We name the players that could be decisive at the under-12 flag football national championships

A trip to Florida is on the line as Australia’s 10 top flag football schools go head-to-head for national glory. Discover the players that will make a difference.

Ormeau Primary School at the southeast Queensland flag football championships 2024. Picture: Supplied.

The 2024 national flag under-12 flag football championships are imminent, with 10 primary schools from all corners of the country vying for a coveted ticket to Florida to compete at the world championships.

It will be third iteration of the tournament, with the sport quickly sweeping the popularity stakes and dethroning traditional Australian codes in schools.

Varsity College won the first two iterations, but missed the national finals this year, so a new champion is set to jet off to America.

Discover all the players to watch below.

Zara Mhlanga

School: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (ACT)

An all-rounder who fills in on attack at wide receiver and is very versatile., she’s the only returning player from last year and her experience in big games will make a difference.

Blake Lane

School: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (ACT)

The quarterback has a good arm and a good throw. He’s an underage player who’s only in year five and will go around next year with his side.

Mason Maiuto

School: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (ACT)

The wide receiver is very committed, tries his best and has a good pair of hands.

Finn Baldock

School: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (ACT)

Finn is on the defensive team, he’s good at reading play, getting intercepts and shutting down opposition plays. Certainly one to watch.

Oscar Davies

School: Herne Hill Primary School (WA)

Oscar is a returning player who featured for Herne Hill last year. He’s mostly a defender but also helps out on offence. He plays footy and is a little firecracker with lots of energy. He rallies his team, loves chat and brings them together. He can play on both sides and always wants to train.

Audrey Hill

School: Herne Hill Primary School (WA)

Audrey is new to flag football but has been an unexpected star for her side, with her dancing background holding her in good stead. She’s quick and and can reel opponents in in the blink of an eye, while her dancing background allows her to read the hips of opposition attackers and where they’re going.

Hudson Vigar

School: Herne Hill Primary School (WA)

The wide receiver is good player and also a quiet and humble kid. He reads the play really well, is a great catcher of the ball, fast, and applies lots of effort. Has great game sense.

Nathan Lawrie

School: Herne Hill Primary School (WA)

The year five student is the smallest player on the team and plays both defence and offence. He’s an awesome talent who also plays running back and wide receiver. He’s really fast, so switched on, and can read the play so well. It’s no surprise he’s dedicated and loves the sport, trains really hard, and puts himself everywhere that he can.

Jack Byrnes

School: Ormeau Primary School (SEQ)

a really small, player who featured last year as a year five. He’s a running back and was Ormeau’s player of the tournament at the state championships, where a date change left his side undermanned so he had to fill in on defence and got a number of interceptions and scored plenty of touchdowns

Estiaan Nel

School: Ormeau Primary School (SEQ)

The school’s main quarterback now after the original selection missed the state championships because of a date change and is now ineligible for nationals, Estiaan stepped up gallantly in their absence. He has also been good on defence and made plenty of tags.

Atu Sinipata

School: Ormeau Primary School (SEQ)

Plays receiver or running back and throws the ball as well. Is a real stand out talent.

Ollie Horne

School: Kew Primary School (VIC)

Is fast in attack, a good running back and wide receiver.

Stella Aldenhoven

School: Kew Primary School (VIC)

Was the MVP at the state championships, plays defence and offence and gets through a lot of work. Can play running back in attack or linebacker in defence.

Lucia Wolff

School: Kew Primary School (VIC)

Reads the game better than anyone in the team, and better than a lot of adult for that matter. Plays on defence as a cornerback.

Tristan Mayo

School: Djarragun College (NQ)

An athletic freak who is super skillful and so much talent. Is small and plays running back or wide receiver.

Jyekiele Burns

School: Djarragun College (NQ)

The quarterback has the best throwing arm and is also a great leader who captains the side as a result.

Tika Kingsburra

School: Djarragun College (NQ)

A secret weapon of Djarragun. Doesn’t seem like much, but when she has the ball in hand she can absolutely fly. Plays running back and wide receiver.

Nicholas Klein

School: Lindisfarne Anglican School (NNSW)

The quarterback is a state-level discus thrower, so that he has the arm and upper body strength needed to excel in that position should come as no surprise. Has a great ability to get the ball over back and hit a target, and his leadership skills are also developing.

Harvey Johnson

School: Lindisfarne Anglican School (NNSW)

A tall and athletic prospect with an Aussie rules background, has a good set of hands and is a high flyer. Can be strong defensively, as well as out long in attack, hits the ball and attacks hard. Plays wide receiver or defensive back.

Lucia Juric

School: Lindisfarne Anglican School (NNSW)

A running player with a touch footy background, Lucia has great speed and agility. Sits close on defence in her defensive back position, and also plays running back or wide receiver.

Ted Houghton

School: Lindisfarne Anglican School (NNSW)

Has an Aussie rules background, a good set of hands, and great agility and speed. Will play wide receiver and defensive back.

Quincy Carter

School: Mother Theresa Catholic Primary School (NT)

A versatile player who is playing both attack and defence at the moment. Reads the ball well defensively, is quick on closing down hand offs and just generally shutting down the opposition running game.

Celeste Franz-Hoovin

School: Mother Theresa Catholic Primary School (NT)

The running back is really quick off the mark, can catch and run and is very agile. Has the x-factor her team needs.

Ronaldo Ingles

School: Mother Theresa Catholic Primary School (NT)

Can play both offence and defence, and positionally is mainly a centre. Can short or deep routes well, is an aerial threat.

Harry Le Brink

School: Mother Theresa Catholic Primary School (NT)

A wide receiver who is a really good dual threat who can run the ball, gets open and has good hands in short spaces. Good for medium edge and runs routes well. Can also throw deep.

Originally published as We name the players that could be decisive at the under-12 flag football national championships