Meet the Darling Downs players dominating football landscape
With the Matildas dominating the Australian football landscape it is the perfect time to meet the future stars lighting up the fields across the Darling Downs.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
With the Matildas soaring and the likes of Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler dominating the Australian football landscape, there has never been a better time to be a female footballer.
Women’s football at nearly every level has enjoyed rapid growth, particularly in the last two years, and Mel Lloyd is equally excited about its future.
“If you had asked me a few years ago what has changed since I first started playing I would’ve said not much,” the Toowoomba Raiders and South West Queensland Thunder stalwart said.
“But in the last two years things have changed, for the better, quite a lot.
“The biggest thing is how the women’s game is promoted now.
“It’s at the same level as the men’s game and that is fantastic.
“More people are talking about the game and more girls can see it now and know there are opportunities.
“The Matildas and the Women’s World Cup are big part of that but organisations like Football Queensland are also doing their part.”
Current and former female players are also playing a significant role.
Lloyd said the willingness of players to ‘give back’ is a huge factor.
“I know here at the Thunder we (female players and club officials) are already implementing things we hope will help women’s football going forward,” she said.
“A lot more older players are giving back to the game now as well.
“We understand how hard things were in the past and want to do what we can to help the game grow.
“Locally I have seen a few players from various clubs running all-girls clinics which is fantastic for the game.”
The future of the game on the Darling Downs booming The Chronicle is shining a light on our players making their mark at FQPL3, FQPL and state levels.
Here are some of the players catching the eye in Toowoomba and the stars shining for the SWQ Thunder and in Brisbane.
Ashlee Parravicini
Age: 17
Club: SWQ Thunder
Position: Centre back.
Parravicini has not only established herself as a top player in the Thunder senior women's’ team, she is also one of the best centre backs in the FQPL competition. Her ball distribution and 1v1 defensive skills are second to none and she is an integral part of the senior ladies team.
Macey Eiser
Club: SWQ Thunder
Age: 17
Position: right back or right wing
Eiser’s tenacity in defence has earnt her a regular starting spot in the SWQ Thunder senior women's’ team. Her ability to create space and her overlapping runs makes her a threat in attack and her determination to chase her opponents in defence make her an integral part of the backline.
Ameleah-Paige Miller
Age: 15
Club: Highfields
Despite being just 15 Miller has been a standout performer in the FQPL3 Darling Downs senior women's’ competition.
The talented left-footer loves to get in behind opposition defences and has found the back of the net 14 times this season.
A star for the Darling Downs schoolgirls under-15 team at the state titles, Miller is committed to honing her skills and has a bright future.
Chloe O’Rourke
Age: 15
Club: Highfields
O’Rourke is a box-to-box midfielder who works tirelessly in the middle of the park to support her teammates.
In her first season of senior football, Corky, as she is more well known, has established a reputation as a midfielder who is cool and composed under pressure.
O’Rourke has exceptional vision – shutting down opposition attacking raids and creating opportunities for herself and teammates in attack.
The midfielder has ‘football smarts’ and is already showing great leadership qualities.
O’Rourke, who played for the Darling Downs Schoolgirls team at the U15 state titles, is set to tour Brazil with an Australian futsal team later this year.
Chloe Green
Age: 16
Club: Highfields
A stunning combination of speed, ferociousness in defence and commitment.
In the blink of an eye ‘Greeny’ can shut down opposition raids and launch a brilliant counter-attack.
The young defender has been a standout in U16/17 Mixed Team and is one the first names on Highfields senior women's’ team list each weekend.
Honourable Highfields mentions
April Mammino (16): Darling Downs Schools and futsal rep, FQPL3 Women’s and U16/17 player.
Lucy Dyson (15): Darling Downs Schools and futsal rep, FQPL3 Women’s and U14/15 player
Sienna Schmaling (14): Darling Downs Schools rep and U14/15 player
Khloe Greentree
Age: 13
Club: West Wanderers
Patrolling the midfield, Greentree has featured in every game for the Wanderers U13A squad this season.
The defensive midfielder is determined, fast, strong and reads the game beautifully.
A standout player in a standout team Greentree is a star of the future.
Stephanie Geary
Age: 15
Club: West Wanderers
A talented all-rounder with great skills, determination and focus.
Geary’s biggest strength is her willingness to support her U14/15B teammates and work hard for her team.
Charlotte Weinand
Age: 17
Club: SWQ Thunder
Position: Centre back.
The Thunder under-17s skipper leads through her action and words. Her ability to read the game combined with her ball distribution makes her an unstoppable force in the backline. Weinand does her best work at the back but can slot in anywhere on the field and was recently selected as a QLD shadow player at the U19 State titles.
Charlie Botham
Age: 16
Club: SWQ Thunder
Position: Centre midfield, winger or striker.
Can and will get the job done anywhere on the field thanks to her great skill set. Her ability to read the game and know when to push forward in attack makes her a huge threat to opponents. With great footwork, ball distribution and the ability to hit the back of the net, Charlie is one of the Darling Downs’ best attackers regardless of age.
Sienna Williams
Club: SWQ Thunder
Age: 17
Position: Left back
A brilliant two-way player who will chase down her opposite number and then almost immediately turn back into attack and bomb down the left edge. Williams times her runs perfectly and patiently waits for her opportunity in attack before striking in the blink of an eye.
Zara Kruger
Club: Lions FC, QAS, Scots College (Warwick)
Position: Forward
Polished by Junior Matilda training camps, Kruger was awarded a scholarship for the initial Future Matildas class of 2023.
Kruger is a member of the Queensland Schoolgirls team in 2023.
Maddison Teakle
Club: Lions
Position: Defender
A Harristown SHS product who has now left school, the 19-year-old year has been a Queensland representative throughout her junior days.
Sienna Lockwood
Club: Rockville Rovers
Following in her older sister Madison’s footsteps, Sienna has shown a knack for finding the back of the net.
Sienna is in a rich vein of form this year scoring 19 goals in 21 games and has 44 goals from just 37 games for Rovers.
The football gene runs deep in the Lockwood family and there is no doubt Sienna will be force to be reckoned in the FQPL 3 Darling Downs as she grows into her game.
Madison Lockwood
Club: Rockville Rovers
Madison has had a quiet season by her standards but that is only because work commitments have limited her playing time.
The fleet-footed striker is still good for nearly a goal a game, scoring 11 in 12 matches this season, but it is a far cry from her last two seasons.
In the 2021 and 2022 seasons found the back of the net 111 times in 38 games at a strike rate of 2.92 goals a game.
Madison is near unstoppable with the ball at her feet, can score from anywhere on the park and has a brilliant football mind.
PREVIEW: Players to watch in 2024-25 Toowoomba cricket season
With the Toowoomba cricket season kicking off this weekend, check out our 2024-25 TCI season preview featuring players to watch and the goals for each team. See who made the list from your club here.
Under-18 Mountaineers ready for junior basketball season
The future stars of the Toowoomba Mountaineers program are set to battle for glory over the next three months with the under-18 South Queensland Junior Basketball Competition tipping off this weekend. See who will be the key players for each team here.
REVEALED: Radical overhaul for Toowoomba Marathon
There’ll be double the fun at the 2025 Toowoomba Marathon with more races added to the major event, but organisers have also vowed to limit road closures following community concern. Here’s how.
NAMED: 20 Toowoomba Cricket young guns ready to make mark
From the lightning quicks, to the classy batters and elite all-rounders, we shine a light on the young guns set to make their mark in Toowoomba cricket this summer. See who made the list from your club here.
REP READY: Queensland names star-studded indoor hockey sides
With the Australian indoor championships just two months away – Queensland have kicked their preparations off. Find out who made the rep under-21 and Open male and females sides here.
From Gladstone to Toowoomba: TGS student’s incredible cricket rise
From Central Queensland to the Darling Downs, TGS student Fraser Judd has been a force to be reckoned with at the batting crease for a number of years. After making the Queensland Schoolboys team and starring for the Darling Dingoes, see what his next goal is here.