GPS First XI football’s form players named

The GPS First XI football premiership is anyone’s for the taking as the competition started hotting up following round 3 clashes. See who starred here from all eight schools.

Impressive Gregory Terrace goal keeper George Plusnin finds himself in an awkward position during round 3 of the season. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The Southport School’s premiership DNA will be tested over the next three rounds when they face Brisbane State High, Nudgee College and Ipswich Grammar.

TSS were 3-0 and sitting atop the GPS First XI football table after their latest 3-2 win against Gregory Terrace on the Village Green.

It is a wide open competition, with no clear favourite three rounds in.

Brisbane State High, despite being winless, came within one of Nudgee (2-1) in round 1, then drew with Ipswich (2-2) who beat Nudgee 3-0 in round 3, before sharing spoils 3-all against last weekend..

Round 3 also saw Brisbane Grammar open their account after a false start against Churchie in round 2. They beat Toowoomba Grammar 5-1, although the match was closer than the scoreline indicates.

Ipswich Grammar and TSS found the winning post against quality opposition.

ROUND 3 SCORES

BBC and BSHS drew 3-3

BGS 5 def TGS 1

IGS 3 def Nudgee 0

TSS 3 def Terrace 2

LADDER

1. The Southport School (3-0)

2. Ipswich Grammar School (2 wins, 1 draw)

3. Brisbane Boys’ College (2 wins, 1 draw)

4. Churchie (1-1)

5. Brisbane Grammar School (1-1)

6. St Joseph’s Nudgee College (1 win, 1 draw)

7. Brisbane State High School (2 losses, 1 draw)

8. St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace (0-3)

9. Toowoomba Grammar School (0-3)

PLAYERS TO WATCH THIS SEASON

GPS FIRST XI FOOTBALL’S ROUND 3 WEAPONS

GPS Football as TSS V Gregory Terrace on the Village Green, Southport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Usher Dull (Ipswich Grammar)

Dull was worth his weight in gold, working hard and coming up with magic dimes when it mattered.

On a handful of occasions he had the precision to lace passes forward through the defence to create goals for his teammates.

Sam Stanway (Ipswich Grammar)

Stanway was a beneficiary of Dull’s passing, but he had plenty of work to do himself to snare two goals and establish a healthy lead for his team.

Stanway was dangerous and he took full advantage of his chances to open up a 3-0 buffer against a high-class Nudgee team.

GPS Football as TSS V Gregory Terrace on the Village Green, Southport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Declans Warnes (Nudgee College)

In the several moments he picked up the ball and drove at the IGS back four he showed glimpses of unlocking their defence and opening Nudgee College’s account.

The visitors looked dangerous in the first half and Warnes played a big part.

Jackson Dalton (Nudgee College)

Dalton was yireless in his efforts throughout a tight game and showed some moments of quality.

Particularly in the first half, Dalton did his thing down the right hand side which caused some problems for IGS.

His direct running and support was a feature.

GPS Football as TSS V Gregory Terrace on the Village Green, Southport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ben Forrester (Brisbane Grammar)

Forrester’s elevation into the First XI was a telling one.

A midfield mountain mover, Forrester worked tirelessly to drive forward with the ball and defend attacking raids from a competitive Toowoomba Grammar outfit.

Jackson Peter (Toowoomba Grammar)

Peter, Toowoomba Grammar’s best on ground, scored his team’s lone goal and wreaked havoc all game for Brisbane Grammar’s backline.

Whenever Peter got the ball, alarm bells rang in the opposition defence because he was both creative and unrelenting, with his competitive spirit.

Alex Benson (The Southport School)

Alex Benson (right). GPS Football as TSS V Gregory Terrace on the Village Green, Southport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The goalkeeping gun kept TSS intact despite plenty of shots on target from Terrace.

Three first half saves highlighted Benson’s brilliant performance in goals and his steady, composed hand played a big part in dealing with an on-song Terrace outfit which scored first and were level at 2-all entering the second stanza.

Legion Walker (The Southport School)

Walker roared off the bench in the second half to provide a spark for TSS.

At right wing, he created a chance and asked a few questions in the lead up to Hunter Hotko’s go-ahead goal midway through the second half.

Hunter Hotko (The Southport School)

Hotko’s hot form saw him score the decisive goal which pulled TSS ahead 3-2.

Before that, the monumental midfielder was here, there and everywhere to be his team’s prime mover.

Alongside Hotko, striker Luca Nakagawa-Morrison was mighty, scoring two goals in the first half.

GPS Football as TSS V Gregory Terrace on the Village Green, Southport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

George Plusnin (Gregory Terrace)

Plusnin’s return season was gaining ominous momentum after an improved showing between the posts in round 3.

Class is permanent and despite a lengthy injury curtailing his last 12 months, Plusnin was getting back to his best — making some timely saves and displaying composure at key junctures of Saturday’s match down the coast.

Further up field, Year 11 weapon Callum Harris scored a double.

Hudson Auker (Gregory Terrace)

Gregory Terrace senior Hudson Auker made his long-awaited starting debut and it was well worth the wait.

His constant involvements and hard-nosed nature led to him creating both of Harris’ goals.

GPS Football as TSS V Gregory Terrace on the Village Green, Southport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ashton Burrowes (Brisbane Boys’ College)

Burrowes had plenty of responsibility on his shoulders and was splendid.

With midfield partner Tanner Wheeler out with a suspension, Burrowes picked up the slack of two players and stood up tremendously in the midfield with an unrivalled intensity.

Scored a goal for his troubles in BBC’s return from a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 at oranges.

Lucas Chetham (Brisbane Boys’ College)

Lucas Chetham competes in the regional playoff match of the 2024 Bill Turner Cup between Cairns State High School and St Augustine's College. Picture: Brendan Radke

The young centre back, new to BBC this year after moving down from Cairns, had his best game in green.

The former Cairns State High lefty had struggled with shin splints leading into the season but found a purple patch of form over the past fortnight leading into a top notch round 3 showing.

Trey King (Brisbane State High)

King has been a captain courageous for Brisbane State High, a difference-maker in the opening three rounds after completing a terrific comeback from a stress fracture.

After a high-class debut season in Year 10, King was kept on ice in 2024 rehabilitating his back.

So far this season he has been arguably the best on ground each game, with his strength, pace and general sharpness on the ball at a “different level” according to BSHS head of football Tom Dixon.

GPS Football as TSS V Gregory Terrace on the Village Green, Southport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Rhys Buchannan (Brisbane State High)

Buchannan had gone without a goal for the first two games but was rewarded on Saturday with two goals where he finished off some superb team play.

He had been chomping at the bit to get on the scoresheet and had his radar working in round 3 on Miskin Oval.

Jason Aimes (Brisbane State High)

Can we get a round of applause for impressive Year 9 little man Jason Aimes?

The holding midfielder made his First XI debut, coming on in the second half when BSHS trailed 3-2, and controlled possession nicely.

The tidy youngster got stuck in — just like he does playing rugby in term 3.

Originally published as GPS First XI football’s form players named