Mackay will be well represented at the upcoming AFL Queensland Under 14 boys and girls State Championships at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.
Eleven of the regions best up and coming stars, will represent the region for Central Queensland and North Queensland respectively. The boys and girls were selected from the Mackay Crows representative program’s, after impressing over season 2016.
In a first for football in North Queensland, a female team will represent the north with four Mackay players selected to play for the Central Queensland Kookaburra’s. Mackay Magpies Brooke Laffan and Lily Tarlinton, along with North Mackay Saint Rhianna Skinner and Mackay City Hawk Hannah Atherton will be donning the famous Kookaburra jersey, in the inaugural Under 14 representative side.
AFL Queensland Regional Manager in Mackay, Jeff Neumann said it was great to give every footballer the opportunity at the State Championships.
“Brooke, Lily, Rhianna and Hannah, are all fantastic footballers and have stood out across season 2016,” Regional Manager Jeff Neumann said.
“Brooke (Laffan) has already represented Queensland this year at the school-girls State Championships and is one of only two girls from Mackay in the State Youth Girls Academy.
“We are excited to see how our girls shape up against the State’s best, but I know our girls are some of the most competitive and talent Under 14 players in the state,” Neumann added.
It isn’t just the girls heading away, but also seven boys from across the region. Whitsunday Sea Eagles premiership players Ethan Boyle, Jayden Clark and Max Steel with represent Central Queensland along with Bailey Stewart and Reegan Underwood from the Mackay Magpies, Sarina Demons William Bella and Mackay City Hawks Bayley Medwell-Everett.
Regional Manager Jeff Neumann said, just like the girls we have a very, very talented group of young men representing the region.
“It is a exciting time for these boys, they have worked hard and to have seven boys represent the Mackay region is fantastic,” AFL Queensland’s Jeff Neumann said.
“All seven bring their own individual taste to the team and will be key contributors to the upcoming CQ Kookaburra’s campaign at the State Championships,” Neumann added.
The group of eleven players fly out on Saturday for their respective State Championships and it isn’t just players heading to the State Championships. Mackay will be represented with four officials flying the coaching flag for the region on the Sunshine Coast.
Female football Mackay legend, Vanessa Creeley will accompany the four girls with Mackay’s Gold Coast SUNS Academy Coach Gary Downes coaching the CQ boys along with Development Coordinator Matt Bateman on the coaching staff with Gary. Regional Manager Jeff Neumann will oversee both the Central Queensland and North Queensland boys teams.
Good luck to all eleven players and four officials, keep up to date with how the region’s best go via our Facebook and twitter pages @aflqmackay.
Last Modified on 24/10/2016 10:44