Queensland’s junior football top 40: Best under 16-18 years in the state
From the southern Gold Coast to FNQ, and west to the Downs, the state’s is brimming with brilliant teen soccer players. Here are Queensland’s 40 best under 16-18 years boys – plus 18 of the best girls.
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The future of Queensland football looks bright with these future stars leading the charge.
From the southern Gold Coast to Far Northern Queensland, and west to the Darling Downs, football is brimming with brilliant young talents.
Here’s 40 teenage top guns from across the under 16-18 years boys’ age groups, along with a snapshot of some of the best teenage girls in the business as well.
ISIAH QUINN
Originally from the Tinana club along the Fraser Coast, the left back Brisbane Roar FC player via Marsden SHS made the Australian under 16 squad for the AFF U-16 Youth Championship – the only Queenslanders to do so. His local Brisbane club was Brisbane Olympic FC before graduating to the Roar.
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JUSTIN MOYA
The Southside Eagles’ defender has soared in recent season, and had the honour of being called into the AFF U-16 Youth Championship Australian development final selection trials – and then named a shadow player. This after earlier being invited into the Australia U-17 national team camp in Canberra.
ALEX NASSIEP
Are we drawing a low bow by naming Nassiep a top Queensland talent? Possibly. He may now play in the Melbourne Victory FC system, but his junior club is Caloundra FC. Nassiep, a goalkeeper, is an Aussie under 16 representative at the AFF U-16 Youth Championship.
CYRUS MALSAWMKIMA
From the sporting rich Logan City region of Queensland, this Logan Lightning midfield junior has come through the Brisbane Roar Academy system to make the final selection trial for the Australian under 16s, just missing selection where he was a shadow player The Groves Christian College old boy, who aspires to play World Cup football, was also invited to the Australia U-17 national team camp.
SAM KLEIN
At 17 years and 314 days, Sam Klein became Brisbane Roar’s eighth youngest debutant in A-League Men history. The rookie midfielder who was born in Gympie attended St Joseph’s Nudgee College.
RYLAN BROWNLIE
The Son of a Gun (dad Royce), the Nudgee College student currently plays for Brisbane Roar FC. The brilliant striker originally hails from the powerhouse junior club, Moreton Bay United, and earlier this year was invited into the Australia U-17 national team camp in Canberra. He was also named a shadow player for the AFF U-16 Youth Championship Australian team.
EDWARD INCE
From the prolific junior breeding ground of Pine Hills FC, the Brisbane Roar midfield Academy player has come on in leaps and bounds and was considered for Australian under 16 selection.
KADE MCDOUGALL
Another Sunshine Coast talent (Buderim Wanderers FC), the Brisbane Roar product has been playing so well, he was short-listed for the Australian under 16s.
JENSEN VARGO and EVANGELOS YIALLOURIDES
The sporting rich Far North Queensland continues to churn out some of Queensland’s best youth talent, with Jensen Varga (Redlynch Strikers juniors, FQ Academy Far North & Gulf, Evangelos Yiallourides (MA Olympic juniors, FQ Academy Northern) front and centre in the regional out posts.
JHAIRAHTAYLOR and ARTHUR DE LIMA
The St Joseph Nudgee College pair are a dynamic duo who are both at the Brisbane Roar. Brazil born De Lima is from the fast growing Moreton Bay United while Taylor is a Wide Bay product now honing his skills at Nudgee and with the Roar. Taylor played for the KSS Jets from under 5 to under 12, then joined the Wide Bay Buccaneers from under 13-14 in the QPL. He made Queensland School Boys in under 12s and Queensland Country under 14s.
OSCAR MYERS
A central defender from Palm Beach Currumbin SHS, Myers is blessed with a wide range of passing distribution and a great understanding of the game. He has been at the heart of the Palm Beach Currumbin Intermediate SPL team that has only conceded 2 goals all season and was recently selected in the Queensland U16 Schoolboys Team.
THOMAS WADDINGTON
Thomas Waddington Kelvin Grove State College- Tom plays for the Brisbane Roar NPL Men’s team as a 17 year old. He was flagged last year for the Under 16 Joeys team before Covid and is a Right winger or Striker Mid and recently made the under 19 QLD Schoolboys team.
NOAH MAIERONI
From the famous Brisbane City nursery, the Kelvin Grove State College student plays in the under 18’s/23’s NPL competition – after also having his senior debut this year for the First team in the Australia Cup. A centre midfielder, he is a Queensland under 19 representative.
DOHYUP LEE
Dohyup Lee plays for Olympic FC in the under 18s/23s NPL. He is a classy centre mid who was recently selected as a shadow for the under 19 Queensland Schoolboys team as a year 10 student.
EREMUGO DEBELE
A Marsden SHS student, the young right back is a high quality attacking forward. At the recent under 19 championship, he was play of the carnival.
OLLY JONATA, ALI MADOU and TINO MADOU
Marsden SHS is more well known for producing rugby league talent, but footballers were now surging through the system.
Australian player Isiah Quinn, mentioned above, is leading the way but now far behind are Jonata, Sina and Madou.
Jonata is a defensive midfielder from Rochedale Rovers who drives forward, while shining in one-on-one defensive duties.
Sina is an attacking midfielder and Madou a centre back who strives in defence, loving the one-on-one contests.
Throw into the mix midfield player Caleb Butler from the under 16 Brisbane Roar team and Marsden is becoming a strong staging ground of talent.
LUKE BRODERICK
The 18-year-old forward who is originally from Toowoomba broke into the Brisbane Roar’s NPL Men’s goals last year after shining at under 23 level. He is a Toowoomba Grammar School old boy.
TATE BALDWIN
Baldwin is an aggressive midfielder from Palm Beach Currumbin SHS that plays box to box. Technically very well developed he controls the pace of the game. Tate plays with the Brisbane Roar Academy and has just got back on the pitch after a leg break earlier this season.
ANSHU ALE
The young Nepalese prodigy is such an eye-catching talent, Rayo Vallecano offered him a trial as a 14-year-old. From Brisbane Strikers, his ability is one thing, but he is also renowned for hard work which helped land him in the Queensland under 16 side.
ARU ONOZUKA
The Gold Coast United FC junior has been in the sights of the Brisbane Roar since 2018 as an under 12 player when he was invited into their Academy. He continues to progress, including making the Queensland under 16s.
LACHLAN BUCKMAN, RAFAEL ALVIS
Ingham State High School student Lachlan Buckman has been a prolific sporting talent from North Queensland, a high achiever in both football and athletics where he has been a Queensland and Australian All Schools champion.
But it is in football where his star is shining brightest, and alongside Eastern Suburbs FC junior Rafael Alvis, Buckman has played his way into the Queensland under 16 schoolboys side.
SAM FLANNERY, SEAN ALMOND
They come from opposite sides of the river, but Sam Flannery and Sean Almond have marched arm in arm into the Queensland under 16s team. Flannery is from the rich breeding ground of Cavendish Road SHS, and Almond from Murrumba State College, a midfield talent from the booming Moreton Bay United Club.
FREDDIE BABBAGE, DEEGAN BROOK
From the Kelvin Grove State College student is a fantastic young attacker, currently playing in the Roar system who deserves recognition on this list. player. Lively winger Brook is a MA Olympic Queensland schoolboys squad member from the Kawana Waters State College.
TY COBB, DAMON GORRELL
Redlands midfielder Cobb and Damon Gorrell both hail from Cleveland SHS, where Gorrell is a courageous defender. Both boys thoroughly deserved Queensland under 19 team selection.
Cobb plays centre midfield and is an attacking player who is very exciting player to watch on the ball. When he scores a goal, he often scores two or three goals.
Gorrel, also from Cleveland DHS, is solid “box to box” midfielder who not only breaks down play, but is very effective in counter attack. Damon is a very skilful and intelligent footballer
CHRISTIAN MLADENIS and co
A Gold Coast Knights junior, Christian Mladenis (FQ Academy Metro) joined Hermit State School past student Evan Msonga (Brothers Townsville junior, FQ Academy Northern), Bayview Heights teenager Myles Howard (Leichhardt FC junior, FQ Academy Far North & Gulf), Cairns’ Nicholas Lyth (Marlin Coast Rangers junior, FQ Academy Far North & Gulf) and Whitsundays junior Jake Pettigrew (Magpies Crusaders) as regional players who were drafted into the Australian under 16 talent camp staged in Townsville, while Jack Benham, from the famous Brisbane City club, has been earmarked for future camps.
GIRL POWER
That’s the boys, so what about the girls?
Below is just a sample of some of the supreme teenage talent coming through the ranks in Queensland.
Among the brilliant young performers were the following.
CHARLIE GIBSON
A powerful defender, the QAS player since the under 13s and Brisbane Roar train-on player secured a place in the Junior Matildas final squad.
ALEEAH DAVERNE
Originally from sporting rich Cairns, the fluent midfielder with a big motor has had her skills polished under the watchful QAS system, making the youth Matilda's’ world championship.
JAMILLA RANKIN
Originally from northern NSW, the Eureka FC junior is one of the state’s very best, with the young defender going from an emerging star to an emerging star after making the Junior Matildas. In the two previous years the Rosebank Public School past student was a national squad member.
MIA BAILEY
A goalkeeper with great distribution, the Cavendish Road State High School alumni roared into the junior Matildas squad after signing her first A-League Women’s contract with Brisbane Roar. She is originally from Cairns.
DAISY BROWN
The brilliant young forward from the Football Queensland-QAS Academy system via Brisbane City made the Junior Matildas AFF under 18 Women’s Championship team. She was identified by QAS scouts as early as the under 13 age group as a player of considerable potential
JONTI FISHER
The matchwinning midfielder is another from the Kelvin Grove State College finishing school who has gone all the way to the top – making the Australian under 18 Women’s Championship team.
ELLA O’GRADY
From the Wynnum Wolves FC junior group, the razor sharp forward achieved what she has been striving toward for years – a coveted position in the junior Matilda’s AFF under 18 Women’s Championship team.
MARGARET BARRETT
One of the Best from the West, the rising young forward from Western Pride went within a whisker of making the Matilda’s training squad. Barrett has been a young pioneer, coming through QAS systems since the under 13s in 2018.
ELLEN GETT
The QAS captain Gett was another Young Matildas training camp invitee renowned as a versatile defender, midfielder or forward. A Stuartholme School old girl, she is also a renowned leader who, via Queensland Thunder, was elevated into the Brisbane Roar’s top squad for the most recent season.
LAYNE CHAPMAN
Injury may have cost up-and-coming Brothers Townsville goalkeeper, Layne Chapman, a place at the junior Matilda’s camp, but while she was out of sight she was not out of mind. Watch for this North Queensland young star to continue to shine.
LANNI McDOUGALL
A talented midfield talent, McDougall stood the next step up to the A-League Women’s competition by being hand picked by the Brisbane Roar after impressing for Moreton Bay United.
MOLLY MCLENNAN
Centre midfielder McLennan possesses a very well developed first touch and dribbling ability. She can unlock defences by taking on defenders and will always work to win the ball back. Molly was recently selected in the Queensland Opens Schoolgirls Team.
TULLY HEATLEY
A Kelvin Grove State College student, Tully plays for the QAS in the under 16’s. She is a silky central midfielder who was recently selected for the under 18 Queensland schoolgirls team – all this as a year 10 student.
SIERRA McCAFFREY
A shadow under 18 Queensland schoolboys team member as a year 10 student, McCaffrey plays for the QAS under 16s. The Kelvin Grove State College is a versatile centre back or centre mid who last year scored an outrageous goal from beyond half way in the Schools Premier League.
MADDISON TEAKLE
This is a young player who is a member of the Queensland under 19s team. Teakle is from Harristown SHS on the Darling Downs where she has previously made the Queensland schoolgirl (2019) and in 2020 the state merit team during the Covid lock down. The 18-year-old year 12 student with an interest in sports physiotherapy.
KYLA HANSON
The Cleveland DHS is a multi talented sporting women in a number of sports (also a junior Australian Indoor Cricket representative) and is a very talented and competent senior football referee. Hanson is an attacking midfielder with an exceptional workrate who demonstrates excellent leadership skills on and off the field.
MACKENZIE NIELSEN
Another Kelvin Grove State College footballer, she plays for the QAS in the WNPL. Nielsen is a very calm centre back with an eye for a pass who has been away on Junior Matildas Camps this year.
Originally published as Queensland’s junior football top 40: Best under 16-18 years in the state
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