Live stream: AFL NSW/ACT Senior Schools Cup - Meet the Captains, Girls Cup, Girls Plate, Boys Plate
Every school going for state glory at the Senior Schools Cup needs the right person at the helm of their charge. Meet the inspirational skippers leading their schools onto the field.
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The AFL NSW/ACT Senior Schools Cup is expected to go down to the wire in Tuggerah on Thursday.
The finals series of the Girls Cup, Girls Plate and Boys Plate will be exclusively live streamed across four fields on KommunityTV.
The Senior Boys Cup Regional finals will also be live streamed on KommunityTV on June 20.
To be able to hoist the Senior Schools Cup at the end of a long and arduous finals series, you need to have a good leader at the helm.
WATCH THE AFL NSW/ACT SENIOR SCHOOLS CUP FINALS HERE
Every school coach across the state has hand-picked their team leader for any of a number of reasons ranging from natural leadership ability, the loudest voice in the team or just a hunger to win games.
We have spoken to the coaches involved in the Senior Schools Cup finals on Thursday to get the inside word on who will lead their school into the biggest day of the year.
SENIOR GIRLS CUP
DARAMALAN COLLEGE
Coach: Nathan Greatz
Playing strip: Red and black, black socks
Captain: Ella Cooper
Position: Full Forward
Club: Ainslie Football Club
What the coach says: Ella is one of the College leaders this year. She is the daughter of AFL Canberra royalty (Stafford Cooper) and has been playing for many years. Ella’s height provides a real advantage at full forward. She is a great set shot on goal and provides great leadership on and off the field.
KILDARE CATHOLIC COLLEGE, WAGGA WAGGA
Coach: Cherrie Kendall
Playing strip: Navy, red, white; navy, red and white socks
Captain: Emma Suckling
Position: midfield/forward
Club: Lavington Panthers, GWS Giants
What the coach says: Emma is an integral part of our playing group. She leads by example and quietly encourages her teammates. Emma has played in the Coates Talent League for GWS Giants Academy and was recently selected in the Allies squad for the National Championships.
PYMBLE LADIES COLLEGE
Coach: Shane McGahan and Kale Gabila
Playing strip: Navy, scarlet and white; navy and white socks
Captain: Natasha Newham
Position: Half Forward
Club: St Ives AFL
What the coach says: Natasha is a speedy half forward who has great football IQ. Tash has been part of the Pymble Ladies College AFL program for 3 years and has always led by example, her energy is infectious, and she is a natural born leader. She has a great work rate and you will see her on the pitch barking orders and taking marks.
ST FRANCIS DE SALES, LEETON
Coach: Travis Doyle
Playing strip: Sky blue, navy, white and pink, navy blue socks
Captain: Samantha Rutledge
Position: Midfield
Club: Ungarie Magpies
What the coach says: Samantha is a midfield beast with attributes similar to Giants young gun Alyce Parker. Her explosive abilities and lethal kick make her a formidable force. Samantha plays football for the school due to having no recognised competition in the region for girls her age. She would have to travel over three hours to find a club pathway. That is why the school program is great as it gives geographically disadvantaged areas the ability to play Australian Rules.
XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL, ALBURY
Coach: Emily Scammell
Playing strip: Green, white, navy blue; navy, blue and green socks
Captain: Zoe Prentice
Position: Midfield
Club: N/A
What the coach says: Zoe is tough and goes hard at the ball. She is a vocal leader and doubles as an elite netballer.
SENIOR BOYS PLATE
HUNTER SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL
Coach: Mark DiNardo
Playing strip: Green, white, black
Captain: Joe Harrison
Position: Midfield
Club: Warners Bay - 1st Division Seniors
What the coach says: Joe is an extremely talented player who is always looking for ways to improve his game. He is a well-respected member of the squad who leads by example and often contributes by supporting all the players.
Joe has been a member of the Swans Academy since 2018. He has also been a NSW representative and participated at the CHS competition in 2021.
MACKILLOP COLLEGE, PORT MACQUARIE
Coach: Peter Farrugia
Playing strip: Black, gold, white
Captains: Will Kelly, vice-captain Mitchell White
Positions: Full Forward
Clubs: Port Macquarie Magpies
EDMUND RICE COLLEGE
Coach: Benjamin Bourke
Playing strip: Black and red
Captains: Callum Rogers, Brock Davies and Owen Turner
Positions: Midfield/Ruck/Midfield
Clubs: Figtree AFC/Figtree AFC/UNSW
What the coach says: Callum is an old school player and vocal leader, who is great at pushing his teammates to improve.
Brock lets his actions do the talking and uses height and athleticism to impose himself on the contest. Owen is skillful with great vision and has represented the Sydney Swans Academy.
SENIOR GIRLS PLATE
TOMAREE HIGH SCHOOL
Coach: Emma Chester
Playing strip: Blue, yellow, white
Captain: Taylor Smith and Demi Bentley
Position: Midfield and Forward
Club: Nelson Bay Marlins
What the coach says: Taylor is a gifted midfielder who also plays for the Sydney Swans Academy and Port Stephens Power Women’s team. She leads from the front, often doing the hard ball-gets, while also being capable of scoring goals.
Demi is a hard-working forward who has the respect of all her teammates. She provides constant encouragement on and off the field, leading from the front with both actions and words.
BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE, COFFS HARBOUR
Coach: Nat Titcume
Playing strip: Navy, blue and red
Socks: Navy or white
Captain: Amelia Wain
Position: Midfield
Club: Sawtell Saints
What the coach says: Amelia is one of the most talented in our playing group, She is a member of the Sydney Swans Women’s Academy, as well as part of our High Performance Program. She is the one who leads by example, pumps up her teammates and provides constant encouragement and coaching on the field.
ENDEAVOUR SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL
Coach: Samuel Nolte
Captain: Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce
Position: Midfield
Club: Miranda Bombers
What the coach says: Caydelan is an excellent role model and athlete in our AFL program. She inspires and motivates all her teammates and leads her team from the front. She has represented NSW at a national level, the Sydney Swans Academy throughout her schooling life and has captained her local football club for a number of years.
Please note: Not all coaches responded to our request in time for publication.
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