Australia’s golden ambitions: Olympics on the radar, meet 10 of flag football’s hottest talents
Australia is the new face on the flag football scene, but with a crossover of athletes expected, officials are aiming high in their Olympic ambitions. Meet some of the new game’s most explosive talents.
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Flag Football is the newest craze set to take over the Olympic Games in 2028.
It is one of five new sports set to be introduced for the Los Angeles Games, and if successful it will give our athletes the chance to shine on home soil four years later.
Representation is big on the minds as Brisbane 2032 rolls around, and the leading body in Australia believes they can feature in the biggest match of the Olympics.
“With our crossover talent, we expect to be in the gold medal match with the US (in 2028) and then defend that in 2032,” Gridiron Australia CEO Wade Kelly said.
“We showed that in just six weeks we can compete with the world’s top 10.”
Kelly refers to the recent results at the Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships in Malaysia, where Australia finished second (women) and fourth (men) off a limited preparation.
He believes this is a result they can build off as the game continues to move towards professionalism in America.
“There’s a World Cup next year and the pathways for girls are really exciting,” he said.
“Players can go to the US and go to college on full scholarships. There’s also a men’s pro league starting over there.
“With the talent we have there’s a fair chance of some of our players going over there and getting drafted.
“It’s not farfetched to say there will be a pro league here down the track.”
With the game built on athleticism and fast-twitch skills, Kelly said there are a number of popular sports in Australia where athletes are able to convert their skills.
“The appetite we have for sport in Australia, we just love it,” he said.
“The crossover is almost perfect. From nothing to six weeks later being ranked second against programs that have been going on for so long shows how much talent we have.
“In terms of sports that convert the quickest, they would be AFL, basketball and netball. League, union, touch and Oztag are in the second bracket, but there’s a real crossover between those skills.”
Preparations are really starting to ramp up to field the best quality teams possible on the world stage, with tournaments at the primary school age level, states and nationals all on the cards in order to discover the next stars.
In honour of Australia targeting big things at the Olympic Games in the coming years, we look at 10 players who have made the transition to flag football:
OLIVIA MANFRE
Melbourne, Victoria
An Aussie rules talent who came through the Coates Talent League with the Calder Cannons and progressed to the VFL with Essendon. At just 20 years old, Mafre has adapted quickly to a new code, impressing for Victoria at the states and earning her national jersey soon after.
KODIE FULLER
Gold Coast, Queensland
Despite growing up playing soccer, Fuller has been a long-time gridiron player and was a natural when switching to the flag variation. Played as a wide receiver with the Gold Coast Stingrays before earning rep honours with Queensland and Australia, including earning a spot in last year’s World Championships. Has added plenty of experience.
PIER PRITCHARD
Sydney, NSW
Has been in gridiron for a long time as well, with the Northern Sydney cornerback lacing them up for NSW and Australia. She’s also shown her versatility in rugby league as well, playing for Forestville this year, representing Tonga in 2022 and notching a number of games in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership.
CAYDEN CLOSE
Coffs Harbour, NSW
A rugby league talent from the north coast of NSW, Close has been a player that has attracted interest from Melbourne, Manly and the Roosters over the course of his young career. Still only 18, the Roosters pathways player from this season was one of Australia’s youngest players at the Asia-Oceania Championships.
BRAD HOWARD
Toowoomba, Queensland
While he is approaching 36 years of age, Howard’s reached the top level of Aussie rules, representing St Kilda in the AFL back in 2007. He moved into a more analytical role in the sport before becoming an assistant coach with Queensland in flag football, which has led to an Australian berth.
MATTY BARBARA
Canberra, ACT
A wide receiver with the Gungahlin Wolves, Barbara came into gridiron in 2019 and has taken big strides ever since. Was named as the Offensive MVP for the ACT Gridiron season this year and was a key target in Malaysia. Athletic and has great hands.
AARON HOWARD
Toowoomba, Queensland
Someone who has really taken to the new code, earning Defensive MVP honours at the Asia-Oceania Championships. That athleticism came from a background in basketball where he spent many years with the Toowoomba Mountaineers. His vertical is something that has impressed coaches.
HANNAH MONTY
Canberra, ACT
Comes from one niche sport to another, with Monty having an outstanding pedigree in Ultimate Frisbee with the Canberra Freeze, as well as being selected for Australia. A speedster in every sense of the word, that has made her such a valuable force in covering the opposition defensively.
DANIA HERDMAN
Brisbane, Queensland
We’ve seen her in Aussie rules with Coorparoo and Queensland after cutting her teeth with Brisbane in the Ladies Gridiron League. Brings gridiron experience at a high level having represented Australia at the World Championships last year. A Bayside Ravens and state rep in gridiron, she has seamlessly made the transition.
FAWLO APAI
Melbourne, Victoria
Has grown up with gridiron in his formative years and as a cornerback/safety in the contact version, Apai has translated those skills with ease. Standing at 6’2 and with an ability to read the play, the Sudanese talent is a hard man for wide receivers to get past.
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