DOWNS PRODUCE FOR QUEENSLAND
Quartet stars at rep level
AUSSIE RULES: Four of the region’s brightest young stars got their chance to shine on the big stage over the past week.
Zimmorlei Farquharson (U18s girls), James Packer (U16s boys), Jack Briskey (U17s boys) and Shaun Pukallus (U17s boys) were all involved in representative fixtures.
For Dalby product Farquharson, an U18s National Championships appearance adds to her long list of honours in the game.
While she and the Queensland team went through the tournament without a victory, Farquharson, who was used at centre-half forward and full forward, said they had played with vigour and determination throughout the week.
“The carnival didn’t turn out as well as we thought it would, but the girls played hard and we really showed how strong we were as a side,” she said.
“Our coaches were telling us about our work ethic over the three games, because we started to improve over the games.
“When it came to the Central Allies (30-29 loss), we really wanted to take out a win. Our determination and work ethic was good.”
Further to the on-field action, Farquharson said the chance to be around new coaches gave her greater insight into what it took to make it to the next level.
“There was different coaches and they had different ways of developing me as a footballer,” she said.
“With different coaches they always show their interest in you in different ways.
“On the football side of things, they taught me ways to develop, like how I can do my leads, go for a mark, handball and everything like that.
“Off the field, they showed us how to respect teammates, coaches, the opposition, and always having a positive attitude rather than a negative one.”
In the boys’ action, Briskey, last year’s Josh Smith Medal winner, and Pukallus took the field for Queensland against NSW/ACT in the U17 Future’s Championship.
Unfortunately for the pair, their side was defeated 6.9 (45) to 3.10 (28).
In the U16s National Championships, Queensland secured an opening win 9.3 (57) to 4.13 (37) over Tasmania at Metricon Stadium.
Packer kicked a major as the team’s efficiency in front of goal got them over the line.
They made it two wins from as many games on home soil when taking on the Northern Territory, securing a big 52point win.