Queenslanders win second State country cupTHE Cape York Crusaders have highlighted a potential goldmine of AFL Indigenous talent in Far North Queensland after winning the under-16 Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton.
Underlining the youth team's strength is the fact they went through these championships undefeated, as they did at last year's event, which they also won.
That achievement is all the more remarkable given the limited preparation the team had for the championships and the fact the majority of the team do not play regular club football. The teenagers mostly play at these these championships and in the Northern Indigenous Secondary High Schools Championships, which are also held each year.
The Crusaders squad is made up of players Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities in FNQ.
Coach Rick Hanlon, the State Indigenous programs manager for AFL Queensland, was extremely proud of the boys.
"Obviously, we are very happy with the result but more importantly with the behavior and the standards the group set," he said. "Our Crusader selection policy seems to be on the right track with school attendance and behavior being the focus and I thank you for keeping us up to speed in these areas.
"Overall this year team didnt have as much AFL football experience compaerd to last year but there was more depth and natural talent amongst the group," he said. "The team's toughest challenge came against the Cairns Lions, where they won by three points in what ended up as deciding who the championship teams was. That was Lions' only loss of the tournament."
The Crusaders started the game well, kicking the the first four goals but they ran out of legs as they had already had played four quarters that day, but they managed to hold on for the win.
Six lads from this Crusaders have been selected in the Queensland Country Kookaburras team which will contest State Championships in next week. They were: Kieran Johnson (Lockhart River, Djarragun College), Alton Matthew (Torres Strait, Djarragun College), Aquila Gela (York Island, Western Cape College, Weipa Campus), Dhiraj Hari (Gordonvale College), Mark Akiba (Saibai Island, St Brendan's College, Yeppoon), Harry Kepa (Bamaga, Abergowrie College).
Crusaders resultsCrusaders 7.5 (47) def Mackay 3.0 (18)Goals: Frank Kepple 1, Keiran Johnson 1, Dhiraj Hari 1, Harry Kepa 1, Anton Wolmby 1, Jackson Pearson 1, Murphy Tabuai 1.
Best: Keiran Johnson, Aquila Gela, Mark Akiba.
Crusaders 8.5 (53) def Bundaberg Wide Bay 0.0 (0)Goals: Frank Kepple 2, Javid Bowen 1, Dhiraj Hari 1, Ali Sambo 1, Keifer Paul 1, Jackson Pearson 1, Harry Kepa 1.
Best: Dhiraj Hari, Aquila Gela, Alton Matthew.
Crusaders 5.4 (34) def Cairns 5.1 (31)Goals: Alton Matthew 1, Keiran Johnson 1, Jacob Bob 1, Anton Wolmby 1, Josh Gaby 1.
Best: Aquila Gela, Alton Matthew.
Crusaders 5.3 (33) def Townsville 0.1 (1)Goals: Keiran Johnson 1, Alton Matthew 1, Jayden Kynuna 1, Harry Keppa 1, Anton Walmby 1.
Best: Javid Bowen, Harry Kepple, Cameron Hooker.
Crusaders 10.6 (66) def Capricornia 0.1 (1)
Goals: Anton Wolmby 2, Josh Gaby 2, Murphy Tabuai 2, Repu Kris 2, Mark Akiba 1, Frank Kepple 1.Best: Jayden Kynuna, Mark Akiba, Amton Wolmby.
Crusaders 8.4 (52) def Darling Downs 1.0 (6)
no detailsCrusaders squad
Kireran Johnson, Bob Jacob, Aquila Gela, Jayden Kynuna, Ahmad Muhamad, Dhiraj Hari, Chris Sullivan, Franklin Kepple, Harold Kepple, Liam Gebadi, Harry Kepa, Cameron Hooker, Keifer Paul, Andrew Sam, Anton Wolmby, Jackson Pearson, Alton Matthew, Javid Bowen, Mark Akiba, Repu Kris, Ali Sambo, Murphy Tabuai, Josh Gaby.
* See Photo Gallery for the winning team's picturePETER ELIADIS
Eliadis@hotmail.com.au
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Last Modified on 23/04/2009 21:28