The stakes were raised on day two of the 2022 Junior Australian Championships, as players laid it all on the line to secure their position in Sunday’s Finals.
In perfect conditions, day two of the Junior Australian Championships saw our up-and-coming talents take their game to a whole new level.
The standard of Oztag on display and the number of close games throughout the tournament, suggests that we are in store for some quality finals tomorrow.
The West Sydney Tigercubs have taken the lead in the race for the Region Championship, with eight teams currently seated first in their respective division. The Illawarra Steelers not far behind in second.
The following teams still sit undefeated heading into Sunday’s Finals:
BOYS 9s
West Sydney Tigercubs
East Coast Orcas
BOYS 10s
West Sydney Tigercubs
GIRLS 10s
Wolverines
BOYS 11s
Central Coast
GIRLS 11s
West Sydney Tigercubs
BOYS 12s
West Sydney Tigercubs
Stingrays
GIRLS 12s
East Coast Orcas
BOYS 13s
West Sydney Tiger Cubs
GIRLS 13s
Stingrays
GIRLS 14s
ACT
Central Coast
BOYS 15s
Illawarra Steelers
Central Coast
GIRLS 15s
West Sydney Tigercubs
GIRLS 16s
Illawarra Steelers
BOYS 17s
Illawarra Steelers
GIRLS 17s
Central Coast
Keep up to date with all live results and fixtures via our website or Sportfix.
Day one of the much-anticipated Junior Australian Championships has come to a successful conclusion, with the Illawarra Steelers sitting as current front runners for Region Champions.
Australian Oztag (AO) welcomed 164 teams to the 2022 Junior Australian Championships, in what proved to be a highly-competitive display of Junior Oztag.
Despite the spouts of rain, over 2600 players took to the field with fire in their belly – determined to apply their months of preparation.
The intensity, skill-level and sportsmanship on show made for a spectacular first day of competition here in Coffs Harbour.
At the conclusion of day one, the Illawarra Steelers are leading the race for Region Champions, with five teams across the 18 divisions sitting at the top of their table. Central Coast and West Sydney Tigercubs trail in equal second.
The following teams currently sit undefeated, putting them in a promising position heading into day two of the tournament.
BOYS 9s
West Sydney Tigercubs
East Coast Orcas
GIRLS 9s
Stingrays
Wolverines
BOYS 10s
Sunshine Coast Sonics
West Sydney Tigercubs
ACT
GIRLS 10s
Wolverines
BOYS 11s
Hunter Miners
ACT
Central Coast
GIRLS 11s
West Sydney Tigercubs
East Coast Orcas
BOYS 12s
Central Coast
West Sydney Tigercubs
Stingrays
GIRLS 12s
East Coast Orcas
BOYS 13s
West Sydney Tigercubs
Central Coast
GIRLS 13s
Central Coast
West Sydney Tigercubs
Stingrays
BOYS 14s
Stingrays
Wolverines
GIRLS 14s
ACT
Central Coast
BOYS 15s
Illawarra Steelers
Central Coast
GIRLS 15s
Illawarra Steelers
West Sydney Tigercubs
GIRLS 16s
Illawarra Steelers
East Coast Orcas
Central Coast
BOYS 17s
Illawarra Steelers
East Coast Orcas
Metro South Magic
GIRLS 17s
Illawarra Steelers
Central Coast
Keep up to date with all live results and fixtures via our website or Sportfix.
For all tournament action shots, visit IB Images. Log in using your Facebook or Google account.
Event log in:
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AO look forward to what’s in store tomorrow, as teams will take their game to another level ahead of Sunday’s Finals.
Australian Oztag are set to welcome 167 teams from across the country, to the beautiful Coffs Coast for the annual Junior Australian Championships.
The Junior Australian Championships kicks off this Friday 14 October in Coffs Harbour, with over 2,600 players determined to claim the National title.
The tournament will see a total of 14 regions represented, and for the first time since 2019, these numbers include three Queensland regions.
Teams will play their round games over Friday and Saturday, across both C.ex Stadium and Geoff King Oval, before Sundays Finals converge at C.ex Stadium.
With teams well-prepared and eager to take the field, Australian Oztag (AO) anticipate an entertaining display of tenacity and skill.
The masterclass that is the West Tigers Girls 14’s are determined to claim their fifth consecutive national title, having won gold every year since their first tournament as Under 9s in 2017.
Chasing three in a row, will be the Orcas Girls 12s, Central Coast Girls 17s and Stingrays Boys 12s.
The West Tigers Boys 14s will no doubt have their eyes set on re-claiming the title after finishing as runners up to the competitive Central Coast at last year’s tournament.
However, the division to watch is the Under 17s Boys and Girls. Not only are they eligible for Australian selection, but this will be their last ever Junior tournament – meaning they will leave everything on the field in hope of that fairytale ending.
Spectators can expect to see the same passion from the Under 14s through to 16s, as they too, will be vying for Australian selection.
This year will see Central Coast Force chase back-to-back Region Championships, with previous winners, West Sydney Tigers, determined to retrieve the title.
AO look forward to kicking off the most prestigious Junior tournament of the year, and wish everybody safe travels in the meantime.
Games will commence at 10am Friday with live fixtures and results via SportFix or our website.
Teams are encouraged to book in for their official team photograph with IB Images via their online booking system, which will place them in the priority system for action shots.
Melbourne Oztag introduces new Junior competition in the City of Bendigo, set to kick off this summer.
Melbourne Oztag, run by licensee, John Carmody has been on a steady rise since its inception over ten years ago.
Currently running a senior competition in Kensington, Carmody felt it was time to expand to regions outside of Melbourne, starting with Bendigo – Victoria’s fourth largest city, located 1.5hours north-west of Melbourne.
“I am excited to see what will become of Bendigo Oztag in the next few seasons, as it’s such a great sporting city,” Carmody said.
“I have no doubt that once the locals are exposed to the game of Oztag, either seeing it, hearing about it or playing it, then they will continue to come back for more” he said.
Bendigo Oztag launches their inaugural competition mid-October, offering Juniors (Under 6s – Under 16s) the opportunity to stay active and play socially with friends.
Australian Oztag staff, Luke Manahan and Jordan Hollis visited Bendigo last month, and ran clinics at local schools to assist in generating interest ahead of the summer season.
Alongside John and competition convener, Marnie Gudge, they found there to be little knowledge of Oztag among students.
“The perception of ‘footy’ in Victoria is completely different from NSW, as they instantly associate it with AFL,” Manahan said.
“When we asked the students to pass the ball, they would kick it… From an entire school there was probably five kids that knew what Rugby league was,” he said.
However, students quickly adapted and interest in not only the game of Oztag, but the upcoming summer season became apparent among various year groups.
“Marnie continues to receive interest every week, with plenty of Juniors wanting to give the game a go – a number of which are from the recent school clinic,” Carmody said.
John Carmody (left) pictured with Jordan Hollis (right)
Manahan is confident that Oztag has the potential to thrive in the state of Victoria (VIC), being a non-contact, social sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.
“Through the right channels and promotion, VIC Oztag definitely has potential – offering communities a different, inclusive sport is something that is appealing,” he said.
Carmody is committed to running successful competitions and introducing as many people to the sport as possible, with hope that local players form an interest in competing at a representative level in the years to come.
“I would like to take this game all over VIC and have local players represent Melbourne as either an invitational team at NSW State Cup or Victoria at Nationals,” he said.
“I feel that Bendigo will be the first step into the regional market down here, so if there are any areas out there that might be interested in getting Oztag started then please feel free to contact me.”
For more information on Bendigo Oztag’s competition and registration, contact Marnie on 0447 946 927 or email bendigooztag@gmail.com
They currently hold weekly Come and Try Nights, focusing on team building and developing Oztag skills in preparation for the upcoming season.
Australian Oztag are pleased to announce the Coaches for the Australian Tagaroos and the Rest of the World Squads, to compete at the 2023 Big 4 International Tag Series.
The Big 4 International Tag Series (ITS), set to be played in March 2023, will provide Under 16’s and 18’s Boys and Girls the opportunity to represent their country on the International stage.
The other 2 teams competing at the Big 4 ITS will be teams representing the Indigenous and Lebanese communities.
Australian Oztag (AO) would like to congratulate the following coaches on their appointments and wish them all the very best with the selection process.
The Australian Tagaroos Coaches:
Boys 16’s
Head Coach Michele Reaney
Asst Coach Amy Spence
Girls 16’s
Head Coach Ben Ellis
Asst Coach Cindy Brookfield
Boys 18’s
Head Coach Peter Roberts
Asst Coach Brendan Martin
Girls 18’s
Head Coach Adam Carlisle
Asst. Coach Tim Bailey
The Rest of the World Coaches:
Rest of the World Team Coordinator
Luke Bickhoff
Boys 16’s
Head Coach Shaun Cox
Asst Coach Adam Barrett
Girls 16’s
Head Coach Nick Cash
Asst Coach TBC
Boys 18’s
Head Coach Jason Havenaar
Asst Coach Greg Michell
Girls 18’s
Head Coach Jen Joshua
Asst. Coach Kaila Afungia
Teams will be selected from the upcoming Junior National Championships which will be held in Coffs Harbour from the 14th – 16th October.
Players competing in the 14’s and 15’s age divisions will be selected for the Under 16’s and those in the 16’s and 17’s divisions will be selected for the Under 18’s.
AO National Director of Coaching and Development, Michael Buettner touched on the significance of coaching at such a level.
“There is no doubt that their jobs won’t be made easy with the quality of players who are eligible for these teams,”
“But it is always an honour to represent your country and for these coaches to be given this opportunity is something they will cherish,” he said.
Dates and a venue for the Big 4 International Tag Series is yet to be finalised.
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