who makes a bigger impact than first impression. He took a number of big hits in the granny and continues on his quest to simply do his job through the midfield.
Oscar Klose #26
Ballina/ Byron
Found a rhythm with his boot during the second quarter and carried it into the closing half. Klose finished with a commendable two goals, one an impressive snap the other off a difficult mark.
Archer Klose #5
Ballina/ Byron
Awarded: Best on Ground
Cohen Carter #24
Broadbeach Cats
Offered a specialty of intercept marks to fend off a Ballina/ Byron blitz.
Joshua Bude #9
Broadbeach Cats
A deceivingly physical player who isn’t afraid to get himself in the midst of a tussle. Bude worked overtime in his minutes to make an impact. Regardless of score, his head stayed high and effort levels even higher.
Oliver Mallen #23
Broadbeach Cats
Awarded: Best and Fairest
U13 Mixed Division 2 GCNR
David Conallin #20
Tweed Coast Tigers
Awarded: Best on Ground
Conallin sets up the first step of fantastic transition, whether it’s a simple clearance or taking it the yards before finding an unmarked player. He’s got smarts beyond his age group and height to help him go far, not to mention a hefty boot.
Serge Popov #9
Tweed Coast Tigers
A truly coachable midfielder who progressed throughout the game.
Samuel Ella #5
Tweed Coast Tigers
Powerful boot to put on a show at the posts, executing passages of play worthy of division 1. He’s not the biggest on the team but don’t let that fool you.
Tosh Condon #7
Tweed Coast Tigers
Worthy of his skipper status, Condon was one of many who flourished in the forward 50 with goal scoring. He was particularly present in the transition – classy disposals of all kinds to also afford fellow Tigers the chance to put their names on the board. His movement through midfield ignited Tweed’s excitement and ultimately led to the final term frenzy of 37 points.
Samuel Alexander #10
Broadbeach Cats
Quite the nimble midfielder, Alexander was in on the contest every chance possible. He was a pest on loose balls and ensured Tweed had to stay not heir game to get clear. The youngster’s stamina on field earned him minutes which he relished in.
Jacob Dunshea #22
Broadbeach Cats
A hard working defender/ midfielder who got good touches on the ball despite Broadbeach’s limited possession. He made a difference when he could and displayed his purpose as vice-captain, making sure his teammates kept their heads up to the end.
U13 Mixed Division 4 GCNR
Beau Dubelaar #41
Labrador Tigers
Awarded: Best on Ground
Copped a whack to the nose early in the second term but didn’t let it affect his game. Dubelaar put his body on the line for contested ball and it paid off, getting hands on the chase and adding to the game’s intensity. It resulted in a classy goal early in the second half to set up some confidence in the Labrador box.
Ayrton Muller #49
Labrador Tigers
Muller cracked the glass ceiling of Labrador points in the second quarter, scoring their one and only goal of the term. He’s only 11 playing well above his size, but the little go-go gadget will make you pay for complacency. He’s got impressive footwork that cements it all together.
Kye Brough (Labrador) and Taj Skinner (Broadbeach)
Awarded: Tied Best and Fairest
Samuel Buchanan #1
Tweed Coast Tigers
An agile small forward who can fall back into the midfield for help. Buchanan doesn’t shy away from showing off his footwork.
Levi Walsham #7
Tweed Coast Tigers
Walsham was a nail away from kicking Tweed’s first goal of the match halfway through the third term. It was a near perfect reward for his tenacity in the forward 50 under Labrador’s relentless defence.
Tyler Luff #22
Tweed Coast Tigers
A consistent contender through the field with a pesky tendency to disrupt a passage from flowing, Luff is a credible vice-captain who held his head high to the end.
U15 Boys Division 3 GCNR
Archie Morgan #10
Broadbeach Cats
Broadbeach’s first term hero, Morgan put first points on with a slicing kick off a mark.
Noah Welsh #22
Broadbeach Cats
Walsh caught the eye of opposition coach as a threat and quickly proved why, kicking his side’s second goal to draw Burleigh’s advantage to just two at the close of first term. He was nuisance all game, getting involved in the contest and kicking a second before halftime.
Burleigh players:
Noah Kerry #17
Broadbeach Cats
A handy forward with safe hands, Kerry was an early target inside 50 and found his way onto the scorecard within five minutes. That momentum carried through for the tall timber for a classy grand final act.
Luka Patsalis #2
Burleigh Bombers
From the get go Patsalis asserted himself as a pest. He engaged early in marking contests and found himself in the thick of hustles. While rattling a few Broadbeach feathers, Patsalis seemed to keep his cool.
Ashley Matthews #6
Burleigh Bombers
Matthews was hard to miss in the clash, taking strong marks under intercept pressure and knowing when to clear. He was crucial in keeping Burleigh in the game when Broadbeach put on a run of three goals.
U13 Girls Division 1 South
Tigerlily Nixon #8
Palm Beach Currumbin Lions
Awarded: Best on Ground
A tough forward who works at speed. Nixon is a game breaker inside 50, notching up disposals and getting involved with the goal scoring process. She nimble and hard to catch when on the run.
Matilda Smith #9
Palm Beach Currumbin Lions
Inheriting the athleticism of her NRL father Cam, and his jersey number, Smith was a pocket rocket through the midfield playing big minutes.
Ava Oakley #16
Palm Beach Currumbin Lions
Some players crack under pressure, while Oakley relishes in it. Her star moment came in the fourth quarter with a goal on the move to gift Palm Beach a more comfortable lead of 19 points.
Kyra Davison #13
Southport Sharks
Skipper for her Southport team, Davidson is a no-nonsense defender who knows her job and will give everything to get it done. She can fend off two-on-one contests under pressure and loves to spoil a mark. What’s more, she’s got the talent to play up in forwards when needed.
Sienna Jameson #24
Southport Sharks
Jameson was the first Shark to find the posts, kicking a goal in the third quarter to ignite her side’s second half comeback. With a strong boot and calmness, it’s no surprise she stood out in the crowd.
Halle-Rose Hammond #21
Southport Sharks
Awarded: Best and Fairest
Her game may have been cut short with a suspected broken collarbone, but Hammond’s team-first mentality was all part of the rage for Southport’s run of three goals. She was a midfield beast in contest and continued to cheer on the sidelines before heading to the hospital for scans.
U13 Girls Division 2 GCNR
Lily Bidois-Taylor #8
Pacific Pines Power
Awarded: Best on Ground
Deserving of her skipper title in the teal jersey, Bidois-Taylor was a major facilitator of points during Pac Pines’s third quarter run where they notched two goals and six behinds to Tweed’s single goal. She took marks from defensive transition through midfield and played smart to find a player free inside 50 to ensure scoring opportunity.
Lilly-Grace Reeves #13
Pacific Pines Power
An imposing force inside 50, Reeves found her stride in the third quarter to make the scoreboard and facilitate clean passages with her teammates.
Bella Gowing #4
Pacific Pines Power
Gowing was an almighty pest for the opposition with a headstrong defensive game which saw her in on the action at all times.
Jayde Langley
Pacific Pines Power
Awarded: Best and Fairest, for the second year in-a-row.
Emelia Malishev #9
Tweed/ Coolangatta
An ‘everything’ defender who can read the play as it unfolds. She put on a spectacular performance for Tweed by blocking kicks and taking intercept marks on top of key clearances in a close game.
Hunter Fletcher #11
Tweed/ Coolangatta
Fletcher made sure nothing came too easy for Pac Pines in front of goals, taking a number of key intercept marks and showing off a strong boot for clearances in messy situations.
U13 Girls Division 3 GCNR
Mia Sharpley #8
Byron Magpies
Her minutes on field were limited due to an ill-spell, but Sharpley’s time in action was littered with footwork and quick ball running out of trouble. She’s got the desired combination of height and speed which is sure to take her far in footy.
Eva Crook #14
Byron Magpies
Crook was an impossible wall of defence and switched on her speed the second ball came into her possession. The tall, speedy star played a crucial role in Byron’s success and was a standout by far.
Ava Harmer
Byron Magpies
Awarded: Best on Ground
Connie Galer #20
Coomera Magpies
Works to the final siren at full effort. Galer is a class defender off the ball who finds herself in the right place the right time.
Estelle Lyons #6
Coomera Magpies
The unsuspecting Lyons ignited Coomera in the final term with a snap kick goal which had crowds on their feet. She backed it up with a second shortly after which put the side just one goal behind. While it wasn’t enough to secure the win, Lyons sure made her presence known as a silent force, onward to put on your radars in 2025.
U15 Girls Division 2 GCNR
Lexie Prior #2
Pac Pines Power
Awarded: Best on Ground and Best and Fairest
A prolific midfielder who engages in the contest. Prior was the key to helping Pac Pines claim victory, sweeping up the season awards and scoring the winning goal as time ran down.
Imogen Hine #16
Coomera Magpies
A classically tall and agile defender whose grand final specialty was spoiling marks in front of goal. Hind is also vice-captain of the side alongside Miley Hofert.
Isabella Lyons #13
Coomera Magpies
With a powerful boot and safe hands, Lyons was a go-to for clearing the ball in tight situations. She continually found herself taking intercept marks in the midfield which only kept the contest close, just a single goal kicked in the first half despite ample time in forwards 50s of both teams.
Joelene Billett #11
Coomera Magpies
Somewhat of a hero for Coomera, Billett broke the goal drought late in third term thanks to a loose ball chase and crafty footwork. She avoided three defenders in close quarters to find the posts and gift Coomera their first lead, which was shortly followed by another goal.
U17 Boys Division 2 GCNR
Lachlan Francis #4
Ormeau Bulldogs
Awarded: Best on Ground
A crafty midfielder who can weave his way out of danger, Francis combines smarts and speed to be a stand out of the roster.
Isaac Mayne #14
Ormeau Bulldogs
Combines speed with safe touches to help deliver the ball into forward 50. Mayne was quick with his footwork and offered excellent game IQ under the intense pressure of a grand final.
Samuel Murray #16
Ormeau Bulldogs
Murray put himself on the map early with back-to-back goals in the first quarter, that first impression lasting the game. Capitalising on the number of inside 50 marks, Murray kept the ball moving to afford Ormeau the best chance on goal. Finished on seven goals.
Jonty Dick #10
Ormeau Bulldogs
Dick wasn’t part of the goal frenzy, but several efficient touches earned him a spot on the list of stand outs. He was a workhorse on the wing and helped fend off Labrador’s attempts of a final term comeback.
Riley Stevens #5
Labrador Tigers
Made the first impression of the game with a killer tackle off first bounce which afforded Labrador a scoring opportunity. Stevens’ defensive effort and clearances continued through big minutes and kept Ormeau from executing an easy transition.
Kaleb Pitt #35
Labrador Tigers
First standing out for his locks, Pitt made sure of his role in the line-up with a series of efficient touches to open the second half.
Joshua Donnelly #15
Labrador Tigers
Nifty footwork gifted Donelly his moments on the wing, evading Ormeau’s class act defenders to open up the play.
Brodie Kovarik #3
Labrador Tigers
Saved his best 17 minutes of play until the last quarter. Thomsen notched up his disposal count in Labrador’s bid for an upset fourth term, putting on a display of athleticism worthy of his vice-captain status.
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