Toowoomba playing key role in Queensland's touch title bid

Four Toowoomba and a coach named in Queensland under-12 touch football team.

STATE REPS: Playing key roles in the Queensland under-12 boys' touch football team's successes at the national championships are (from left) Bailey Deakin, Sam Sheppard, coach Al Aston, Mitch Dabin and Kaden Willmot. Picture: Contributed

TOUCH: Toowoomba is playing a key role in Queensland's quest for another national title.

Coached by Fairview Heights State School teacher Al Aston, the under-12 boys' team also features four Toowoomba boys - Bailey Deakin, Sam Sheppard, Mitch Dabin and Kaden Willmot.

Aston, who has coached state sides to championship victories in the past, said having a few familiar faces in his team made things easier.

"I love having the opportunity to work with the top young players,” Aston said.

"You can clearly see they're motivated, want to be there and their capacity to learn and apply new things is amazing.

"Having a few familiar certainly makes things a lot easier as well though - especially becuase I've coached some of them at club level in Toowoomba.

"They know exactly what's expected of them and I know what they're capable of.

"Two of them play at middle and the other two on the wing.

"When the game is on the line it's good knowing I can put a combination of or all four out there and they'll get the job done.”

Outside of their obvious attacking flair, Aston said Queensland's biggest weapon at the championships had been their character.

"The boys really like to attack,” Aston said.

"It's their strength of character and resilience that has impressed me the most.

"They're willing to get in there roll up their sleeves and get the job done.

"Against New South Wales we were down 3-1 pretty early but they fought their way back into and then got the win.

"That really impressed me.”

The selection of four boys in the one under-12 state team is a first for Toowoomba but not surprising to Aston.

"You only have to look at the number of kids at Kearneys Spring on a Friday night,” he said.

"There are thousands of them running around enjoying the game.

"We've also got a fantastic group of volunteers involved in the game.

"Coaches, officials and parents all passionate about growing the game.”

Originally published as Toowoomba playing key role in Queensland's touch title bid