The X-Blades National 18 Years and Under Championships shapes as an extremely competitive tournament in 2007.
Trying to choose the winning gold lotto numbers for Saturday night is probably an easier task than predicting the finalists in the respective Boys and Girls divisions of the event.
Touch Football Australia enlisted the assistance of several highly regarded Fortune Tellers and Psychics, even hitting up the cast of “Early Edition” to see if we could get a scoop on tomorrow’s news today.
We rang Haley Joel Osment from “The Sixth Sense” fame to see if we could get an “I see… winners” out of him… but to no avail sports fans!
With all care and no responsibility, we present the crystal ball predictions for 2007…
Competition for top two in each pool will be intense as teams steel themselves for a battle royal to finish as high up on the standings as possible in a bid to advance to the Finals series of the showcase event.
The Men’s Pool A comprises six teams with Top seeds defending champions Sydney Mets looking the goods to go back to back in 2007.
This team has no less than 10 current Australian Youth Squad members in their ranks including National 20 Years Boys kingpins Matthew Moylan, Ezekiel Mears, and Michael Singh.
With minimal changes to last year’s all conquering combination, and under the direction of National 18 Years Mixed Coaches Mick Mc Donald and Wade Jenkins, fans are clamoring to put their Darren Lockyer autographed jersey on the well-heeled Mets combination.
Brisbane Cobras led by gifted Australian Youth players Rhys Jacks, Oscar Sanft, and Dwayne Conlan have the potential to make an impression on the competition.
New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC), with Aussie Youth squad member Cameron Breust calling the shots, and SQBD have undeniable claims in this pool.
South Australia make a return to the Boys Division in 2007, and New South Wales Combined Independent Schools (NSWCIS) will be looking to improve on last year’s 15th position in the tournament
2006 National 18 Years Grand Finalists New South Wales Combined High Schools (NSWCHS) will be looking to repeat last year’s efforts and claim top spot in the six team Pool B in 2007.
Mercurial wonder twins Maurice and John Kennedy spearheaded last year’s title tilt and their absence this year will test the potency of the Blues.
The sonic fast feet of National Youth squad member Travis Shaw, and the guile of fellow National squad teammate Jacob Kara will be pivotal in CHS’s attempts to annex the championships.
This pool is as wide open as the traffic lanes on the Harbour Bridge on Christmas Day, with a number of teams capable of winning through given the right mix of combination, performance, and a little luck.
The Northern Eagles, led by National Youth squad members Albert Kelly, Djjmang Knox, Malcolm Webster, Shaye Moran, and Liam Ayoub will be the big value bet of the tournament.
Under the control of National 18 Years Boys Assistant Coach Rick Leuland, the local boys will be one side to test the mettle of the champions with their fleet footed expansive style sure to keep the fans entertained and the opposition on their toes.
Sunshine Coast led by current National 18s squad member Tyson Brough will be looking to build on last year’s fifth place with a strong showing in what shapes as a lucky dip pool, with unknown quantities the order of the day.
Central Queensland have developed good combinations in recent times and will have impressive National 20 Years Men’s squad member Justin Otto steering the ship as well as lightning quick National 18 Years Boys squad member Kale Johnson on the snap to torment unsuspecting defenders, and could well improve on their 8th position in 2007.
Scorpions will have their marquee Australian player Eddie Johnson leading the way and Rebels will be looking to improve on their 2006 tournament.
The seven team Men’s Pool C shapes as another closely contested section, with Queensland Secondary Schools Touch (QSST) the top seeds.
(QSST) have struggled in recent years to make an impression at the business end of the tournament, but under National 18 Years Boys Coach Kathy O’Brien, have had a more thorough preparation and will be looking to their National 18 Years Boys representatives Peter Norman, Clargie Saltmere, and Cody Green to lead the way.
The fleet footed Kristian Congoo and the clever Matt Hopkin are also key players for the Maroons who are aiming for a finals berth in 2007.
The Southern Suns, led by experienced National Youth squad member Steve Naughton, will be a well-drilled outfit under National 18 Years Boys Youth Assistant Coach Barry Jackson.
ACT have been working hard on their Junior development program and National 18 Years Squad members Ben Hughes and Josh Wilkinson will provide leadership to a team looking to build on their 11th placing in 2006.
Hornets will rely on the classy Michael Hodge to bankroll their efforts.
Tasmania, with emerging youngster Jason Haines steering the ship, will be doing everything they can to improve their finishing position in 2007, whilst TouchWest make a welcome return to the National 18s tournament this year and will be eager to make an impression in this pool.
Northern Territory with Quinton Pomare-Anderson a standout, are capable of pushing through in the draw.
Last Year’s Grand Final combatants QSST and NSWCHS are again favoured to dominate their respective Pools and advance to the semi-final stage of the competition in the Girls Division of the X Blades National 18 years and Under Championships.
Both Teams feature star-studded line-ups chockfull of the young guns of Australian Women’s Touch Football.
QSST under the direction of Peter Bell, Australia’s most successful Coach in the history of the sport at World Cup level, are the number One seeds in the six team Pool A group.
With 11 current National Youth Squad members in the line-up and with six players already having played at the National Touch League in the Women’s Open division in 2007, this team shapes as an experienced and talented combination that will be difficult to repel.
Led by long ball queen Ali Brigginshaw, and the indefatigueable Genevieve “SG” La Caze, the Maroons will also look to the classy play making of Kirsty Beer and Jess Shaw, and the industrious Kristy Brennan and Kirsty “Harry” Quince to provide the framework for their title defence.
NSWCCC are also expected to perform strongly in this pool under the coaching direction of 2007 Australian Women’s Open World Cup star Louise “Squeeze” Winchester.
National 20 Years Youth squad member Steph Halpin, and Aussie 18s Mixed squad guns Lauren Simpson and Haylee Henderson will set a great platform for CCC who will contend strongly for a top two spot in the pool.
Sunshine Coast, with National 18 Years Girls squad members Leah Goodrich and Emily Reed running the show, will be aiming at improving on last year’s 7th position, and could be the team to emerge strongly in this pool.
Local hopes the Northern Eagles, Central Queensland, and Touch West will all be looking to push their way through the pool to go deeper into the money rounds later in the tournament.
TouchWest, making their comeback to the National 18s in 2007, are capable of performing well in this event.
Under the astute coaching of 2007 Australian Women’s Open World Cup player Shelley Matcham, and led by National Youth Squad members the lightning Sharon Wong and the elusive Jenaya Quan, WA are not without claims to go deeper into the tournament.
In the six team Pool B field powerhouses NSWCHS are the overwhelming favourites to finish top of the pops with a star-studded line-up featuring 7 National Youth Squad members.
The imposing line-up includes outstanding playmaker Jessica Absolum, the speed of light Sophie Broadhead, the rock solid Amy Regal, and the gifted Mounsey sisters Bianca and Rebecca who will lead the Blues charge in 2007.
Mets can count Australian 20 Years speedster Nicky Albery, National 18 Years Squad members Leah Opie, Erin Mortimer, Patricia Michaelopoulos, and emerging talent Ally Tairi in their ranks and will be a real threat when the whips are cracking at the pointy end of the competition.
The Brisbane Cobras will be another side who will have high hopes of progressing in the competition, boasting exceptional National Women’s 20s superstar Samantha Hopkin in their line-up in 2007.
Hopkin scored the winning touchdown in Cobras Women’s Open NTL drop-off victory over Mets in March, and will be relied upon to provide leadership to a team that also includes Australian 18 Years squad member Kristen Wuruki.
NSWCIS are also not without hope with a host of young guns including Kobi Ruzzene, Cobie Morgan, Leica Le Brocq, and Anna Prowse frame working their tournament.
The prodigious Jordan Ah Sam, a member of the Australian Youth squad, will be the guiding light for the Northern Territory, whilst a young Rebels team will battle hard to make an impression in a very competitive Pool.
In the six team Pool C, South Queensland & Border Districts are the top seeds in a section of the draw that will again be closely contested.
The “Baby Sharkies” have lost several experienced players from last year’s line up and will rely on National 18 Years Youth squad member Natalie Stephen-Daylight to lead the way.
Southern Suns who finished 4th in 2006 will be the side to watch with National Youth squad members Jess Mc Call, Alicia Quirk, and Eliza Naseby the backbone of a tough and skilful side who have the credentials to do a lot of damage in this event.
Jess Mc Call in particular is in the best form of her short career, starring for the Wollongong Devils in the NSWTA’s Women’s Premier Division Vawdon Cup competition, and her leadership will be invaluable in the Sun’s bid for a finals appearance in this tournament.
Tasmania led by 2006 National Youth squad member Emily Hudson, and the emerging Bec Oliver, will be looking to build their way into the tournament and finish as high up the ladder as possible.
Hornets, Scorpions, and ACT will be battling hard to improve their 2006 results.
That’s it folks, the view, from an at best, murky crystal ball.
Good luck to all teams for an injury free and successful week, we hope your tournament goes better than a Snow Patrol concert and remember when in doubt, throw the flick pass….
