The Victorians who could represent Australia at Lacrosse in the Olympics in 2028
Lacrosse will return to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Here are the Victorians who now hold Olympic dreams for the first time.
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The countdown is on for Victoria’s best lacrosse athletes as Australia prepares to send a team to an Olympic Games for the first time in more than 100 years.
The sport was recently one of five awarded Olympic status with lacrosse set to make its return at the Los Angeles games in five years’ time.
It could also be included for the 2032 games set to be held in Brisbane.
Lacrosse was last played at the 1904 and 1908 games with Canada winning both gold medals on offer.
In 2028 the game will be played in the sixes format rather than the 10-player format, which is the traditional form of the game.
So who are the Victorians, female and male, in contention to play at the Olympics in Los Angeles?
We’ve compiled a list of those who could make the cut.
Mitchell Baker, Malvern
One of the rising stars in Lacrosse with the attacker playing for Australia at the recent World Cup. The 23-year-old scored four goals and had eight assists as the team finished fourth. A Malvern player in the Victorian league, Baker is currently playing NCAA Division 1 lacrosse for Scarlet Knights Rutgers in New Jersey, making two appearances during their last season.
Rhyannon Bergin, Camberwell
A talented teenager who has been picked recently for the under-20 Australian Lacrosse team who will compete at the World Championships next year in Hong Kong. Last year she won the under-16 Victorian league best and fairest and is a lethal left-handed attacking player.
Lachlan Bown, Malvern
Made his debut for Victoria at the national championships earlier this year. The long-stick midfielder played for Malvern in the Lacrosse Victoria men’s state league grand final.
Meg Bown, Malvern
An attacking player for Malvern who won the under-17 best and fairest in the Victorian competition in 2021. Bown scored 16 goals and had 20 assists for her club this season in the state league.
Abbey Burns, Newport Ladies
A talented right hand midfielder who loves to score and set up goals. Burns this year helped Victoria win the under-18 national championship and is competing in the state league for the Newport Ladies. She is now hoping to land a deal overseas to play college Lacrosse in the United States.
Isaac Cahill, Footscray
A Western Australian player who moved across to play in Victoria this season for Footscray. Cahill is an attacking talent who represented Australia at the World Cup recently and scored four goals and one assist.
Taylah Comeadow, Newport Ladies
Played for Victoria this year in seniors at the national championships. A talented player who helped Australia win bronze at the under-19 world championships in 2019. She plays for Newport Ladies in the women’s Victorian state league.
Kobe Cook, Malvern
Led the under-18 Victorian team to the national title earlier this year, scoring goals in all games for his state. The midfielder played 15 games in the state league for Malvern this season, scoring 10 goals and providing five assists.
Marley Dawson, Williamstown Women
Was recently named in the Australian under-20 training squad after co-captaining Victoria’s under-18 team last year. An attacking midfielder with elite speed and stick skills, Dawson also has good sense in a game. She is a rising star in the sport.
Bryce Emery, Williamstown
Has been the best Lacrosse Victoria player in his age group for the past two seasons. In 2021 he won the under-17 best and fairest before backing it up the following season to win the under-18 honour. The midfielder is a born leader with plenty of skills and an ability to find an avenue to goal. He played state league for the first time in 2021 and is a major part of Williamstown’s team.
Teddy Friend, Caulfield
The goalkeeper is one of the best in the state. He was part of the Victorian under-18 team this year at the national championships and finished sixth in the under-18 Victoria league best and fairest last year. He has already represented Australia as a junior.
Callan Gibson, Williamstown
The attacker played for Australia at the recent World Cup, scoring three goals. Gibson currently plays in the United States for NCAA Division 2 side Coker University. He played 16 games last season, leading the team in assists and scoring 27 goals. A currently established Australian player who is capable of playing at the Olympics in the future.
Dylan Harari, Caulfield
The Caulfield player has played more than 250 games for his club. A left winger who has represented Australia in under-21 he scored 14 goals for the club last season in the Victoria state league.
Lily Harris, Malvern
Represented Victoria earlier this year at the under-18 national championships and is already among the best in seniors. The midfielder last year finished second in the A-grade best and fairest in the competition. She is now looking to play college Lacrosse in the United States.
Steph Kelly, Footscray
The attacker is already a star in Lacrosse. Kelly played for Australia last year at the World Cup, scoring seven goals in seven matches. She also played Lacrosse in the United States for the Scarlet Knights Rutgers in New Jersey. Last year she scored 26 goals in 21 games for her university.
Peter Kwas, Footscray
An attacker who has been on the fringes of the Australian squad in recent years, but missed this year’s World Cup. The Footscray attacker scored 26 goals last season in the state league.
Theadora Kwas, Footscray
A long-established Australian player who played NCAA Division 1 lacrosse a couple of years ago. She helped the University of Maryland to three national titles and four Big Ten conference championships from her time at the team from 2014 to 2017. Kwas played for Australia at last year’s World Cup, scoring nine goals and having four assists. A midfielder, who is also a coach, she is a star of the sport who could be an experienced leader at an Olympics in the future.
Rebecca Lane, Footscray
Another established Lacrosse player. She scored nine goals last year for Australia at the World Cup. A talented attacker, who knows how to score a goal, Lane last year won the best and fairest in the women’s state league in Victoria and helped Footscray win the premiership.
Georgia Latch, Footscray
An attacker who was the leading goalscorer for Australia at the last World Cup with 12 goals. Latch is one of Australia’s best players and played NCAA Division 1 lacrosse for Loyola Maryland. Over the past two seasons in college she has scored more than 80 goals. A star.
Campbell Mackinnon, Altona
Created history earlier this year by becoming the first ever Altona player to represent Australia at a World Cup. The attacker played seven games and scored one goal at the tournament. Mackinnon has been a key player for Altona in the state league in Victoria for the past few years and scored 11 goals this season.
Trinity Meachem, Camberwell
A right-handed midfielder who played for Victoria last year in under-18 at the national championships. A talented teenager who has won best and fairests at her club in under-13, under-15 and under-17. She is now playing senior women’s matches for her club, Camberwell.
Chris Moffat, Eltham
The defender was part of Australia’s World Cup squad this year and played eight games during the tournament. A stalwart of the sport, Moffat has been part of Eltham’s team for more than a decade.
Ebony Norman, Footscray
Represented Victoria this year in seniors and was part of the under-18 state team last year. An attacker who knows how to find a goal, Norman scored 23 for her club this season in the state league.
Lucas Parsons-Quintiao, Footscray
One of the best young Lacrosse players in the state. In 2021 he won the best and fairest in the state league and was captain of the Footscray team in the same year. The midfielder represented Australia in the World Cup this year and played all eight matches for his country.
Sasha Pollnitz, Newport Ladies
Represented Victoria earlier this year in the national championships. Last year she finished third in the best and fairest in the Victoria state league. Pollnitz is a defensive midfielder and has been playing the game for almost 15 years.
Harry Potocnik, Brunswick
One of the leading attackers for Brunswick in the Victorian state league, scoring 26 goals this season. Potocnik represented Victoria earlier this year in the national championships.
Sarah Smith, Footscray
One of Australia’s leading midfielders. Smith represented Australia at last year’s World Cup and played eight matches for the team. She also finished third in the best and fairest in the Victorian state league last year.
Lachlan Russell, Williamstown
Another leading defender for Australia. He played at this year’s World Cup for the Sharks and was among the leading players for caused turnovers. Russell is a Western Australian player who represents Williamstown in the Victorian state league.
Miriam Suares-Jury, Williamstown Women
A budding superstar in the sport. Last year Suares-Jury won the under-18 best and fairest in the Victorian league after scoring 65 goals during the season. A speedy player who has a fantastic IQ for the sport. She punishes defences with her speed and skills. Suares-Jury represented Victoria in the under-18 nationals last year and she will be one to look out for in Australian squads of the future.
Toby Templeton, Eltham
A specialist in the face-off who has excelled in the game in the past few years. The Eltham player in 2021 won the under-17 and Division 1 best and fairest in the Victorian league. He scored 10 goals in the state league this year and was part of the under-18 Victorian team who won the national title.
Bonnie Yu, Footscray
Another Australian player excelling overseas in college in the United States. Yu plays for Saint Joseph’s Hawks and is one of the leading players for the team. Last season, she played 19 games and scored 39 goals to be part of the All-Atlantic 10 First Team squad. The midfielder is one of the best players in the world and represented Australia at the World Cup last year.
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