We reveal the star players to watch in the 2024 AFLQ Darling Downs grand finals
The 2024 AFLQ Darling Downs grand finals are here and we have run the rule over the senior and junior stars set to make their mark in the premiership deciders. See who holds the key to victory here.
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The AFLQ Darling Downs grand finals are here, with the best teams in the region set to battle it out for a shot at glory on Saturday.
Check out our preview of all four junior and senior grand finals here.
Senior Men - Coolaroo v Goondiwindi Hawks
Coolaroo
Coach: Miels Grice
Captain: Harry Claydon
Key players
“Captain Harry Claydon, he’s been a midfield bull all year,” Grice said.
“He will come up against Tyson Hagiel, it will be a pretty good matchup between those big boys.”
Grice also labelled league medallist Jayden Smith and Henry and Jacob Sheath as players who are set to dominate this weekend.
Opposing danger player
“I reckon from Gundy, it would be Matthew Lather,” Grice said.
“He is just an inside bull, he got his hands on the ball a fair bit on the weekend.”
Where game will be won and lost
“I reckon in the contest between Gundy is going to be in the midfield,” Claydon said.
“They’ve got a few big fellas and so do we so there’s gonna be a bit of bash and crash around the pill, so whoever gets on top of that battle.
“Hopefully we get first use of the footy and deliver it well to our forwards.”
Captain’s comments: “I am super proud, it is a hard slog, the journey takes all year so it is good to get the chance to play,” Claydon said.
“Many people go through their career and don’t get the chance to play in a grand final so for us to make it, you have to take those opportunities with two hands.”
Coolaroo are chasing an incredible third-straight premiership, with the Roos boasting incredible grand final and premiership experience.
“We take it one at a time, three is good, it just shows that the culture and the core group of boys that come back for more and more we strive to be here and win the flags but at the same time three is just a number,” Claydon said.
“Certainly the experience helps being here in the big dance, there is no doubt about that, the nerves are sill there we try and keep things the same, but it certainly won’t be any difference to what it has been the last few years.”
Goondiwindi
Coach: Tyson Hagiel
Captain: Sam McNaughton
Key players
“Nick Schmidhauser, he’s the most underrated AFL player on the Downs,” Hagiel said.
“His work rate is through the roof, he never stops.
“Sebastian Alvarez de Toledo, he’s a hard-ball getter in the midfield and never gives up.”
Hagiel also identified damaging forward Charlie Farrer and stalwart Matthew Lather as key players for his side in this weekend’s decider.
Opposing danger player
“Jacob Sheath, he’s a danger man, just his running ability off of halfback opens up a lot of opportunities,” Hagiel said.
Where game will be won and lost
“In defence,” Hagiel said.
“We just gotta execute our ball skills a bit better and improve our cleanliness with the footy and accuracy.”
Captain’s comments: “We’re real keen, absolutely stoked to be there,” McNaughton said.
“We finished third so we had to start through the elimination final and the prelim just gone, we’ve had every final to get through.”
The Hawks have now featured in either a senior men’s or women’s grand final every year for the last decade and McNaughton praised the culture within the club which continues to breed success.
“It’s awesome, I can’t thank the club enough for backing each other year in year out,” he said.
“It would be massive (to win), the whole community is behind us.
“To do them proud, it would be a massive achievement for us.”
With some players from the side travelling for up to four hours to play matches, McNaughton was proud of the dedication his players have put in throughout the campaign.
Senior women - Toowoomba Tigers v University Cougars
Toowoomba
Coach: Nev Jericho
Captain: Lauren Taylor
Key players
“Tiarna Jericho would be one of them, she’s the Heather Green Medallist, she’s been pretty important in most of our games,” Jericho said.
“Lara Paget, obviously kicking a few goals and her strength around the ground.”
Jericho also identified Courtney Browne, Sarah Browne, Zali Rogers and Nelly Bruce as star players to watch this weekend.
Opposing danger players
“It would be Phoebe Baird and Adior Kur, she seems to be a really good young player as well,” Jericho said.
Jericho said these two were standout performers for Uni during the previous encounters between the two sides.
Where game will be won and lost
“I think in the teamwork and trying to play our brand of footy rather than to play to their fast footy,” Taylor said.
Captain’s comments: We’re very excited to be in the grand final this year,” Taylor said.
“We’re playing Uni again, it is always a hard match when we play against them.
“It has been fairly challenging every game we’ve played against them.
“Some games we have been able to get a few extra goals that just kept us a little bit out in front of Uni but you just know that the game’s not over till the final siren each time.”
University
Coach: Rachel Willis
Captain: Annabel Myatt
Key players
“We have a young girl Nyakuan (Aleer), she’s only 15 but an absolute gun,” Willis said.
“She has come in and dominated in the midfield and backline really well.
“We’ve got our team’s leading goalkicker, Kati Wright, she’ll be in for a big game.”
Opposing danger player
“It would have to be their leading goalkicker Lara Paget, she’s someone that we try to target so she can’t kick as many goals,” Willis said.
Where game will be won and lost
“I think it will be won or lost depending on how much everyone puts in and whoever wants it the most,” Willis said.
Captain’s comments: “We’re very excited to be in the grand final this year, we’re very keen to have a very good game and have some fun this weekend,” Myatt said.
After suffering defeats in previous years to the Tigers, Myatt is determined to end the curse and prevail on Saturday.
“It would mean the world to the Cougars girls, we haven’t won a grand final, so it would be everything to us,” she said.
“We’re used to losing grand finals so we need to get used to winning grand finals.
“It makes you be able to compete even harder having that loss last year, it has just made us more ambitious, work even harder and working as a team together even better.”
Under 14.5 - University Cougars v South Toowoomba Bombers
University
Coach: Beau Robinson
Captain: Jacob Voll
Players to watch
Jacob Voll: An inspiring captain who is a driving voice and leader on the field.
Will McKenzie: A key backman who is great at reading the play.
Jax Robinson: A speedy midfielder who can change the pace of the game.
Aguot Kur: University’s leading goal kicker has an eye for snapping goals out of the pocket and could be capable of producing something out of nothing when it’s needed most.
Angus Carmody: A midfielder who hits hard and has a strong approach to the game.
Captain’s comments: “It would be great (to win), we got knocked out in the prelim last season, we got a new coach so it would be good to come out with the win,” Voll said.
Voll highlighted the impact his new coach has had on the side this season.
“Due to the fact we’ve got a new coach, we’ve been able to train a lot harder and put in that extra effort,” he said.
“He knows how to talk to the boys and the other kids and he knows the rules of AFL real well.”
South Toowoomba
Coach: Andrew Groom
Captain: Ed Barwick
Players to watch
Lachlan Hyslop: A badly blistered Hyslop put together one of his best games this season in the prelim to put his side one win away from the holy grail.
His effort and commitment to footy is second to none and the left footer regularly reminds Bombers officials of Jeremy Cameron around the goals.
Baxter Hamilton: Growing up a mad Geelong Cats supporter, Hamilton brings shades of his idol Patrick Dangerfield with his speed, strength and power on the field.
His ability to make a torp on the run is sure to break a game open.
Lael Lawrence and Kat Preston: Preston and Lawrence have built an amazing partnership down back, forming the cornerstone to the South Toowoomba defence over the past couple of weeks.
The duo have nothing but eyes for the footy and commitment to always having each other’s back.
Captain’s comments: “It would mean a lot to us (to win),” Barwick said.
“We’ve been trying really hard throughout the whole season, we’ve really been starting to put together some good games, so it would mean a lot to everyone.
“We’re all a bit nervous but again very excited, it’s a grand final, so it’s going to be great, everyone is really excited.”
The Bombers have been a model of consistency in recent years, regularly making grand finals, which Barwick believes will be a major boost to the side.
“It will definitely help, later in the game especially, we will just have a bit of knowledge about the game and how to handle everything so that will definitely help throughout the whole team,” he said.
“Quite a few of us have played in a few grand finals, had a quite a few guys together since under-12s and played a few grand finals so we have a bit of experience.”
Under-12.5 University Cougars v Coolaroo
University
Coach: Scott Sowerby
Captains: Harrison McCarthy and Harvey Rowling
Players to watch
Harrison McCarthy: The Cougars’ captain is sure to be among both the loudest voices on the field and one of the most skilled participants.
Issac McDonald: A lively winger who played his best game of the season last time the two teams met.
Manyiel Ayoung: A fast and elusive player who provides an important link up forward and has a high work rate.
Isaac Voll: A vital pillar in defence this season after missing almost all of 2023 through injury.
Sam Wynhoven: Small in stature but big in output, he is a handful for any opponent across the wing or half forward.
Lannay Boland: Boland is a defensive stalwart who brings brilliant output in attack as well an elite kicking game. The young gun is one to watch in defence and loves chasing down opposing players to make emphatic tackles.
Captains’ comments: “I’m very excited, I’m excited that I get another chance to represent Uni,” McCarthy said.
With the Cougars facing a tough task against Coolaroo, Rowling revealed where his side has improved and what the key to victory will be.
“Probably kicking accuracy (and) working as a team, it has definitely improved,” he said.
“We’ve lost against them every game so far but we’re getting better, getting closer to them so hopefully we’ll get them.”
Interestingly, it is a grand final rematch from last year, with the Cougars determined to claim revenge for 2023.
“It happened with them last year, we beat them all year and then they beat us, so we want to get some revenge obviously,” McCarthy said.
Coolaroo
Coach: Tom Claydon
Captains: Jack Martin and Grace Walsh
Players to watch
Xavier Durisotti: A physical midfielder who can run, has fantastic skills and won’t stop till the final siren.
Jack Martin: Martin leads by example and gives his all every time he steps onto the field.
He loves to tackle and is an absolute fighter for the full game.
Emilia Dewar: Dewar uses her height to take strong marks in the forward line. She presents well with dangerous leads and is a great goal-scoring option.
Max Pattison: A hard runner who covers the ground with ease.
His elite ball skills make him a pivotal member of the Coolaroo midfield.
Captains comments: “It’s very exciting, we’ve had a couple of really good games leading up to the grand final and the only thing that matters is the grand final right now,” Martin said.
“I’m quite pumped, the team has worked hard to get here this year and it’s going to be a great game,” Walsh said
“It would mean a lot (to win), lots of this team it’s their last season (in under-12s).”
Martin also praised the team and the staff who have helped the side reach the grand final.
“The coaches and the managers, they are very supportive from day one,” he said.
“Everybody knows everybody and everybody knows the distance of kicks, distance of handballs, accuracy and everything.”
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