GPS First XI football 2025: Round 4 top players named
A ‘freak’ performance by the BBC goalkeeper earnt him top billing in the GPS First XI football’s players of the round. See who starred from all eight schools here.
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For the first time in almost a decade, Brisbane Boys’ College managed to tame Nudgee College.
To break a nine-year drought in GPS First XI football, BBC sporting prodigy D’Arcy Satharasinghe slotted a telling penalty goal on the cusp of half time to lead 1-0.
In the second half, goal keeper Isaac Taylor consolidated one of the great schoolboy football games — denying an amped-up Nudgee College outfit, which threw the kitchen sink his way in a pulsating second stanza.
“It’s huge honestly,” concluded proud BBC head coach Jamie Morgan.
“The boys were unreal. They defended their backsides off.”
Morgan conceded Nudgee were the far better side in the first half, but after Satharasinghe snatched a telling one-goal buffer on the stroke of half, his boys really clicked into gear to stave off everything that came their way and come away 1-nil victors.
A unanimous game-changer on the hallowed Ross Oval turf was Year 11 BBC goal keeper Isaac Taylor. His brilliant performance will be talked about for years to come in the halls of the Westside school.
“He made that many saves. It was a freak performance,” said Morgan.
“He was an absolute gun.”
ROUND 4 SCORES
Churchie 3 def Toowoomba Grammar nil
BBC 1 def Nudgee College nil
Brisbane Grammar 2 def Gregory Terrace nil
TSS 1 def Brisbane State High nil
PLAYERS OF THE ROUND
JACK HARRIS (BBC)
Harris, like influential teammate Tanner Wheeler, was blooded as a Year 9 student and has felt the highs and lows across four First XI campaigns at the school.
After a down game against Brisbane State High, the BBC senior returned to form fabulously with his effort from centreback ensuring Nudgee College couldn’t return from 1-0 down.
“He turned it on,” said Morgan.
ISAAC TAYLOR (BBC)
Eastern Suburbs talent Isaac Taylor had a hefty hand in securing Saturday’s drought-breaking win over benchmark school Nudgee College.
Taylor’s teammates showed plenty of belief on Ross Oval and he held down his end of the bargain with a stunning performance in goals.
“He was definitely the man of the match,” said Morgan.
“He was ridiculous … He was in one of those moods where he wasn’t going to concede. Not today.”
CHARLIE PARKIN (NUDGEE COLLEGE)
The Nudgee College captain did everything in his power to get his team back in the winner’s circle.
Playing out of his mind in the midfield, Parkin was a first-half wonder with his dominance, energy and composure under pressure.
His physicality and work rate was something to behold and his ability to anticipate passes was all right too.
He consistently won back possession for Nudgee, often under intense pressure and in key areas of the pitch.
“Charlie’s ball-winning ability was matched by his vision and distribution. Each turnover he forced became the launch pad for a new wave of Nudgee attacks,” praised Nudgee head of football Luke Condon.
Condon was most impressed with the way he linked the defence with attack and his ability to make good decisions under pressure — while operating at a frantic pace.
“In a match that demanded leadership and grit, Charlie delivered both in spades,” Condon said.
“He set the tone for the team and gave us a lift with his energy and commitment.”
ZANE NORTH (CHURCHIE)
North was near his menacing best again up on the range.
He scored a towering header when he met a Quinn MacNicol corner to rise above everyone and score past the Toowoomba defence.
He was one of the best on ground with an effective, exhaustive 80-minute masterpiece.
LUCAS HERRINGTON (CHURCHIE)
Queensland football prodigy Lucas Herrington lapped up his chance to lead his school’s First XI as captain after the conclusion of Brisbane Roar’s A-League season.
Maintaining the same form that won him Brisbane’s young player of the year award, Herrinton was his usual dangerous self asking questions of a game Toowoomba Grammar outfit which defended very well.
Quinn MacNicol and Arden Hogan also threatened as the match endured.
NATE WALLDEN AND TOM ASPINALL (CHURCHIE)
Churchie’s real strength this season isn’t their starting XI, it is their entire open’s squad.
Possessing the deepest team in the competition, Churchie again had valuable contributions from Year 11 students who have flourished with more responsibility — Nate Wallden and Tom Aspinall.
With captain Ollie Reid and vice-captain Levi Collins still out injured, young guns Wallden and Aspinall have risen to the challenge and gave 110 per cent effort in Saturday’s win.
Aspinall scored his second goal of the season midway through the first half after some good build up play on the left from RJ Bhangra.
EMMANUEL GEU (TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR)
Geu has been delivering the goods all season long for the boys up on the range.
A tall timber, Geu was arguably his team’s best on ground — not for the first time this year.
Faultless in his core role at the weekend.
HUDSON SLATER (BRISBANE GRAMMAR)
The Brisbane Grammar left back was a defensive blockade in his team’s trumping of Terrace.
At left back, he supported his centre back wonderfully and launched the attack with vim and vigour to move from deep in his half and well into striking position.
His passing was direct and well thought out and his set pieces were a threat from the outset until the final whistle.
NICK CANNIFFE (GREGORY TERRACE)
Canniffe set a high standard with his work rate.
He was as busy as ever, working up and down the field and proving a rock solid presence in the midfield.
LUCAS STRBAC (GREGORY TERRACE)
A kid you’ll be hearing a lot more of, Strbac made his First XI starting debut and was top notch given his tender age.
Just 14-years-old, Strbac is the baby of the team but threw reputation out the window to deliver a confident, effective performance where he looked more and more comfortable as the game progressed.
CALLUM HARRIS (GREGORY TERRACE)
If any Gregory Terrace player deserved to get on the scoresheet it was Harris.
He had a workmans like performance up front but was unable to make any breakthrough against Brisbane Grammar’s dialled-in defence.
MAX PEEREBOOM (TSS)
A Gold Coast Knights centreback, Peereboom helped keep a clean sheet and was strong in the air.
Peereboom being at his best was important given the mite of Brisbane State High, who got no reward for momentum— all thanks to Perriboom’s presence and urgency.
TYSON UYEDE (TSS)
Tyson Uyede took no prisoners in his debut game.
A Year 11 student, Uyede had his hands full against a pacy Brisbane State High opponent and he did very well.
His defensive work was tireless and in one-on-one situations he also excelled. All this while doing the little things in attack which created half chances for his teammates.
TREY KING (BRISBANE STATE HIGH)
King has been a colossus for Brisbane State High, leading by example as a captain courageous.
At the weekend, the white-hot King was a huge link between defence and attack and regularly won the ball.
ZANE TAYLOR (BRISBANE STATE HIGH)
Taylor was there or thereabouts last season without playing too many minutes and has relished a greater role in the side this season.
Now an integral part of the midfield, Taylor is leaving his mark by breaking up play, keeping possession and clearing shots from the opposition — all things which he did well last weekend in a quality showing.
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