AIC First XV rugby: Here is 23 debut boys who have caught the eye so far this season
AIC First XV rugby: Here are more than 20 debut boys who have caught the eye along with key things we have learned across the opening two rounds.
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The next generation of First XV footballers is sweeping through the AIC competition, with new faces joining the old in 2024.
So who have been some of the most eye-catching new faces across the first two rounds? Who have been some of the key leanings from the competition so far?
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Revealed in this story.
HEAD TURNING DEBUT BOYS
Harrison Vidler (St Edmund’s)
Vidler made a winning debut at inside centre against St Peters where he received a man of the match award. He is a strong ball carrying centre with great late footwork and slick ball skills.
Jack Breuer (St Edmund’s)
A strong ball carrying No. 8 who has run on debut this season. He starred in round 2 winning the man of the match award. He is someone who is always thinking and continues to improve his game week to week
Fononga Tuitahi (Iona)
The mobile hooker is quite dynamic and has impressed with his high work rate.
He has made more tackles, hit more rucks and taken more carries with the ball than any of his teammates across the opening two rounds.
Keanu Bothma (Iona)
One of the babies of the competition who is still just 15 - his birthday is on Friday - Year 10 student Bothma is a tenacious, plucky halfback.
But he is also highly skilled with a super pass from the base of his forwards.
Sam Hodder (Iona)
Loose-head prop Hodder has risen to the occasion in his first two matches in the Firsts.
While fellow prop Hopo Leota deservedly gets the attention, loose-head front rower Hodder has been quietly matching motors with big Leota, especially in the set piece.
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AIC ROUND 1: HOW IT ALL UNFOLDED
Matt Doherty (Iona)
Doherty is like a mini Conrad Smith (ex-Blacks) with his hard running efforts in the mid field.
Like fine wine, you sense he will get better with more experience at this level.
Denzel Savelino and Ryan Smallhorn (St Patrick’s)
Denzel Savelino has been hooker Manaaki Bateman’s right hand man, with the tight head prop providing reliable across the opening two rounds. High praise also for inside centre Smallhorn who has been strong in traffic and elusive in broken play.
Owen Frost (St Laurence’s)
While the focus is rightly on the Laurie’s forwards who win matches for fun, St Laurence’s have some finishing power out wide as well courtesy of new boy Owen Frost who is a great finisher and safe under the high ball.
Justin Wilson (St Laurence’s)
St Laurence’s were being superbly led by their captain and second rower Tom Nadenic, but locking the scrum alongside him is a new chum, Justin Wilson, who is a big, powerful runner.
Will Gallagher (Villanova)
There is not much of him, but he is all energy and effort.
He wore white head gear last Saturday against St Patrick’s and you could see his every move on a gloomy, damp day at Curlew Park.
He was the Double’s Daley Medal winner for Villa’s best player.
Harry Higgins (Villanova)
Villanova coach Eddie Harris, himself a former first class front rower, rates Higgins highly for his high work rate.
You sense he’d knock his own teammates out of the way to get to a pick and drive opportunity or to make a tackle.
Max Rakitovszky (Villanova)
We didn’t see much of him in round one when Villa were swamped by a Marist College Ashgrove avalanche, but we saw a little more of this Year 10 rookie in round two and we liked what we saw.
Next time we see him play we will be creeping forward in our seats awaiting his next move on the field.
Will Ross (Padua)
After a strong season with the school’s 10As last year, big lock Will Ross has moved up into the top team where his experience with the Australian Under 16s squad has already paid dividends.
In the pre-season Ross came to life, bringing a wealth of experience with him following his representative games with the Reds last winter.
His physicality, set piece play and confidence have been areas of major improvement.
Fynn Dalton (Padua)
The gritty Norths Devils Cyril Connell hooker has proved a menace at open side flanker for Padua in two games this season.
After a valuable season at flanker with the school’s Seconds in 2023, Dalton has hit the ground running in the Firsts where he could really flourish.
Brock Dillon (Padua)
Dillon had dabbled in various different positions before deciding halfback was his best position to make an impact for premiership hopefuls Padua.
A flanker in year 10 and an inside centre in Year 11, Year 12 halfback Dillon has worked hard on his pass and is a more aggressive, physical halfback than you’d see in a days march.
Alex Brown (St Peters)
The big bodied lock played Seconds last season but was a must have for St Peters in the Firsts this year as a forward leader.
He has been one of St Peters best in two games so far.
Nigel Sherriff (St Peters)
Brown’s second row partner Sherriff has also been impressive in his debut season.
His incredible speed off the line has seen him make a ton tackles and he is the first person you’d call if you needed a big player brought to ground.
Hunts the ball carrier.
Paul Deeb (St Peters)
St Peter’s loose-head Paul Deeb has led from the front as a Year 11 student, playing 70 minutes in both games.
He had gotten bigger and stronger over the off-season and he is spearheading the Saints front row very well.
Josh Heinrich (Ashgrove)
Outside of his tireless work in general play, the thing that stands out with Heinrich is the fact he is an outstanding goal kicker.
The Ashgrove hooker has had his radar working in both games to begin the season and is continuing a unique tradition after backrower Atticus Armstrong was tasked with the goalkicking duties last season.
Christian Kurylewski (Ashgrove)
The towering lock has been a tremendous lineout target who has reeled in a few opposition lineouts as well.
He is tough with ball in hand and is what Ashgrove would have wanted heading into the season.
Thomas Millard (Ashgrove)
Millard was well contained in round two against Padua but he had a rousing debut in round one against Villanova.
He was powerful through contact and got Ashgrove over the gain line with his carries.
Footnote: Technically St Laurence’s hooker Huw Griffiths is not a debut boy because he played one game off the bench last year, but as a starting hooker this season he has impressed with his well rounded game.
THINGS WE’VE LEARNED FROM THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS
St Laurence’s will take some beating - again.
The Laurie’s First XV has not lost since round 4, 2019, and it will take more than an elephant gun to halt the famous black and gold boys from driving their side to another premiership. We know that from watching Iona fire an elephant gun at them - yet Laurie’s still won in the final seconds.
Villanova v St Patrick’s was a promoter’s dream
We learned if the AIC or QRU ever want to promote the code, they should save the video clip of the round 2 clash between first round battles Villanova and St Patrick’s. Eleven tries flowed in the match, yet you never felt you were watching teams with loose defence. It was just one of those games. And here’s a warning for teams opposing both schools in the weeks ahead. Don’t take them for granted or they will give you a swift kick up the behind.
Manaaki Bateman and Will Gallagher were outstanding
We learned that two of the very best players in the competition play for two schools who will not figure in the premiership race - St Patrick’s hooker Manaaki Bateman and Villanova flanker Will Gallagher.
Iona were the real deal
We have learned Iona were in this premiership race up to the high tide mark in nearby Sandy Camp Road Wetlands Reserve.
They shaded St Laurence’s in round 1 but lost, then ramped up their game in round 2 against St Edmund’s College. What will happen on Saturday against Ashgrove? We don’t know, but we can’t wait to find out.
The green shoots at St Edmund’s College
Eddie’s had a round 1 win over St Peters and then had their pants pulled down against competition contenders Iona College, but there were plenty of positives for St Edmund’s, don’t worry. Most of the First XV were Year 11 students, which all goes well for the short term future of the side. Forward leader Dan Casey, a second season veteran, was leading the kids well.
ROUND 3
Villanova v St Laurence’s
Marist v Iona
Padua v St Edmund’s
St Peters v St Patrick’s
Originally published as AIC First XV rugby: Here is 23 debut boys who have caught the eye so far this season
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