Meet the cult heroes of Aussie sport in 2023
From big personalities to even bigger efforts, meet Australian sport’s cult heroes of 2023. SEE THE FULL LIST
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From big personalities to even bigger efforts, meet Australian sport’s cult heroes of 2023.
Some of these athletes have earnt their lofty mantle through years of toil in their grassroots competitions; others have became national or international stars through their power-packed performances.
Take a look at some of the athletes who have developed a cult following this year >>>
BIG DAY OUT
Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s local cricketer Julian De Zilva produced a simply outstanding display in November when he took 16 wickets in a day in the Melbourne competition.
In just his second game for the club, the left-arm spinner claimed all 10 wickets in Sunshine Heights first innings before taking 6-38 in the second dig. It remarkably took the shine off a teammate’s performance who made 162.
FOOTY’S GOLDEN GIRL
Rockhampton’s Tamika Upton had a spectacular year.
The 26-year-old became the first player to win four NRLW premierships, guiding Newcastle to back-to-back titles, and the first player in the premiership era to claim consecutive Karyn Murphy Medals for player of the grand final.
The former Yeppoon Seagull won the Dally M Medal, as well as the Annie Banks Medal for Queensland’s Player of the Year in the women’s State of Origin series.
She made a stunning Test debut, scoring two tries and running for 214m in her Player of the Match performance for the Jillaroos in their 16-10 win over the Kiwi Ferns in the Pacific Championships opener.
FIELD OF DREAMS
Man first walked on the moon mere months before Robert Sweeney first picked up a hockey stick.
More than five decades later, the Rockhampton hockey legend put away that stick for the last time.
For the best part of his life, Robert’s winter weekend routine involved hockey.
The journey which started for a then eager five-year-old in the Rockhampton junior ranks has come to an end for the experienced campaigner.
Robert called time on his career after playing for 53 continuous years, 51 of them with his beloved Park Avenue Hockey Club.
MR POPULAR
Benny Jones made a popular debut for Gormandale earlier this year in the Gippsland Aussie rules competition.
The popular clubman kicked three goals against Heyfield in the reserves, all captured on video.
He is a beloved clubman who is always helping out by running the water for the senior and reserves.
MUTUA’S MIDAS TOUCH
Mutua Brown has the rugby league world at his lightning fast feet.
The Cathedral College graduate has now made the move to Townsville to join the North Queensland Cowboys’ Young Guns program.
The star fullback was an integral member of the CQ Capras under-18 and under-21 squads, and also played with the Maroons under-19 State of Origin team.
He starred for Queensland at the Australian Secondary School Rugby League championships, becoming TCC’s first Australian schoolboys representative.
He was equally as impressive when he donned the green and gold for the Test match against the Junior Kumuls in Papua New Guinea in September.
FITTING FINALE
It was a year to remember for Mark ‘Junior’ Jamieson.
The East Brighton legend ran out for the 350th time early in 2023 before finishing his fine career with his fourth premiership in the Southern Aussie rules league in Victoria.
His teammates might have been critical of his performance on field in his last game but said he gave the mantle of best afield a shake in the days after.
WRESTLING WITH HISTORY
Long-time cowgirl Eileen Ostwald made history in July when she became the first ever woman to win the incredibly tough Steer wrestling event
In front of more than 3000 people at Robbie Robbins Reserve, Eileen Ostwald showed her stuff being the only one from a field of three to successfully catch and tackle her steer.
Ms Ostwald, known as Leeny, first arrived Down Under from Germany as a backpacker and became Australia’s first female steer wrestler about 10 years ago after meeting her now husband Johno Ostwald.
BARREL OF COURAGE
Darling Downs’ Krisy Banks is an inspiration to us all.
The former competitive jockey suffered a career ending spinal injury in 2011 following her horse clipping the hoof of the animal in front during a race.
The injury making her a paraplegic, Banks didn’t let this set-back stop her from hopping back in the saddle, turning from racing to the wild world of barrel-racing.
Now a decade later, the mother of two competes alongside able-bodied competitors on her trusty and noble steed Bob, placing and finishing in the top 10 in many of her events.
SCHOOL SENSATION
De La Salle College schoolboy Luke Lloyd shattered his previous record of 14 goals with a mammoth haul of 19.
To make the outing even more impressive, he kicked 19.4, was on a lead for number 20 when the final siren went, and he did all that with five opponents.
LEGEND BACK IN ACTION
Three years after hanging up the boots after his last World Cup, Gavin Shuker returned to the game which made him an international star.
The Central Queensland touch legend lined up with Buckaneers in the Rockhampton Touch Association’s Masters competition this season.
“I’m a little bit overweight and I’ve no hair but I came back,” he said.
“I did enjoy it and it’s probably something I’ll keep doing.”
Shuker notched up a host of records in his illustrious playing career, none of which has been surpassed.
He represented Australia 87 times and is the only player to have scored more than 100 touchdowns for his country.
TRIPLE TREAT
Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association history was made amid a flurry of sixes, lost balls and an emotional tribute.
There was no time for nerves as French Island batter Ben King blasted 321 not out to break the all-time MPCA record for the highest individual score during the 2022-23 season.
Playing against Long Island in A1 grade, left-hander King surpassed Ian Leslie’s 315no (for Signals against Moorooduc in 1951) with a towering six, just as he’d done to reach 300.
King walked off tuckered out and totally unaware of his history-making deeds.
Upon reaching a triple century, 29-year-old King raised his arms and paid an emotional tribute to his late grandfather Ron Easy, who was born on French Island.
“He’s the reason I play for the Island.’’
GOAL ACHIEVED
Liam Boland called time on his storied NPL Victoria career this season and went out in style. In June, Boland broke the state league goalscoring record, netting his 100th goal in Victoria’s top-flight.
The star striker then led Avondale to the club’s first championship and first premiership in a history-making double.
The cherry on top, Boland scored a spectacular goal in the 4-0 grand final triumph over South Melbourne, smashing a thunderous long-range strike into the top corner.
He finishes with 104 goals in 189 appearances between Oakleigh Cannons, Green Gully, Hume City and Avondale.
HEAD SPINNING EFFORT
Townsville’s leading wicket-taker at one point this cricket season was 77-year-old Terry Booth, a former Sydney first grader who debuted under the captaincy of Neil Harvey.
He came back to cricket in his 60s and is still showing the young bucks what is what in C Grade.
“I can generally land the ball pretty much where I want it,” Booth said.
RAISING THE BAT
Mary’s skipper Dylan Landt has long been regarded as one of the top talents in the NTFL, since first making the trip up in the 2020-21 season.
He’s won everything including the 2022-23 Nichols medal, the 2020-21 NT News Player of the Year and most importantly the 2021-22 premiership.
Landt further confirmed his importance to Saints in Round 7 picking up a record breaking 56 disposals against the Tiwi Bombers in a best on ground showing.
And though he knew he had a decent game at the time he was shocked when he saw the numbers including 17 ground ball gets, 13 clearances, three score assists and two goals.
TOP TEEN
Aged just 16, Year 10 student at St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe, Steve Hogan made his first grade debut for Sandgate-Redcliffe on November 11.
The best schoolboy batsman in Queensland, Hogan has scored five centuries this season across Taverners and senior grade games. Recently he was awarded the QJC Junior Cricketer of the Year 2022/23.
Last summer, across AIC First XI matches, Taverners under 16 fixtures and senior grade matches he hit seven centuries and accumulated more than 2000 runs.
TIMELESS CLASSIC
Few people live and breathe rugby union quite like Dennis Bree, and that’s why he’s still playing at the age of 72.
The Palmerston Crocs man still pulls on the jumper week after week in the NT Rugby Union competition, which he was president of from 1992-2001.
Bree brought the crowd to life when he ran on for a three minute cameo at the end of the 2022-23 A-Grade grand final, and he got to work straight away packing down in the front row and winning a scrum.
And though his side lost the match it was an experience which meant the world to him having played in his last grand final back in 1977.
SPEED DEMON
Ipswich Grammar School sprint sensation Gout Gout beat a 42-year-old GPS track and field record in his 200m dash (21.09secs) during October. The record was previously held by S Glover (TSS).
Then, later in the meet, he broke the open 100m record set 12 months ago by Rory Easton (Churchie). Gout Gout ran 10.40secs, although he was also favoured by an illegal tail wind.
LEAGUE LEGEND
From Redcliffe SHS, John Fineanganofo had a remarkable 2023 rugby league season.
It started with him playing his way into a Dolphins NRL academy contract after starring for the Meninga Cup premiership winning Redcliffe side.
Playing No.6 or lock, Fineanganofo then made his Cup first grade debut with Redcliffe, played for the Queensland schoolboys and was named in the Australian schoolboys side.
HIGH HOOPS
The Southport School senior Ben Tweedy was one of the countries best schoolboy basketball players this year, after a mesmerising season steering TSS to their first back-to-back GPS First V premiership.
Tweedy did things no one has seen before. The guard, who hails from Rocky, put up video game numbers in all eight fixtures, notching multiple fifty point games while averaging over 25 points per game.
Tweedy, a schoolboy sensation who did his best work around the rim, had a great support crew in Indy Cotton and Jaylen Pitman among other highly skilled TSS players.
MONSTER HAUL
Winning the comp goalkicking seemed a longshot for Lindenow’s Peter Harrison – until a 42-goal haul in the final home-and-away round of the season.
The 18-year-old booted 42.8 (260) in the East Gippsland Aussie rules under-17.5 match against Paynesville, shattering his club’s record for most goals in a match – said to be 22.
The blitz rocketed Harrison to a leading 78 majors for the season, 18 clear of second spot.
INTERCEPT HERO
Zoe Hanna was an intercept hero and Amahi Hala the toast of the coast as Bond University claimed the Premier Women’s rugby premiership 17-14 during August, their second in a row.
With three minutes remaining and Sunnybank attacking, Hanna burst out of the defensive line and extended her arm to snatch possession from Sunnybank.
From the turnover Bond scored to ensure they won the premiership.
The Bond No.8 was named the Campbell Medallist for Player of the Match.
BEATING BRADMAN
Iona College student Harley Malpass averaged a whopping 129.33 across the AIC First XI cricket season earlier in the year.
At one stage during his summer of dreams, he shared a 317-run partnership with Zayne Thomas which is believed to be an AIC record stand in First XI cricket.
TRACK AND FIELD DAY
St Hilda’s Dior Scholz was on fire in her girls 17 years 100m dash at the QGSSSA track and field championships, claiming a new record in a time of 24.38 seconds.
Dior beat a record which had stood since 1999.
Meanwhile Rose Mulligan (BSHS) threw 37.64m to win the 17 years discus, and then could not have been more impressive in setting a new shot record after throwing 14.19m, ahead of the old mark by .09m.
And Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (45.14m) was another record breaker. That was a monster discus effort in the Div A, 15 years.
RECORD-MAKERS
They say records are made to be broken and that’s exactly what occurred in late November for a Tasmanian duo playing in the CTPL.
Clarence Cricket Club pair Paul Potter and Archie Hurd combined for a 445-run stand that broke the club’s record for highest partnership while Potter also now holds the record for highest individual score with 281 runs.
The third-grade side put together a 577/3 stand which sits them atop the club’s record books for highest team total also.
ROSE GETS SWEETER
George Rose, the big front rower, was a cult hero during his days with Manly in the NRL, and the current No Limit CEO helped deliver a piece of joy to his hometown.
Rose was pivotal in helping Walgett claim the 2023 Koori Knockout on the Central Coast, the team’s first win since 2014.
ULTRA COOL
New Zealand triathlete Simon Cochrane in May blitzed the field in the Ultraman Australia event in Noosa, setting a new world record in the process.
The event is an annual three-day, 515km endurance race that is divided into four stages over three days, and each day has a 12 hour cut-off.
Day one consists of a 10km swim and a 140km bike ride, day two is a torturous 281.1km bike ride and the event concludes on day three with an 84.3km run.
Cochrane finished the event with a total time of 19:48:37, making him the first in the world to go sub 20, and beating the previous Ultraman Australia record by 1:32:27.
FOOTY PERFECTION
A Maroochydore Swans junior rugby union team in May finally suffered its first loss in more than 1000 days after winning three premierships in undefeated fashion.
Head coach Nelson Robinson helped guide his team to the under-13, under-14 and under-15 premierships, stringing together a record of 48 games undefeated.
Nelson said the side lost the under-12 grand final to Sunshine Coast Grammar by three points and from there they never looked back.
MOTHER OF EFFORTS
A humble and talented mother of three played a key role in the Noosa Tigers’ 132-point win over Moorooka in the Sunshine Coast Aussie rules competition, kicking a whopping 11 goals for her side.
Vice-captain Dani Bishop-Kinlyside, who has only been playing the sport for four seasons, kicked a career-high 11 goals on July 1 in the QFAW Division 2 North fixture.
The 37-year-old full forward, who currently led the competition‘s goal kicking leaderboard with 33 majors in eight matches, said she still couldn’t believe her milestone achievement.
TEN OF THE BEST
Is this the greatest local cricket performance ever?
A Sunshine Coast fourth grade cricketer has taken home the match ball and etched his name into local cricket folklore after dismissing an entire team in just 11.2 overs.
Caloundra bowler Scot Teichmann, who has only been playing club cricket for the past three seasons, finished with his greatest ever figures of 10-35.
The 42-year-old opened the bowling against Caboolture, skittling his rivals for 87 in the 23rd over — 226 runs shy of Sunshine Coast’s mammoth first innings total of 313.
SIX AND OUT
Move over Glenn Maxwell. Meet the man called Captain Morgan.
Mudgeeraba premier third grade team cricket captain Gareth Morgan has taken six wickets in six balls – all in one over – to dismiss his Gold Coast opponents who were on the cusp of victory.
Surfers Paradise, chasing 179, needed five runs to win off the last over before Captain Morgan stepped up to bowl.
At the start of the over, the umpire told him he’d need to bowl a hat-trick or similar to have any chance of winning. He went three better.
AFL AND BEYOND
A cult hero during his time at AFL club Essendon, Gary Moorcroft has also built a cult following in suburban footy.
The 47-year-old pulled on the boots this year at Northern league club South Morang, alongside his son, Beau, and continued to teach young rivals a lesson.
Moorcroft booted 44 goals in 14 matches, including a season-high 10 majors against Lower Plenty, and finished second in the league goalkicking award.
The local footy legend “retired” in 2019 but has continued to take the field, first with Bright in the Tallangatta league, a few reserve grade games at Bundoora and now with the Lions and he’ll likely go around again in 2024 with South Morang a premiership dark horse.
FREAK STREAK
Tryscoring hot streaks don’t come much hotter than this.
Yarrabah premiership hero Oswald Fourmile in July was being hailed the form tryscorer of any Far North Queensland rugby league competition after a phenomenal six-game run.
Fourmile has been a regular in the FNQRL for years, having spent much of the past 15 seasons at the Seahawks, and with a short stint at Southern Suburbs as well.
But his run over six weeks was not just eye-catching; it was almost unbelievable to witness.
Fourmile, 37, scored 22 tries … and did it all in his previous six games.
Originally published as Meet the cult heroes of Aussie sport in 2023
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