Emerging Kirwan AFL guns out for Cup glory

TAILAH Rennie has already proved herself capable of mixing it with the best women on Townsville’s AFL landscape.

Now she will seek to take that form back to the North Queensland Schools Cup, when she and her Kirwan teammates challenge for state glory.

Rennie will spearhead her side at Wednesday’s championships, with a spot in the Queensland school titles on the Sunshine Coast up for grabs.

The 18-year-old has become a staple of the Hermit Park Tigers outfit in 2021, kicking two goals on the weekend to inspire a qualifying final boilover against the ladder-leading Curra Swans.

But Kirwan’s AFL Academy co-ordinator and Tigers clubmate Troy Ferrier said it was just the beginning for Rennie.

Ferrier sees the rising star train alongside the men at Hermit Park each week, and said not once had she ever been out of her depth.

He said the Gold Coast Suns Academy member had showcased her bravery time and time again, both on the field over the Sherrin and on the training paddock in putting herself outside her comfort zone in a bid to improve.

“I think it’s pretty courageous to turn up and be part of that, but the club really supports her in trying to further her footy career,” he said.

“She’s just a really accurate and strong kicker of the ball.

“I think with girls they often lack a little bit of penetration in their kick, but she’s a really good kicker and really solid over the ball.

“She’s certainly holding her own in the senior competition … she’s got a really good base over the footy and rarely gets knocked off it.”

Rennie will be joined in Kirwan’s leadership group for Wednesday’s clashes by the likes of Charvarnie Walsh and Brandy Yallop, with the latter epitomising what the school had hoped to achieve.

Yallop comes from a rugby league background, with her brother Jesse a current member of the Townsville Blackhawks under-21 side.

Ferrier said a key goal of Kirwan’s sport programs was to provide students with a holistic set of athletic tools to make them more well-rounded athletes and individuals.

“There were a lot of girls who have transferred from basketball, league, soccer or hockey. Our program has largely been pushed by our other Academy teachers who are assisting in getting the students to develop a number of skills in other sports,” he said.

“We know not every student is going to come out as an elite athlete in one sport, so socially if they can play other sports it’s excellent for their networking as they further their education.”