Toowoomba touch footballers set sights on senior premierships
REVEALED: From A-grade to the All Abilities finals we name the 60 plus players who hold the keys to premiership glory in this weekend’s senior Toowoomba Touch Football finals. Find out who cracked the list from your club here.
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After one of the best regular seasons in recent memory, Toowoomba’s best senior touch football teams will chase premiership glory this weekend.
Toowoomba Touch Association president Chris Hillman is expecting some high quality, fast paced play at Kearneys Spring Sports Complex.
“The standard has been awesome and continues to improve year,” he said.
“One of the best things we are starting to see is some really high quality junior players making their mark in the seniors.
“That is a sign of the great work our clubs are doing at the junior level to develop their young player and strengthen the pathway to senior footy.”
Ahead of the finals this weekend we are shining a light on the key players to watch from A-grade all the way the All Abilities stars.
The first finals get underway from 12pm on Saturday.
Saints A-grade men
Lachie Hillman: Playing in his first A-grade season at just 15 years of age, Hillman is a Saints junior on the rise. Can change the momentum of a game with his speed and rucking ability.
Tommy Quinlivan: The veteran star is full of confidence after returning from Nottingham as a World Cup champion and player of the final in the over-30s division. His experience and elusiveness are some of his key attributes.
Will Hockam: At the peak of his game, Hockam has been one of Saints best for years. A workhorse in defence and key part figure in the team’s attack. He a cool operator and inspires his teammates.
Sharks A-grade men
Club officials expect the like of Tom Schatz, Bailey Deakin and Ben Moore to play key roles for the team.
Former club junior captain Schatz has the senior skipper armband this season and with Aussie junior rep stars Moore and Deakin to support him Sharks will be hoping for a good result.
Saints A-grade women
Scarlett Sippel: Scarlett has had a wonderful debut season in A-grade. The 15-year-old has speed to burn, and an uncanny knack to find the line in attack. She’s a fierce competitor and has a massive future ahead of her.
Mackenzie Clarke: Mackenzie has not looked out of place in first A-grade season. She’s an out and out who’s quick and possesses a great long ball.
Jemma Whitney: After a seven year hiatus from the sport, Jemma has returned and immediately found her groove. A reliable, hardworking player with a team first mentality she is the quiet achiever that always makes an impact.
Roosters A-grade women
Ruby Leicht: A team favourite, Leicht has proved herself time and time again as a touch powerhouse. With her pace, great game sense and hard work ethic she is the complete package.
Emily Ward: Emily brings a wealth of experience and flair. She is one not to shy away from hard work and is a valuable leader of the team.
Tahlia Stokes: A new face this year who has cemented herself as the workhorse of the team. She is a stand out with her grit and determination.
Saints B-grade women
Romy Wilson: A hardworking, quiet achiever with real composure despite being just 14. Romy guides the side around the park well and is a team player
Arabella Knopke: A real up and comer in the sport with lightning quick speed off the mark and agility. She’s a threat close to the line.
Amelia Kidd: A raw talent who plays eyes up footy. Amelia has the ability to be a game breaker, possess a lovely pass and is tenacious defensively.
Highfields B-grade women
The Kowitz sisters connection is a huge advantage for the team. Ella, Bailey, Brianna and Ava know each others games inside and out – setting up moves and diving over to score.
Lucy Anlezark: A skilled player who is a good organiser and directs the team on the field. Her speed and agility coupled with her knowledge of the game lead to the creation of many try scoring opportunities.
Mikaela Blades: Works well with other team members to complete set moves. She gives it her all on the field, diving to score and save tries.
Saints B-grade men
Troy Morgan: The captain brings big game experience and a coolness under pressure that has produced plenty of big wins.
Nate Scott: A young and up and coming star with speed and footwork that make him an attacking threat from anywhere on the field
Craig Searston: A veteran with a wealth of experience, high footy IQ and vision that make him an asset in attack and defence.
Roosters B-grade men
Mark Delaney: A well loved and valued Toowoomba touch player with loads of experience who is always happy his teammates.
Neil Ward: A former Queensland and Australian representative who always gets the job done.
Jackson Whitehouse: One of the team’s young guns, Jackson is a big game player who has had an outstanding season on the wing.
Roosters C-grade men
Alex Hinch: A well known and greatly respected touch football identity with lots of experience and is a natural leader.
Fletcher Simmons: The team’s youngest star has proved himself in the junior divisions – earning the chance to step up on Saturday.
Josh Smith: The Roosters stalwart is a consistent performer and strong finisher
Saints C-grade women
Greta Goddard: An integral part of the team who consistently drives the play forward and steps up in defence. Her commitment and energy make a significant impact on the field.
Izzy van Heerden: Has shown impressive growth over the season and is now a key
player on the field. Her knack for slipping through the defence and scoring sneaky tries has been a standout feature of her game.
Lilly Wade: Has been a model of consistency this season, demonstrating her wide range of skills in every game. Her ability to break the line and create scoring opportunities has made Lilly a key playmaker for the team.
Highfields C-grade women
Jess Riding: A ‘fireball’ personality but when she is composed and set into her game she’s an absolute powerhouse for the team.
Ariah Manz: Works hard to make that extra touch or gain those extra metres for her team. She just goes and goes all day long.
Piper York: The youngest player on the team is an absolute weapon who player all her games with grit and determination.
Royals C-grade men
Fletcher Salisbury: Salisbury is one of the main men in the middle for Royals. He is a quick-witted playmaker and is hold the line strong when defending the tryline.
Leroy Dempsey: Dempsey is an electric athlete out wide with pace to burn. His elusive runs from dummy half set up have set up several tries.
Paul Meredith: Meredith is a versatile weapon with more than 20 years of experience with Royals.
Royals D-grade men
Cooper Haylock: Haylock is a co-captain who leads by example with an exceptional game IQ.
Hayden Lobwein: A co-captain who shows leadership beyond his years. He has a fantastic
understanding of the game and can play whatever is in front of him.
Jack Reimers: A middle with tremendous talent in attack and defence. Along with his exceptional talent, he is also one of the hardest working players in the competition.
Oakey D-grade men
Dale Boshammer: Boshammer is a brick wall in defence who never backs down no matter what is thrown at him. He always gives his absolute all and is an inspiration to all those around him.
Ben Fenton: With speed to burn and skills to match Fenton is an ultimate leader. His
talk on the field and guidance gives a huge confidence boost to those around him.
Jack McBeth: McBeth’s ability to find the tryline this year has been incredible as he pushes himself to be in the right place for every play. His non-stop energy is a joy to behold every time he steps onto the field.
Saints D-grade women
With three sets of mother-daughter duos, the Saints D-grade side is certainly one to watch.
Olivia Taylor is a 12 year old playmaker, who is gaining confidence in recent weeks, running from half, setting up plays with her mum, Jenna Taylor, right beside her.
Kara Wann is a middle work horse, who provides stability and go-forward in a team full of 12 and 13 year old players. Her level headedness has proven to be a game changer this season.
Mahaylie Weribone is a 12 year old super stepper, who plays alongside Abbey James, who is a perennial try-scoring threat on the wing and will be crucial in the Saints’ quest for back-to-back premierships.
Oakey D-grade women
Julie Krahenbring: Her love and knowledge of the game has been invaluable for Oakey on the field and at training. Krahenbring’s consistency and calmness helps bring confidence to her teammates players around her.
Ally Darr: Darr is a hardworking, committed young player who brings an uplift of energy,
brightness and positivity as she moves swiftly around the field.
Jackie Wightman: Has the speed and creativity to open the gaps in opposition teams. Her ability to read the game and play at pace has kept Oakey on the front foot all season.
Sharks E-grade men
Adam Flood: A young gun who is well known for his ability in the boxing ring. He has only recently started playing touch for fitness but he is already making his mark. Flood is a fast, agile athlete with a great step which can open a game up in the middle.
Ricky Weinand: A player with vast experience who is fast and elusive. He controls the ruck and the team through the middle.
Gavin Gerrard: Gerrad is the oldest player running around in the competition. He brings experience and is a calming influence on the team. Gerrard is at his best on the wing and manages to score some amazing tries.
Highfields E-grade men
Oliver Ehrlich: A young gun who has excelled in his first year of senior’s alongside his dad Michael and will be one to watch not only on grand final day, but in years to come.
Adam Alden: Alden has returned to the field after years of coaching juniors and is back with a bang. He has been in fine form for Highfields and played alongside his son Parker for the first time this season.
Brendan Roney: Roney is new to Highfields this year, and his football experience has been an invaluable asset in their quest for glory.
Lions Blue E-grade women
Louise Wippell: Wippell has developed the skills to be a competent leader from the middle. She has been able to work out weaknesses in the oppositions’ defensive line to her side score several tries.
Charlene Ellis: Ellis is known to use her speed when required to slip through or around the opposition.
She has been a major contributor to the countless tries scored by the Lions this season.
Mikaela Henry: In just her second season of touch football, Henry has shown she is eager to continue to learn and be a team player.
Highfields E-grade women
Bella Hayes: Hayes has been a key asset for Highfields in her second season of touch football and has been joined by her mum Kelly and sister Holly this year.
Beckie Peters: Beckie Peters and her mum Jhamay are two of the speedsters in the team. She can often be seen sprinting down the sideline scoring or saving tries.
Kym Rutland: After spending some time away from the game, Kym Rutland returned to the sport alongside her daughter Lara and has wasted no time in making an impact.
Her leadership on and off the field has been invaluable this season.
All Abilities Cowboys
Josh Kelly: You will often see Josh on the wing rucking superbly and determined to charge
down the sideline for a try. He is also great at popping the ball back into the link when he
can read the play and wants to send it in the other direction
Olivia Swain: Swain has trained hard at the technical elements of touch football and is determined to be the best at running and catching as well as defending and ensuring she makes the touch.
Ben Glasby: Glasby is an exciting athlete who can break through opponents with his stepping and speed with ease. He also has strong defence and mentors the team on and off the field.
All Abilities Raiders
Nick Winnett: This season has seen Winnett go from strength to strength and he has become integral to the Raider’s success. Both in defence and attack, his speed and agility often takes the opposition by surprise as he slips through spaces to score tries and shuts down their attack.
Alex Meldrum: Meldrum is known for his lightning speed and has proven himself as a perfect team player as he also stepped up to the role of assistant coach.
Jimmy Laffy: Laffy is not only a skilled, powerful winger who puts scores on the board
but is also proving himself to be a quick thinker as he works with his link and middles to
outsmart the opposition and demolish their defence.
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