For the first time since 2019, teams from across the country will gather in Coffs Harbour this weekend to compete in the prestigious Senior Australian Championships.
Australian Oztag (AO) are set to welcome over 2000 players to Coffs Harbour, as the Senior Australian Championships kicks off this Friday, 4 November.
The tournament will see a total of 17 regions represented, and for the first time since 2019, AO welcome back four Queensland regions – Sunshine Coast Sonics, Metro North Marlins Southern Storm, and South Metro Magic.
“The Australian Championships are the best of the best and it’s great to see Queensland players back,” Tournament Director, Bill Harrigan said.
With World Cup selection on the table, AO anticipate a quality tournament as teams will no doubt take their game to the next level.
“Tag World Cup 2023 in Limerick, Ireland – what an incentive, what an opportunity. We will see some very special talent this weekend,” Harrigan said.
2019 Region Champions, Central Coast, will be striving to reclaim the title this weekend – but it will be no easy feat with the standard of talent across the board.
Having been three years since the last Senior Nationals, most Under 20s players are now competing in the Opens division, meaning we can expect to see some new young talent filtering through our Under 20s divisions.
Teams will play their round games over Friday and Saturday, across both C.ex Stadium Sports Complex and Geoff King Oval, before Sundays Finals converge at C.ex.
Although the stadium fields will not be used during the tournament, the canteen in the northern stand on level 1 will be open for business, while OES Merchandise remain at their usual location – in the Southern Grandstand.
AO look forward to kicking off the long-awaited Senior tournament of the year, and wish everybody safe travels in the meantime.
Games will commence at 9.30am 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.
The 2022 Junior National Champions have been crowned following an exceptional weekend of Oztag in Coffs Harbour.
The Junior Australian Championships kicked off on Friday 14 October, with a sensational display of Finals commencing on Sunday to crown the 2022 National Champions.
Friday and Saturday comprised of some spectacular showdowns, but as anticipated – Sunday’s Finals were taken to a new level of brilliance with teams determined to take home gold.
C.ex Stadium was roaring with energy and spectators were on the edge of their seats as several sudden-death games resulted in a draw – sending teams into thrilling extra-time drop offs (5v5 game decider).
Of the 18 Grand Finals, ten resulted in a one-point difference, proving the quality of Junior talent across Australia.
Australian Oztag are excited to announce the Region Champions for 2022 – finishing on 130 points, the West Sydney Tigercubs.
Having dominated Finals Day, the Tigers proved to be the region to beat this year with 17 of their 18 teams qualifying for Semis, 12 progressing to the Grand Final, and seven taking home gold.
Central Coast finished in second on 95 points, and Illawarra Steelers in third on 67 points.
The West Sydney Tigercubs will receive a $2000 prize for taking out the Championship title – $1000 for their region and $1000 for their chosen charity.
Below are the Grand Final results for each division. Congratulations to all 2022 Junior National Champions.
Boys 9s: Orcas defeated Tigercubs 4-3
Girls 9s: Stingrays defeated Wolverines 3-0
Boys 10s: Tigercubs defeated Orcas 3-2
Girls 10s: Wolverines defeated Stingrays 2-1 in extra time
Boys 11s: Tigercubs defeated Central Coast 6-2
Girls 11s: Orcas defeated Central Coast 2-1 in extra time
Boys 12s: Tigercubs defeated Central Coast 5-4
Girls 12s: Orcas defeated Tigercubs 3-1
Boys 13s: Tigercubs defeated Central Coast 5-3
Girls 13s: Central Coast defeated Tigercubs 3-2 in extra time
Boys 14s: Tigercubs defeated Wolverines 7-6 in extra time
Girls 14s: Tigercubs defeated Stingrays 2-0
Boys 15s: Central Coast defeated Orcas 10-1
Girls 15s: Tigercubs defeated Central Coast 6-2
Boys 16s: Illawarra defeated Tigercubs 4-3 in extra time
Girls 16s: Illawarra defeated Tigercubs 5-1
Boys 17s: Illawarra defeated Orcas 5-4 in extra time
Girls 17s: Central Coast defeated Illawarra 2-1 in extra time
For all tournament results, visit the Australian Oztag website or Sportfix.
To re-watch the Finals Day livestream, head to the Australian Oztag Facebook page.
Congratulations to all teams on a spectacular weekend of Oztag.
Be sure to visit IBIMAGES for all tournament action shots. Log in using your Facebook or Google account.
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.
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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.
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