Despite not having home-field advantage in last year’s Foley Shield, it was Townsville who did the double in both the Men’s and Women’s competition in Mackay.
The Townsville women’s squad will be filled with confidence entering the weekend, as they seek their third successive victory in the competition, though a much different side will be running out in search of the three-peat.
The success of Townsville last year has made them the team to beat this year with a target being placed on their backs by Mackay and Cairns.
Mackay will also be running out with a squad filled with youth this year, and head coach Deb Marchard believes her new selection philosophy combined with the lessons learnt from last year, might just be enough to usurp Townsville this weekend.
“The coaching staff and I have learnt a lot from last year, mainly we’ve realised we need to play to our strengths instead of trying to defeat the opposition.
“Last year saw us fighting through the middle instead of utilising our speed on the edges. We have a lot of new girls coming through the ranks currently, we’ve really tried to provide the local girls who couldn’t play in the BMD Premiership a chance to compete this year.”
Though with the exuberance of youth, also comes the inexperience of youth.
For Marchard though, that’s where last year’s female player of the competition, Ataliah Love, comes into the picture.
“We’ll be looking to Ataliah for leadership, 100%.” Said Marchard.
“She’s an out and out leader. We’ll be looking to her to steer the girls around the park, boost morale and just keep energy high throughout the weekend.”
“Alycia (Taylor-Hansson) is another leader in the squad providing that energy, she’s one of our more experienced players, she’s played Foley Shield previously but had the year off in 2024.”
Marchard is under no false pretences when it comes to the Foley Shield, she’s aware of the calibre of play and has made sure her squad are aware of the talent they’ll be facing.
“The Foley Shield isn’t local league. It’s a step up from that, a step further.
“I’ve told the girls to enjoy the experience but to make sure they’re playing the football that we want to play and to not be too focused on the opposition. If we play to our strengths, and what our squad is good at – the points will follow.”
The head coach of the Cairns Women’s team, Peri Creamer, has a similar ethos to Marchard, as he prepares to run out a team filled with youth and passion following a disappointing 2024 campaign, as the Cairns women look to write themselves into the historic legacy of the Foley Shield.
“There’s not much in the history books for the women of the Foley Shield.” Explained Creamer.
“We’ve really tried to convey to the girls this year – that the history is there for them to create. Myself and the coaching staff learnt plenty from last year, it’s a very youthful squad which is something I leant away from in 2024.”
The buzz surrounding the BMD Premiership has been a big contributor to Creamer’s confidence entering the Foley Shield.
“There’s a lot more players here now as they’re fighting for spots in the BMD Premiership squad and it’s done wonders for the young girls here.
“There are 19-year-olds who would usually have stopped playing, who are now playing open Women’s competitions. It’s picked up a fair bit in a short amount of time. Our captain Rylee Wallace is only 24, but she has plenty of leadership about her – when she talks, the girls listen.”
Wallace’s leadership will be supported by one of the best young guns in the Foley Shield, Aerielle Hobbler, who represented the Australian Schoolgirls in 2022.
Buoyed by the star-talent in his squad, Creamer has made sure the girls only have one question in their mind come kick off on Saturday.
“Do you want to have a good carnival? Or do you want to have a great carnival?”
Schedule
*All games played at Townsville Sports Reserve
Saturday May 3
5:00pm - Townsville Women vs Cairns Women
6:30pm - Townsville Men vs Cairns Men
Sunday May 4
12:30pm - Mackay Women vs Cairns Women
2:00pm - Mackay Men vs Cairns Men
Monday May 5
12:30pm - Mackay Women vs Townsville Women
2:00pm - Mackay Men vs Townsville Men
Squads
Cairns Women
Lisa Waireg, Ferlene David, Lakeisha Ulutui, Caitlin Wark, Kemo Wamala, Ashlyn Skeene, Angelina Brim, Jarketta Smith, Rachel Abednego, Kara Tabuai, Rylee Wallace, Aerielle Hobbler, Briannah Cater, Lisa Sire, Jytte Wallace, Meroma McKeown, Mary-Sha Mairu, Mia Eteru, Tanaya Blanco-Burns, Layla Geck
Mackay Women
Leila Murphy-Doyle, Anthea Campbell, Silia Sakalia, Jackie Oberlueter, Shirlie Luke, Alycia Taylor Hansson, Shaylah Barba, Claire Oberlueter, Paityne Johns, Sharne Adams, Lilla Hoffman, Eve Doull, Ataliah Love, Lara Hutchinson, Abbey Rose Bowman, Kyrho Faulkner, Angel Kapeli, Clarissa Baira, Brydie Ikin
Townsville Women
Lillee Rodighiero, Kaiontae Ross, Martina Monday, Niquita Peters, Ashlyn Hoey, Latisha Kaitap, Angela Solomon, Chloe Watson, Piper Godfrey, Theophelia Mosby-Nona, Julia Douglas, Jahntae Mara, Jordii Mahendrarajah, Emma Hannigan, Mateeka Nielson, Amanda Baker, Adele Jensen, Jenna Poole, Courtney Reynolds
Cairns Men
Liam O'Brien, Shamish O'Quinn, Damien Walker, Bradley Stephen, Jirra Twist, James Frazer, Rhylee Herd, Paea Pua, Jayden Connors, Feao Tongia, Samuel Cramp, Zane Knowles, Jhidan Dikes, Wade Smith, Terence Anau-Sailor, Caleb Dally, Ammiel Harris, Michael Morton, Kaleb Eaton, Jarvis Yeatman
Mackay Men
Kyle Kennedy, Jimmy Ngutlik, Dario Takitaki, Kane Linnett, Rory Woodall, Augustus Rangihuna, Brad Campbell, Titan Sega, Kyle Barnwell, Josh Honan, Tom McNulty, Nathan Cullen, Mason Thorpe, Josh Natoli, Henry Thorpe, Uriah Tuli, Alfie Schulz, Zane McKellar, Braythen Porter, Sheldon Diaz
Townsville Men
Declan Dowson, Jesse Pascoe, Kane Jackson, Kyle Laybutt, Samuel Martin-Savage, Trey Valentine, Curtis Dempsey, Faron Morris, Tajshon Messa-Santo, Jordon Ahone Remfrey, Michael Carroll, Lachlan Lerch, Josh Abbott, Josh Radford, Blake Heitmann, Josh Williams, Jaelen Feeney, Shaun Nona, Marcus Nona, David Mills-Prior
