Dalby Eagles players shine at touch football Junior State Cup

The high flying Dalby Eagles put on a touch football show at the Junior State Cup in Rockhampton. Here’s a look at the star players from every team.

Dalby Eagles U16 boys finished runners up at the Junior State Cup. Picture: Dalby Touch Association

Dalby Eagles were a high flying force to reckoned with at the Queensland Junior State Cup.

Up against the state’s best touch footballers, the small country affiliate bought home the Carroll Etherdon Trophy which is presented to the best Junior State Cup Small Affiliate Champion.

Dalby, who fielded seven teams at the state cup, almost secured a second trophy with the under-16 boys team losing the grand final 6-5 to a buzzer beating Gold Coast try.

With the state cup wrapped up for another year here’s a look at some of the Eagles top performers.

Dalby Eagles touch footballer Travis Collins. Picture: Dalby Touch Association

U16 Boys

Travis Collins

Hard working middle and one of the team’s key playmakers. Plays a high energy game and always able to lift the team as captain. Excellent defensive work rate.

Ryker Filewood and Ollie Lewington

A powerhouse middle combination. Great chemistry working very well off one another to create attacking opportunities using Ollie’s superb ball skills and Ryker’s speed and agility in line attack.

Dalby Eagles touch footballer Jasper Filewood and Ollie Lewington. Picture: Dalby Touch Association

Jasper Filewood

A threat from anywhere on the field. Jasper creates something from nothing at any spot of the field also with great footwork and lightning speed and coming in clutch when needed.

U16 Girls

Emmy Harms

Awarded Best and Fairest Player of the Carnival for her consistency in attack and defence in the middle of the field. Emmy was the staple of the team with her unwavering effort across the field.

Millie Dun

Awarded Most Valuable Player of the Carnival for her efforts in the middle to organise and execute set plays on the field. With her consistency on the field in both attack and defence, Millie was key in many of the tries scored.

Molly Gibson

Awarded Players’ Player by her teammates. Molly is a hardworking link who put 100% into every game. Exceptional defender who plays good eyes-up footy in attack.

Hailey Abbott

The team captain was always reliable on the field. Hailey excelled at running the plays and is always a threat for a fast slide-dive try.

U14 Boys

Aiden Deem

The team captain did a tonne of driving work through the middle. Aiden was also very solid in defence.

Ben Barwick

Team vice-captain and another outstanding middle for the team He was exceptional at controlling the play through the middle and his chase down defensive efforts were always rewarded.

Jackson Wilkins

Played a crucial role in link. The team’s top try scorer with speed to burn in attack and defence. A strong carnival performance off the back of Queensland Country rugby union in the three days leading up to the cup.

Dalby Eagles touch footballer Pippa Smith. Picture: Dalby Touch Association

U12 Girls

Pippa Smith

Reliable in both attack and defence. Brought a sense of maturity to the team co-captaining alongside Charlotte Brewer.

Charlotte Brewer

Was voted Players’ Player by her teammates and was awarded leading try scorer for the season.

Malayah McCarthy

Impressed over three days with numerous sideline breaks and earned MVP honours.

Highlight for the 12 girls was playing on field one and their game against Noosa being live streamed.

Dalby Eagles touch footballer Malayah McCarthy. Picture: Dalby Touch Association

U12 Boys

Justin Hemmings

A pocket rocket of a link with his quick speed and agility was able to break the line for runaway tries.

Mason Lowe

A versatile link and middle whose defence was outstanding his scoots from half caused trouble for the opposition.

Rex Jones

The talented middle controlled the game when on the field. His eyes up play and talk made him one of Dalby’s best playmakers.

Jack Postle

Showed vision when in the middle and his long ball cut out passes set our wingers up nicely.

U10 Girls

Lauren Barwick

Was a standout performer for the team. Lauren can always be counted on to drive the ball forward and is a strong ballplayer.

Scarlett Hall

Speed to burn and always puts in the hard work. A great teammate.

Dalby Eagles touch footballer Millie Dun. Picture: Dalby Touch Association

Mia Milton

A very strong defensive player and great reader of the play. Works hard on attacking structure.

Ava Robinson

The team’s cover defence extraordinaire. Always keen to improve her touch footy skills to get the team on the front foot.

Trudi Smith

A fantastic team player. Trudi is reliable, hard working and the kind of teammate everyone wants to play beside.

U10 Boys

Ted Jones

Players’ Player as voted by his teammates for all the consistent solid hard work he did behind the scenes setting up plays to create try opportunities for his teammates.

Riley Scoins

Most Valuable Player for consistent implementing and applying coach direction during the game, highest try scoring rate; commitment to team work.

Josh Kavney

Best and Fairest for his encouragement of others to build up the team, for his enthusiasm always showing up with 110% effort at training games.

Coaches note: The under-10 boys coaches noted the great attitude of their squad with a small statement. “The country kid values of our U10 boys shone through during the carnival. They were respectful, polite, befriended others from the opposition, and in between games could often be found fishing or hunting crocs in the Fitzroy River.”