QUAFL 2019 - Pool A Preview

QUAFL is fast approaching. The pools have been drawn and big name clashes are being anticipated. But what about the teams that might not get talked about as much? That's the aim of these articles, written by seasoned analyst and player, Stephen Butler (of Macquarie Marauders)- to analyse each team and build hype in the lead up to QUAFL. We begin this QUAFL analysis with Pool A.

Pool A is an interesting pool, purely because the battle for third place is a lot more exciting than any other spot, with first and second looking pretty set (barring any upsets). Macquarie, UQ Dumblebees and the Unforgivables will all be fighting hard for that final bracket spot, surely giving us some exciting games between the three.

Monash Muggles 

First QUAFL: 2013

Best Performance: Third Place (2016)

The Monash Muggles have had a stellar 2019, losing only a single game all season and coming out victorious at both Mudbash and the Victoria Cup finals. A lot of this can be attributed to the constant growth and development of this squad over the past few seasons, with a lot of their younger stars now growing into state and national level players.

Photo: VQA

Dan Leane and Edward Vienet are two of their key quaffle players, both offensively and defensively. They are both important members of the Victorian Leadbeaters, in addition to being key Muggles. They are helped by the incredible quality and depth in their female chasing stocks, with the trio of Madeline’s (Fitzgerald, Bell, and Coleman-Bock) and Jess Cooper, all huge threats in that team.

However, it is the incredible tenacity and energy of Sam Kilpatrick and Zach Giofkou in beating that really helps drive this Muggles team. Both beaters have huge gas tanks and don’t know the meaning of the word “slow”.

The Muggles should have no trouble with Macquarie, UQ and the Unforgivables, so their game against Valkyries QC will be important if they want to prove themselves a serious threat for the championship. After mounting a serious challenge to last year’s finalists, the USyd Unspeakables last year in two games that could easily have turned out in the Muggles’ favour, and only having gone from strength to strength this year, the odds are certainly in their favour. 

The Muggles should top group A, with the Valkyries realistically being the only team to challenge them. A top 4 finish is highly likely, and I wouldn’t be totally shocked if they reached their first grand final in 2019.

Prediction: 3rd place playoff.

Valkyries QC

First QUAFL: 2019

Best Performance: N/A

Valkyries QC, forming partially from the ashes of Western Sydney Quidditch Club, but picking up a variety of players from other clubs including Macquarie, Newcastle, UNSW, Serpents, UTS, and USyd, enjoyed a solid debut season in 2019. Obviously, the difficult thing for any new team is learning how to play with each other, which perhaps hurt them a little this season, along with a somewhat unreliable roster for part of the year. However, they were never out of their depth and had close games with all the other top NSW teams. While they finished the season in fourth, they’d shown a huge improvement on their team work and almost scored an upset overtime against eventual champions Sydney City Serpents, but an unfortunate declined snitch catch prevented this. Still, it showed that the Valkyries were capable of matching the best team in the state, and one of the favourites for QUAFL.

Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

What has helped Valkyries QC is the amount of talented players on their roster, with recent State Shield champions Rajtilak Kapoor, Isobel Rennie, Jono O’Brien and Courtney Buckley representing the Valkyries at QUAFL this year. Raj, Jono and Courtney are all key quaffle players and are regularly involved in the work scoring for Valkyries, while Isobel Rennie’s incredible beating allows those chasers the time and space they need to score.

However, it’s their depth that is really going to help them out, with the often underrated Amber Williams (who was the highest scoring female in division 1) and Phil Vankerkoerle providing support and back-up options to ease the pressure off the top line players.

Obviously, it is the tantalising clash with the Monash Muggles that Valkyries must surely be looking forward to, as it is likely to be the group decider (barring any upsets, which can happen). This will be a frenetic match up with lots of back and forth action. An excellent chaser defence for Valkyries will be essential to holding out against the Muggles dynamic and cohesive offence, and big hitters such as Miles, Raj, and Jono will be essential to slowing down the relentless Ed and Dan train. On the flipside, while the Muggles present some of the strongest tackling defence in Victoria, Valkyries at their best have the passing game to work around it.

The Valkyries have enjoyed their first year of existence and should be fairly strong contenders in this group. The Muggles look stronger on paper, and have more experience playing together, but the Valkyries still have a very capable chaser line and have a beater line that, at its best, should be able to handle the beating storm that the Muggles will undoubtedly apply.  

Prediction: 5-8th

Macquarie Marauders

First QUAFL: 2012

Best performance: Runners Up (2013)

The 2019 season was one of development for the Marauders, with the majority of the team being first or second year players. It was also their first year in NSW’s second division, as they spent 2018 playing in division one against the best teams in the state.

They very quickly set themselves as one of the top teams in the division, sitting in the top three for the entire season, eventually finishing second on the ladder and earning them their pod 3 spot. Unfortunately, they had a poor finish to the season, finishing sixth overall after finals.

Some of the players that might catch the eye this year include NSW Rookie of the Year 2019 Rebecca Robb, who very quickly and effectively embraced the position of Keeper, in an age where female Keepers are becoming more prevalent. Also likely to shine is Xanthe Petridis, who has really stepped up her game this season in preparation for the impending loss of captain and key beater Ana Barciela. Xanthe has proven more than capable on the pitch and is an important part of Macquarie’s beater depth.

Another key quaffle player is Ryan Shields, who is in his second season of quidditch and is vital for Macquarie’s attack; his pace and fearlessness make him a potent goalscorer. In the beating, it’s hard to forget Geoffrey Talbott, who is incredibly dominant when on form.

While every game should be important for Macquarie, the clash against Valkyries QC will help Macquarie prove they can definitely hang with the top teams in NSW.

Macquarie have historically had an incredible habit of stepping up their performances at QUAFL, punching well above their usual weight, and they’ll surely be hoping this year is no different. If they can deliver strong performances against the Unforgivables and UQ Dumblebees, they’ll be able to secure yet another trip to the knockout rounds of QUAFL... (against the loser of the Serpents vs Manticores pool play match, RIP…)

Prediction: 9-12th

University of Queensland (UQ) Dumblebees

First QUAFL: 2016

Best Performance: Pool Play (2016/2017/2018)

2019 must be seen as a great season for the UQ Dumblebees, finishing as runners up to the ever dominant USC Dementors in the Queensland State League. They also had a few members of their squad travel down to Melbourne Mudbash to gain further experience playing with and against different players from around the country. They’ll be hoping to improve on their previous QUAFL results and will surely be aiming to make it out of the group.

The Dumblebees have a very young but relatively experienced roster coming to QUAFL, with players such as Emma Foots, Jared Easterbrook and Ebony-Li Mahoney all recently appearing as reserves for the Queensland Thunderbirds, despite being relative newcomers to the quidditch scene.

However, they aren’t short on experienced players either. Niamh O’Mara and Kallum Strachan (a recent signing from QUT) have both played multiple State Shields and are high quality players that will help the Dumblebees challenge their inter star opponents. Add Will O’Connell, formerly of USC, to the mix and you have plenty of strong leaders in this team.

UQ’s game with Macquarie will be vital for them, as a victory over Macquarie and Unforgivables will be enough to get them out of pool play for the first time ever. They’ll be hoping to surprise Macquarie, due to being relatively unknown and hard to prepare for.

UQ have developed a strong little squad. They aren’t short on depth and have enough quality across all positions to really threaten Macquarie and the Unforgivables. Perhaps the lack of overall experience could hinder their chances, but they also have the capability to catch an underperforming team off guard. 

Prediction: 13-16th

University of Sydney (USyd) Unforgivables

First QUAFL: 2017

Best Performance: Pool Play (2017/2018)

The University of Sydney Unforgivables is the third of the three teams under the USyd umbrella, and as such, often features many new players to the sport. This provides these new players ample opportunity to play without being overshadowed by the top tier players, however it does also mean it may take a while to translate into positive results. The Unforgivables struggled to break down the teams in division 2 this season, though they did score their fair share of goals and got a few snitch catches to go with those goals.

Their biggest game was at NQL finals against fellow USyd team, the Unbreakables. They actually looked like the stronger team for much of that game, being up by 20 points well into the game, and got so close to a victory, however eventually fell to the quality of the persistent and prevailing Unbreakables. This game should give them the encouragement that they can indeed put up a good fight against the teams in their pool.

Despite their status as the third team of USyd, they still have some talented individuals on their roster. Key quaffle carriers Willem de Gouw and Samuel Feeney are strong leaders and are definitely capable of punishing a sleeping defence with their driving. Then you have the numerous female chasers they’ve trained up to support, most of whom aren’t scared of using the quaffle. Ashleigh Chilton in particular is a confident quaffle carrier and goal threat.

They also have the benefit of the leadership provided by Lilian Thai in beating. Lilian has gained some experience playing with fellow pool A team Valkyries QC and has brought that back to the Unforgivables, her commanding voice definitely being the loudest on pitch (referees, step up your game).

While I’m sure they’re looking forward to testing themselves against Macquarie yet again, it’s the game against the Dumblebees that should stand out for the Unforgivables. They’ll be hoping they can adapt to the unknown Dumblebees and outplay their Queensland opposition to score a huge QUAFL victory.

Unfortunately, I do think it’ll be a tough weekend for the Unforgivables, and small numbers will be one of their biggest adversaries, beyond the other teams they’ll have to face too. They’ll definitely put up a fight and a good showing against Macquarie and UQ, but whether they’ll have the quality to match their opponents remains to be seen. 

Prediction: 17-20th

Pool A may not initially seem as exciting as the other pools, due to the gulf in class between the top teams, but there are definitely still some interesting match ups. Macquarie vs UQ will certainly be an interesting game; can Macquarie turn their recent dip in form around and see off their relatively unknown opposition from Queensland? There is also plenty of room for the underdogs in this group, as Valkyries will be looking to prove me wrong and cause an upset over the heavy favourites of the group, while the Unforgivables will be looking to do the same at the other end of the pool against Macquarie and UQ.

However, I do think this pool will go in pod order, from 1 to 5, with the Muggles, Valkyries and Macquarie finishing top three and moving on to bracket play.

Team Previews - Victorian Honeyeaters

Team Background: 

The Victorian Honeyeaters enter State Shield this year as a brand new team! Founded as a B Team for Victoria, matching the Bluebottles for NSW, this will be their first foray onto the state field, and they are the second home team in this year’s tournament. 

Roster and Reserve for the Victorian Honeyeaters, with logo designed by Todd Fox

Interview with Team Leadership 

We first spoke to Captain Mark Kelly, who had this to say about the team: 

We're incredibly excited to be bringing a second Victorian team to State Shield, we've all worked hard and we're raring to show Australia what we can do! 

We take a lot of pride in how far we push the Leadbeaters, and we've built up a culture of excitement, encouragement, and inclusiveness that celebrates effort above all. I definitely think our greatest strength is how tight knit, supporting, and trusting we've become.

The Honeyeaters have players from every single Victorian team, and we've drawn heavily from our second division, assembling a team of people with specific skill sets and a fantastic work ethic.

In terms of the tournament we're especially looking forward to facing off against the NSW Blue Bottles, who are something of a natural rival for us. We're also keen to see what Queensland bring to the table. They're always a bit of a dark horse for us Victorians. I assume they'll be expecting to find a comfortable seat in 3rd while they look up the table for opportunities, but it's not the Blue Tongues or the Leadbeaters they should be worried about!

We also asked our standard questions of Vice Captain Jack Emerton: 

1. What are your goals for the tournament? 

The Honeyeaters aim to put on a good showcase of our own brand of quidditch, our expectations may not be as high as some of the other teams but we’re here to play and have fun

2. How have you prepared for State Shield? 

We don’t know exactly what to expect against the opposition but we’ve come together very well as a team, there’s a lot of great personalities. We’re certainly approaching State Shield with a lot of enthusiasm. We feel quite confident that we’re good enough to play at state level

3. Where are most of your players from? Anyone we should be watching out for? 

Our team is what most would call a mixed bunch; we have players who’ve played state before, players with a great deal of quidditch experience, and we have some up and coming new players who show a lot of potential. Clubs wise we all come from different teams, we have multiple representatives from the Monash Mudbloods, the Centaurs, Manticores, and Ravens and players from other teams. The Honeyeaters showcases a good representation of Victorian quidditch teams. 

4. Why should people be excited to see your team playing at State Shield? 

On paper we may not be as good compared to the other teams but this team has a lot of future potential. As stated before, a lot of players on this team are new to quidditch and state and show a lot of potential, this could be an opportunity to glimpse future stars of Australian quidditch. We won’t fly under the radar at State Shield!

The Honeyeaters’ jersey for 2019

Analysis & Commentary: 

With no team history to go off, the slate is blank for the Honeyeaters to make a big impression on the state scene. The team is certainly filled with many talented players who have graced the state scene and top level quidditch in Australia in the past, and are fortunate to have excellent leadership in Captain Mark Kelly and Vice Captain Jack Emerton. Emerton, of the three-time-national-championship-winning Melbourne Manticores, brings much strength and composure to the quaffle game, while the South Melbourne Centaur’s Kelly is sure to make his mark as one of Victoria’s most experienced beaters. Both veterans of the game and with many interstate tournaments under their belt, they will be more familiar than most with the competition they’re up against and know how to organise a team best to combat it. 

Jack Emerton keeping for Melbourne Manticores | Photo: Courtney Buckley Photography

The biggest challenge for the Honeyeaters will surely be whether they can find their cohesion fast enough to match the more experienced and historied Queenslanders and New South Welshpeople. Fortunately for the side however, the Monash mega-club strikes again with a surplus of Monash Mudbloods making up the team, lending some of their synergy and skill to the side. While the Monash Muggles were crowned Division 1 champions in the Vic Cup, the second Monash team, Mudbloods, made an impressive leap from tenth in 2018 to Division 2 champions this year, effectively placing them fifth in the state. Keeper Joshua Nibbs, chasers Aaron Sibel and Amie Inmon, and beaters Juliette Smith and Connor Mai were all major parts of the Mudblood’s success and will certainly be players to look out for on the Honeyeaters squad. 

Players like chasers Max Pockley and Jess Cooper, as well as beater Hannah Jackson, of the Monash Muggles squad, will also likely supply a level of experience and control over the game essential for the newer team. Pockley, now of the Melbourne Ravens, played for the Leadbeaters in 2018 and represents an experienced driving threat. Jackson is also particularly notable as a beater originally for ANU, who played on the inaugural NSW B side in 2016. Their experience in State level quidditch will be incredibly valuable to the team. Also with extensive out-of-state experience is Fred Perera, who originally played for the Queensland University of Technology Lycans from 2015, UNSW in 2017, and now plays for the Melbourne Manticores, though also mercing for Valkyries Quidditch Club at Midwinter Cup this year.

Staying on the inter-state train, making a return to quidditch is veteran chaser Michelle Mannering, who hails from as far back as as 2014, playing for the Melbourne University Unicorns and Blackburn Basilisks then for UNSW in 2015-2016. Her years on UNSW would have placed her alongside many of the players now featuring on the NSW Blue Tongues and Bluebottles sides who came from that old powerhouse team, not to mention her teammates on the original Basilisks. Though she has spent some time out of the quidditch scene, with her extensive background in both AFL and quidditch, and her memorable physicality and tenacity in all aspects of the game, she is sure to make an impact for the Honeyeaters. It’s great to see her back in the game.

Michelle Mannering chasing for UNSW at QUAFL 2015 alongside 2019 Bluebottle chaser Phil Van Kerk Oerle and Coach Sukrut Mysore | Photo: SLDixon Photography

Also originating from the Unicorns but now playing for the Melbourne Ravens are Kye-lee Cheong and Sherry Du, both with much experience at interstate quidditch who have the potential to bring their incredible pace and strong tactical decision making respectively to the Honeyeaters game. Ben Watson is also a standout name in the team, playing for the Willows Quidditch Club, who last year was instrumental as a beater in the team’s run all the way to the third place play-off at Nationals. Watson's excellent defensive beating caused major strife for the University of Sydney Unspeakables beaters in the semi-finals at QUAFL 2018, most of whom find themselves on the NSW state teams this year, so it will be interesting to see these match-ups again. 

Overall, there is certainly enough individual talent and experience on the Honeyeaters to give teams cause for consideration. While it is unlikely that this fledgling team will be able to pose a significant threat to the long established programs of the Blue Tongues and Leadbeaters, Queensland and the NSW Bluebottles will do well to not underestimate them. It is certainly exciting to finally see the emergence of a second Victorian team after three years of state level competition. The Blue Tongues and NSW quidditch more broadly have both certainly benefited tremendously from the establishment of the Bluebottles, and the Honeyeaters debut can only bode good things for the future of Victorian quidditch. 

The decisive factor for this group of excellent but disparate individuals of a wide variety of teams and experience levels, is how well they can come together as a unified team and how well they can adapt their playing over the course of the weekend. If they have been training alongside the Leadbeaters and as regularly, we can certainly expect great things from them. 

Emerton, the team’s Vice Captain, also reported that “there’s a very strong bond and sense of friendship within the Honeyeaters, we’ve really come together as a team and will always stick together no matter what.” If this camaraderie can translate into on-pitch playing, they will be a force to be reckoned with, and SWIM games are not remotely out of the question, especially against the Bluebottles where the NSW team’s speed and dynamism will be the greatest challenge for the Honeyeaters to try and check. Holding ground and controlling the pace of the game with smart and steady playing, lead by the more experienced members of the team, will be imperative for the Honeyeaters to keep things in range. Then, with a smart, tactical seeker such as Justine Herring, who jointly won Best Seeker in Victoria for the 2018 Vic Cup, and the support of a home crowd to pull the team over the line, anything is possible. 

Will you be a part of that crowd? Join us in the stands this weekend at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval or online via our livestream of the whole weekend to support the second home team at this State Shield! 

State Shield - An Overview

What Is State Shield?

Quidditch, beginning in Australia in 2011, grew rapidly in NSW and Victoria, with most teams in the country starting up in Melbourne and Sydney, with only a few up north in Queensland and out west in Western Australia. As quidditch became more and more competitive and rivalries developed between Victorian and NSW teams, there were calls for a new level of competition, something that would allow a further level of top tier quidditch in Australia, facilitate competitive training for Australia's best athletes heading into World Cups, and answer once and for all which was the dominant state in quidditch.

Thus, in 2016, a series of three tournaments featuring three games in each was devised, in which the top players from the states of Victoria and NSW would face off in three best-of-three series, known then as Quidditch State of Origin. The competition would serve as Australia's version of the USA's Major League Quidditch or Europe's Quidditch Premier League, though in a much more concentrated format. The small number of teams meant only the very best players were selected to represent the states, and facilitated series of three or more games between the elite teams, able to better account for chance victories, and giving teams the chance to adapt their game over the course of a tournament to match and counter their opponent's playing style. This makes State Shield not only some of the most tactically interesting quidditch in the world, but also some of the most exciting, with the high level of skill and competition providing excellent entertainment and publicity for the sport.

Queensland and Victoria: Friends and Foes | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

A Brief History Of the Competitions and Its Teams

2016 ("State Of Origin" - Berry, Melbourne, & Sydney)

The first series held in Berry alongside Quidditch Australia's Quidcamp was a competitive success for the Victorians, whose exceptional Manticores led passing game racked up significant score margins in the first very one sided game, against a NSW team lacking in synergy. Though NSW were able to pull things back in the second game, Victoria still won the series a comfortable 2-1.

Undeterred, NSW restructured and came back for the second series at the Victorian Fantasy Tournament two months later to win that series 2-1, levelling the score, though unable to push Victoria out of range. Many of the players featured in these teams went on to win the Quidditch World Cup later in Frankfurt 2016, before the final State of Origin series held in Sydney in October. Here, two close games saw a win for either side, and a dramatic finals game where Victoria ultimately won out as the first State Champion in 2016, winning overall 5 games to NSW's 4.

This third round of State of Origin in 2016 was also notable for the debut appearance of the Queensland Thunderbirds. A much younger state in terms of it's quidditch development, the Queensland side were not expected to be able to compete at the same level as the NSW and Victorian teams, but the home side had also selected a B team, whom the Thunderbirds faced off against in a parallel series of three games. While unable to match the depth of the NSW B Team, who at the time featured many names now stalwarts of the Blue Tongues, the fledgling Thunderbirds who in some cases were playing some of their first interstate quidditch, improved rapidly over the course of the three games, narrowing the score margin against NSW B in every successive game to nearly clench their first win by the last game. While they went away winless from 2016, the Thunderbirds would be back for more.

NSW and Victoria Face Off at the 2016 Final Round of State or Origin | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

2017 - State Shield (Brisbane)

2017 saw the State based competition rebranded as Quidditch Australia's State Shield, featuring a single weekend tournament where the top state teams, NSW Blue Tongues, Victorian Leadbeaters, and Queensland Thunderbirds, all came together in Brisbane. This year, Queensland had improved enough to be able to cause an upset victory over the unwily Victorians, but nevertheless the Leadbeaters and Blue Tongues remained dominant overall. NSW however, could not find the same success against the Victorians that the Thunderbirds had, unable to win a single game against their southern rivals, either in pool play or the finals series, shortened due to torrential rain. Victoria now held the first two championships, and with Victorian club teams dominating the later stages of the National Championships as well, it seemed clear who the dominant state was.

2018 - State Shield (Newcastle)

Newcastle was to host the 2018 iteration of State Shield, and back in NSW, the tournament saw the return of the NSW B team into the competition. Now an established fixture of the Australian quidditch season, all states had established long try-out and selection processes and proper trainings leading up to the tournament, where competition was tough. Opening day 1 with the conventional pool play round robin, Queensland came out all guns firing against a strong NSW B team, earning their second ever win, though neither of these teams could make significant inroads against the Victorians or Blue Tongues. The finals series saw an adaptable NSW B significantly change their playing style to counter the strong Queensland chasing offence, and Queensland could provide no answer in turn to this or the much stronger NSW beater corps, losing the final series 2-0.

In their much anticipated match up, a close game saw NSW largely able to control the pace of the game but unable to get too far from the Victorians. Nevertheless, under the aegis of new Head Coach Paul Harrison, the NSW Blue Tongues managed to win not only their pool play matches, but the entire final series in a clean sweep against the Victorians, a huge turn around from the previous years of Victorian dominance. The synergy that had been the card of the Victorians in earlier years was now the asset of the Blue Tongues, with a large majority of the team stemming from the Sydney City Serpents and University of Sydney Unspeakables, both dominant teams in the NSW league. While by no means blow out victories, NSW excelled in the Snitch-On-Pitch element of the game, effectively controlling the snitch and beater games, while able to quickly push the quaffle game out of range in several games to ensure their victory, and first ever title in state level competition.

Thus, the all time scores stood at 0-2 for the Thunderbirds against NSW B, and 2-1 for the Victorians against the NSW Blue Tongues, with NSW B never having been able to gain a win over either A team, and the Queenslanders only ever besting the Leadbeaters once.

NSW Blue Tongues and Victorian Leadbeaters at State Shield 2018 | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

What To Expect From 2019

Coming into 2019, there are many exciting developments as the State Shield competition evolves. For the first time since Victoria Fantasy 2016, the new rendition of the tournament is coming to Melbourne, and the Victorian Leadbeaters will be competing alongside their debut B Team, the Victorian Honeyeaters, on home soil. The states have started their campaigns earlier than ever before, Queensland selecting a Thunderbirds squad right at the very start, and able to hold trainings throughout the year, the Victorians also training with regularity. With new and old faces across the board, the tournament should see a mix of legends and rising stars of Australian quidditch, and indeed will be an important selection event in the lead up to try-outs for the Australian National Team heading into World Cup 2020.

With the growth of Queensland Quidditch and the selection, for the first time, of a Queenslander onto the 2018 National Team, whether this will be the year that the Thunderbirds finally come into their own to match the NSW B sides and pose a significant threat to the A teams of Victoria and NSW. The Victorians will be looking to reclaim their dominance over state level quidditch and show off both of their re-branded teams on home soil, though do so with a substantial number of new faces to the team. The Blue Tongues, meanwhile, will be hoping to solidify their victory from 2018, proving it was not a once off, as the tide shifts from Victorian dominance in Australian quidditch to more parity between the two states. The Blue Tongues are likely to receive major dividends from their investment in having a B team in past years, with a wealth of state-level experience in their players, and they will be tough opponents to beat.

With so many exciting story lines, new teams, old rivalries, rising stars, and legends of the game, all that can be certain is that it is sure to be an incredible tournament featuring the best quidditch you'll see all year. Don't miss it!

Come to Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on the 5th and 6th of October to watch the action in person, or catch it live online!

Team Previews - Queensland Thunderbirds

Team History: 

The Queensland Thunderbirds joined the state competition in the third round of the 2016 edition of the title, when NSW Blue Tongues and Victorian Leabeaters were playing their finals series and the relatively new Thunderbirds faced off against the NSW B team. Coming away from their first experience of state competition winless but rapidly improving across the series against NSW B to play the last game in range, the Thunderbirds came into their home State Shield in Brisbane 2017 fighting hard and extracted a narrow win against Victoria. This demonstrated that they had done much to close the gap between them and the more developed states but still had a way to go. Going into 2018, the Thunderbirds were now much more experienced and had their first win against the NSW B squad, however the Victorians and NSW Blue Tongues were careful not to underestimate the growing Queensland force. The NSW Bluebottles were also able to adapt and eventually win the finals series against Queensland 2-0. As a younger state in the development of quidditch in Australia, Queensland have always struggled to match the NSW and Victorian A teams, with less experienced players and less players on the National "Dropbears" Team. However, with the rapid expansion and development of Queensland quidditch in the last two years and the steady improvement of the Thunderbirds, the writing is on the wall for times to change. 

Queensland Thunderbirds Roster and Reserves for State Shield 2019 with Logo designed by

Abbey Ashfield-Crook

Interview with Team Leadership 

1. How are you approaching State Shield and what are your goals for the tournament?

Chloe: We are going into the tournament with a winning attitude and believe that we have the team to do it this year. Our goal is to win as many games as possible and work as a team. 

Josh: State Shield has been approached with a little more preparation than in previous years and with some goals that were outlined with Queensland Association of Quidditch (QAQ) at the beginning of the year. We have had state trainings a lot more frequently than previous years, with a training every week for the last couple of months. As for goals for the tournament, I would love to see us put in a really great effort and show that we can take it to the teams down south and try to match their quality of play. It would awesome to come away with a win or some snitch range games against the top NSW and Victorian teams.

2. How have you prepared for State Shield and how confident are you at this point?

Chloe: Well this year we started a lot earlier, with our first selection camp happening on the 3rd of March and we have been working hard since then to create the best team we can and have a good team dynamic. We have the right players to get it done and if we work together we can pull it off. 

Josh: Our trainings have been a lot more regular than in previous years. I have brought more structure to the skills and drills that have been worked on and built upon throughout each session. Due to the isolation of some players, we have found it quite hard to have everyone in the same place for a single training session. Despite this, I am still quite confident in the team and know that this will be the strongest and most talented squad that Queensland has ever sent to a State Shield. This year’s team is on a totally different level to previous years.

3. Where do most of the players on your team come from? Any players you would like to highlight?

Chloe: We have 14 USC players, 2 UQ players and 4 BCQC players. For 14 of our squad this is their second or third state shield with some of them even representing Queensland in the 2016 State of Origin games. Five of our squad are debutants this year and bring an element of surprise to our game that NSW and Victoria might not be prepared for. One player definitely to watch is Kaysanne Hockey, her chasing instincts are killer. She can throw the ball with deadly accuracy and isn’t afraid to take on people bigger than her and be tackled herself. Jason Capello is also one to watch being one of the fittest and fastest players in Queensland, he adds a lot to our team with his ability to be where he needs to be all the time. To date, our only Queensland Dropbear is Simon Spann, but with national trials occurring currently all of our players have something to show. 

Josh: Most of the players come from the USC Dementors team, who have been quite dominant in this year’s QSL match days. The last 12 months have seen a large amount of growth and talent arise from the Dementors, and this is reflected in how dominant they have been this year. As for Dropbears, everyone in quidditch already knows who Simon Spann is and that he represented Australia in the 2018 World Cup in Italy.

We have some returning players who have consistently made the Queensland Team. If you count the unofficial Queensland Team of 2016, we have four players who are playing their fourth State Shield in a row (Jordan, Kia, Niamh, and Tim), along with myself, Alise, Ruth, Jake, and Simon are also playing their third year in a row for Queensland at State Shield.

As for debutants, we have Chelsea, Emma, Daisy, Jason, Jono, Jessica, and Kaysanne. With a third of the Queensland line-up being debutants this year, you can expect to see a totally different Thunderbirds Team on the pitch and we are confident that this will make the difference.

Players to look out for would have to be Jason, Jessica, Kaysanne, Daisy, and Joe. As you can see, four of the five players are debutants for this State Shield, and they each have an average quidditch playing experience of only 18 months. This is a testament of their strong individual backgrounds in sport and their ability to transfer their skills and athleticism over to quidditch. I have no doubt that they will all play key roles in our games over the State Shield weekend.

4. Why should people be excited to see your team playing at State Shield?

Chloe: Because Queensland are improving every year and we are always underestimated, so this year we are coming with a point to prove.

Josh: As mentioned previously, this year’s team is very different to that of previous years, and I truly believe that this will be the strongest showing that Queensland will have to date. I hope to see that we make the games interesting and show that Queensland is developing some great and talented players.

The Queensland Thunderbirds at State Shield 2018 | Photo: Queensland Thunderbirds

Analysis & Commentary: 

Quidditch in Queensland has grown slowly over the years, lagging behind the dominant Victoria and NSW, whose players have dominated the National Dropbears squad at World Cups and whose teams dominate the later stages of the Australian National Championships. Nevertheless, with ever-expanding quidditch programs such as the University of the Sunshine Coast Quidditch Club with their intra-mural league, the recent development of more graduate community clubs such as Brisbane City Quidditch Club and founding of new regular inter-mural leagues in the state has all contributed to its rapid growth and improvement. Importantly, the regular presence of the Thunderbirds at state competitions since 2016 and the selection of Simon Spann for the 2018 Dropbears, the only non-Victorian/NSW player on the World Cup squad, has allowed Queensland to further develop higher level quidditch and move closer to matching the Victorian and NSW A Teams.

With so much new and emerging talent in the Thunderbirds Team and within Queensland, we can expect to see a new level of Queensland quidditch at State Shield this year. Most notable is the calibre of the female chasing lineup this year, with all women having very strong and accomplished sporting backgrounds in netball and AFL, as well as previous state and national level javelin and hammer throw. Kaysanne Hockey is one such stand out, who made waves at Melbourne Mudbash earlier this year with the height and receiving ability to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Taya Rawson. These women all bring a great level of athletic experience to the game. Despite some of them having just under a full season of quidditch under their belt, they have shown a natural talent for picking up the skills of the game to represent at the state level and are not to be underestimated or left unmarked. As for the male quaffle players, there are many familiar faces including the hulking presence of Spann, Jordan Fraser, and Joseph Dodd, whose remarkable speed and physicality combined with the Queensland passing game has always presented a challenge for the NSW and Victorian defences. The new additions of Jason Cappello and Jonathan Rawlings breathe new life into the physicality and speed that Queensland will be aiming to match in the southern teams. With backgrounds in rugby, water polo, athletics, and surf life saving, both are comfortable with quaffle in hand and back their ability to handle contact. 

The beating game also brings some consistency with all but Emma Foots and Chelsea Markot having worn the Thunderbirds jersey before, though both are great, emerging, talented players within the beater lineup. With four of the six female beaters coming from the USC Dementors and such high attendance at trainings, their ability to work together and understand each others’ roles on pitch will be vital to Queensland’s success against the historically much stronger southern beaters. Queensland’s youngest player and beater, Lachlann Ward, has also developed greatly as a player since his Thunderbirds debut last year. He brings an aggressive style to the Queensland beater game alongside his USC beater buddy, Jake Quinlan. Against so many Dropbear level beaters spread through the NSW and Victorian teams who have previously spelled grief for the Queensland side before, it will be interesting to see how this evolution of the Queensland beating game will prevail. 

As alluded to, USC’s Dementors represent the dominant team in Queensland and form the backbone of the Thunderbirds, like the USYD Unspeakables/Sydney City Serpents for NSW and Monash Muggles for Victoria. A staggering 14 of the 21 players hail from the Dementors, who have always been able to present a challenge to even the top division club teams in NSW and Victoria. Indeed, earlier this year when an undermanned Dementors competed in Melbourne Mudbash, they were able to create some very close games against the Muggles (who went on to win the tournament) and show that Queensland has really stepped up. As they have also put on such a dominant performance throughout the Queensland State League match days this year, conceding an average of 1.5 goals per game and with no in-range games, the Dementors core will be what Queensland rely on to compete at the highest level. 

The USC Dementors at Australian National Championships 2018

Given their mostly common origins and a largely returning team, excellent synergy within the Queensland's passing game and on-field communication should be expected. This has of course been the case in the past, with a strong offensive chaser line and outstanding physicality on both offence and defence keeping Queensland in games just long enough for star Dropbears seeker Spann to snatch wins out of nowhere.

Also of note is that Queensland has decided to go with a different structure for their leadership team this year, and as such, do not have an overall captain. Instead, the team has opted for chaser, beater, and speaking captain roles, held by Spann, Quinlan, and Alise Fox respectively. The overall team captain position is filled by Joshua Lindley as a playing coach.

Spann is an obvious choice with his wealth of sporting knowledge from national-level sprinting and experience at the highest levels of Australian quidditch, being the only non-Victorian and non-NSW member of the Dropbears at the 2018 World Cup. He brings a strong level of focus and authority to lead the quaffle line-up, not to mention his dominating height. Despite Quinlan's softly spoken off-field demeanor, he brings a high level of beating knowledge and skill to work with and advise any beater pair within the team. 

Meanwhile, with the wealth of experience that Fox has had within the broader quidditch community and representing Queensland many times now, she brings a very calm and collected attitude to the speaking captain role that will no doubt be needed in the tough games ahead. It will be interesting to see how the Queensland team’s preparations have gone this year with debut Coach Joshua 'Smugs' Lindley who has approached the team trainings with structure and knowledge as an exercise physiologist. This preparation includes aspects of injury prevention and conditioning to ensure that the players are best prepared for the challenge ahead at State Shield. 

Coming into State Shield this year, Queensland’s first targets will be the NSW Bluebottles, who have been their primary rivals in the 2016 and 2018 competitions. In both, Queensland was only able to come away with one win. Last year’s State Shield showed that the Thunderbirds were very much on par and even dominant in the chaser game, the incredible depth of NSW’s beater corps bailed out the team on defence and ensured control of the seeker game in SWIM situations. An every stronger Thunderbirds will pose a major challenge to the Bluebottles and newer Honeyeaters, and these will be match-ups that should be highly entertaining. The Thunderbirds will surely however have their sights set on the A teams, repeating their 2017 win against Victoria and breaking the tide against NSW. Against such strong and experienced teams, this will require an enormous effort from the Thunderbirds, though the trend of the competitions thus far tells us that we should be seeing some spectacular quidditch from the Queensland side this year. 

Stay tuned to hear about the NSW and Victorian B teams, who will be gearing up for whatever challenge Queensland can throw at them, and make sure to come down to Sandringham this weekend or catch the tournament on our livestream to see how it plays out!

A further thanks to Josh Lindley for assistance in writing this commentary.

Team Previews - The NSW Blue Tongues

Team History: 

The NSW Blue Tongues is the other team who have been taking part in Quidditch Australia’s state level competition since its inception at the start of 2016. Competing against the Victorian state team in this original State Of Origin series of three sets of three games, the Blue Tongues won the second series 2-1 but overall came a narrow second, winning four games to Victoria’s five. When the state competition evolved into the single State Shield event in 2017, the Blue Tongues went winless across three games against the Victorians. They were able to come back last year with five straight wins against the Victorian Leadbeaters to finally claim the title for NSW. As the other long-established quidditch state in Australia and with a rapidly growing playerbase, NSW remains Victoria’s greatest competition and rival in the competition They present a strong team of state and Dropbear veterans supplemented by promoted players from the state’s B team, who will be looking to level the overall State Shield score to 2-2 against the Victorians. 

Roster and Reserves of the 2019 Blue Tongues, with new logo designed by Brittney Watiwat and Tegan Diep

Interview with Team Leadership: 

We spoke to Paul Harrison, Head Coach of the Blue Tongues for the second year, and Raj Kapoor, the team’s captain this year and veteran of the squad, about their thoughts on the upcoming competition. 

1. How are you approaching State Shield/what are your goals for the tournament?

Paul: My approach to State Shield is the same as my approach to any major tournament; to win in a way that is both honest and meaningful for the team.

Raj: State Shield is the highest quality of quidditch we get to experience in our part of the world. With the inability to have leagues such as MLQ (Major League Quidditch in the US) or QPL (Quidditch Premier League in the UK), or tournaments like EQC (European Quidditch Cup), State Shield is extremely important for the promotion of the sport and the development of top level talent. Retaining the Shield is extremely important. After having a tough few years at the start of the tournament, the team is keen to prove that last year's win wasn't a one off. The goals for the tournament are the same: get the win, play good quidditch, have a blast.

The Victorious 2018 Blue Tongues | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

2. How have you prepared/trained for State Shield and how confident are you at this point?

Paul: Every player on the team has a solid understanding of the game and has their own unique qualities to add to the team. With this in mind, trainings were always focused on building teamwork between players rather than focusing on any particular skill set. Whilst I imagine every team playing this tournament will provide tough competition (training against the Bluebottles has already proven this to be true), I have every confidence in my team’s ability to perform if we play our own game.

Raj: We've been lucky enough to have a good spread of players across the top teams in NSW and those teams being open to have their trainings being taken over by the Blue Tongues alongside a few weekends to get that synergy going. I'm very confident that we'll have a good showing over the weekend. We've got a great squad with amazing depth and versatility alongside a top coach. I'm keen to step on pitch and tough it out to win it all again.

3. Where do most of the players on your team come from? Any players you think people should look out for? 

Paul: Our players come from a variety of different teams, many of them having played for multiple club teams in the past. Ranging from past World Cup winners to State Shield newbies, every player on this team has a high level of talent and should be looked out for.

Raj: Sydney City Serpents and University of Sydney Unspeakables contribute the most, but new teams Valkyries Quidditch Club and North Sydney Nightmares are not far behind. The team itself is a nice mix of state and Dropbear vets plus a few new faces. Luke Derrick, Nat Astalosh, and Isobel Rennie all return to bring their vast beating experience to the team alongside Sam Chittenden, Gary Hague, and Courtney Buckley, forming the veteren core of the team. 2018 Dropbear Arlyta Andrews makes her long awaited Blue Tongues debut. On the other side, USyds dynamic keeper duo Max Brenner and Haydn Johansson both make their own Blue Tongues debuts. Max was sidelined last year due to injury and Haydn of course was the 2018 MVP for his amazing play with the NSW B team. I'm sure they'll both be keen to put their stamp on the tournament, just as they have this year in the NSW Quidditch League.

4. Why should people be excited to see your team playing at State Shield? 

Paul: State Shield is one of the few events on the Australian quidditch calendar that brings the best performers in the country together for a tournament and the Bluetongues have more than their fair share of this talent. If you want to see top quality teams playing to quality quidditch, this is the place to do it.

Raj: I believe we've got a really well balanced squad with enough new talent and old hands that something spectacular will happen almost every single game. From long range ultra accurate beats to unreasonably high alley-oops, nothing is off the table. However, most important of all people should be excited for the rock-paper-scissor contest at the start of each game. I know that's what I'm looking forward to.

New Jerseys of the re-branded Blue Tongues, designed by Tegan Diep and Brittney Watiwat 

Analysis & Commentary: 

While NSW struggled against Victoria in the earlier years of the competition, last year’s competition proved this was finally no longer the case and the years of Victoria’s dominance were over. The growth of NSW quidditch over the years has resulted in a growing player-base from which to source top level talent. The presence of NSW’s B Team, the Bluebottles, in the final round of the 2016 State competition and at the 2018 State Shield, has proved immensely valuable to the state’s development and growth, producing a well seasoned team of elite level players for this year’s competition. 

If the Monash University quidditch program is the dominant force behind the Leadbeaters for Victoria, then the University of Sydney Quidditch Club is that for NSW. This year, the Blue Tongues feature five current players from the USyd Unspeakables team and a further seven alums, with two current Unspeakables and an ex-Unspeakable on the team’s reserve. Many of these ex-Unspeakables now hail from the Sydney City Serpents, whose current and recent players count eight of the Blue Tongues players and three reserves (as well as Head Coach Harrison). The Serpents and Unspeakables have dominated the NSW State league (and indeed, State Teams) for the past two years, with lots of competitive success in interstate competitions between them. Two thirds of the Blue Tongues this year have been retained from the 2018 squad, with a further four being promoted from the Bluebottles. 

With so much experience playing with each other already, and now under the aegis of Harrison as Head Coach for the second year, the Blue Tongues have remarkable scope for expanding their tactical arsenal and significant capacity for synergy, which will be crucial against the well-drilled Victorian team. 

Like the Victorians, there are still some notable absences this year, especially in significant keeper-drivers such as Brandon Frison, Dameon Osborn, and Miles Newton, all players on the 2018 Dropbear squad. This will undoubtedly give the likes of Max Brenner, a national rower known for his athleticism and driving ability who made the team in 2018 but was unable to play due to injury, a chance to shine as a primary keeper alongside veteran Raj Kapoor. While Luke Derrick also featured in the keeper line last year, the Blue Tongues have brought up both Lukasz Sikora and Haydn Johansson from the Bluebottles, both exceptional keepers and distributors, Johansson being awarded Most Valuable Player at the 2018 competition. Jackson Shields, a chaser for the Blue Tongues since 2017 known for his exceptional speed, also now sits as a keeping option, rounding out a relatively new but nevertheless solid keeper line for NSW. Keepers act as playmakers and dictate a lot of the pace and strategy on offence and defence, so it will be interesting to see how a largely new keeper line changes NSW’s playing style from previous years. 

Courtney Buckley chasing at State Shield 2018 | Photo: Taylor Angelo Quidditch Shots

The chasing corps of the Blue Tongues, remains relatively consistent from previous years, with players like Dropbear reserve Samantha Chittennden and Gary Hauge representing NSW for the fourth year, Courtney Buckley for the third year, and chaser-seekers Lachlan Ward and Jonathon O’Brien also having played on the team before. Arlyta Andrew, a promotion from the Bluebottles and a 2018 Dropbear, will be an asset to the Blue Tongues with her tackling ability, while Brittney Watiwat and Ava McConnell are both making their debuts on the state scene as exceptional receivers. Along with Bluebottle promotion Sanju Vairav who will also be making her Blue Tongues debut, Chittennden, Buckley, Ward, and McConnell have all played together on the Unspeakables in the last three years. They can be expected to have great team cohesion with Unspeakables keepers Brenner and Johansson. With Buckley additionally having played substantially as a keeper for Valkyries Quidditch Club this year alongside Kapoor, the Blue Tongues can be expected to have a highly versatile quaffle line up, with many players of all genders comfortable in receiving or ball-carrying roles, and familiar with playing with each other, suggesting a dynamic passing game that should be fun to watch.

What has also remained more stable from previous years is the beater core for the Blue Tongues. Though Hailey Clonts is a relatively new find for the team (though an experienced player, moving from the US last year), Natalie Astalosh and Luke Derrick have been consistent members of the Blue Tongues since their founding, with both also hailing from the Unspeakables, then Serpents, and the past two Dropbear squads. Isobel Rennie has also been a stalwart of the NSW team since 2017 and a Dropbear reserve in 2018, while Geoffrey Talbott, Harrison Jones, and Alexander Cunningham all played on the 2018 squad with the latter two being a significant duo on the Unspeakables. Retaining most of the country’s best beaters while Victoria has seen several retiring Dropbear beaters may give the Blue Tongues a significant advantage in this game-changing aspect of the team. However, with Victoria’s veteran Nathan Morton providing an answer to Derrick, the newer Muggles beaters already having proven themselves a match for Jones and Cunningham, and Dropbear Clementine Round matching up against Dropbear Astalosh, what can only be certain is a superbly entertaining beater game.

. 

They key strength of NSW however is the seeker line up, with Cunningham and Ward arguably representing two of the fastest and most consistent seekers in the country at the moment. They are ably backed up by the likes of O’Brien, Hague, Andrew, and Talbott, all of whom can bring different qualities in size, reach, athleticism, and strength to the seeker game. The depth and versatility of NSW’s seeking capability mean that whatever snitch the team faces, there are always several excellent options. This will be vital to the team’s success in the likely in-range games against Victoria, whose main seekers’ strength lies predominantly in speed and timing. 

Lachlan Ward catches the final game winning snitch of State Shield 2019 | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

Overall, the NSW Blue Tongues present a tough offensive line up and while a substantial portion of the keeper line is relatively new to the team, they are by no means new to their teammates. Although missing some of their most physical quaffle players of past years, the team has plenty of new faces to make up for it on defence, and enough versatility and synergy on offence to play effective passing or driving heavy games, depending on what the situation demands. Critically, the team’s beating and seeking corps are strong enough to present an incredibly tough snitch-on-pitch game to any opponent. After going undefeated in 2018, the Blue Tongues are the team to beat this year. 

Can the Victorians, with a home crowd in support, pull it off again? Will the growing Queensland powerhouse strike their first blow against the Blues? Is there enough parity between the A and B squads to keep the game in range? Only the weekend at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval will tell us! Come along to watch, and make sure to read up on the remaining teams in the next couple of days as well! 

Team Previews - The Victorian Leadbeaters

Logo Background: 

The endangered Leadbeater's Possum is Victoria’s faunal emblem. The species is found only in Victoria and lives primarily in the ash forests and subalpine woodlands of Victoria's central highlands, with a small lowland population to the east of Melbourne.

The 2019 Victorian Leadbeaters roster and reserves with logo designed by Todd Fox | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography, from State Shield 2018.

Team History: 

The Victorian Leadbeaters Quidditch Team has been a part of Australia’s state competition since its inception in early 2016 when Quidditch Australia’s State of Origin series first started, eventually developing into what is now State Shield. 2016 saw the Leadbeaters put up a strong performance across three series of three games against the NSW Blue Tongues, going 2-1 and 1-2 in the first two series and winning the decider 2-1 in Sydney. The single competition in Brisbane of 2017 saw the Leadbeaters again victorious in the finals series against NSW, only dropping one game in the preliminary stages to Queensland. Many of the 2017 squad went on to play for the national Dropbears squad in the 2018 Quidditch World Cup. While prevailing against NSW B and Queensland at the 2018 State Shield in Newcastle, the tournament saw a 0-3 loss in the finals series to the NSW Blue Tongues who were consistently able to catch the snitch in all of their nail biting in-range games. This made for only the Leadbeaters’ second series loss since 2016, which the team will be keen to avenge this year on home soil. 

Victorian Leadbeaters at the 2018 State Shield | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

Interview with Team Leadership: 

We spoke to Coaches Liam McCoppin and Nicola Gertler, Captain Nathan Morton, and Vice Captain Edward Vienet about their thoughts for the team and upcoming tournament. Here’s what they had to say: 

How are you approaching State Shield this year and what are your goals for the tournament? 

In 2019 Victoria is going in hard from brooms up, landing fierce tackles, jumping on loose balls, pinging beats, and most importantly getting our hands on the golden snitch. Our goal is to catch more snitches this year and bring the Shield back to Victoria.

How have you prepared for State Shield and how confident are you at this point? 

In 2019 Victoria has structured trainings to be longer and with greater numbers to better prepare its sides for playing a two day tournament rather than singular games as per Vic Cup. We’ve worked hard to learn different defences and broaden our offensive plays to help us adapt to whatever NSW and Queensland throw our way. The team has trained almost every weekend for the past few months, and we’re feeling comfortable with our team mates. 

Why should people be excited to watch the Leadbeaters play at State Shield? 

There are a few changes in 2019. Victoria has new uniforms as well as introducing a second team. With some key players stepping back from state playing such as James Osmond and Calum Mayling, spectators are going to see changes in the way that Victoria plays. Additionally people should be excited for the utter chaos in the commentary box and confusion from the opposition, given the high possibility of 3 Maddys being on pitch at the same time.

New Jerseys for the Victorian Leadbeaters 

Analysis and Commentary: 

The 2019 Leadbeaters squad has been noted for the significant departure from the well established core of Victorian players who have featured in many Leadbeaters and Dropbears (national team) squads since 2016. Many household names and world renowned players including keeper-chasers Callum Mayling and James Osmond, chasers like Taya Rawson, Emily Merry, Cassia Menkhorst and Michael “Dundee” Braham, and beaters Dean Rodhouse and Deni Tasman have taken a step back from state level playing.

Nevertheless, this gradual changing of the guard has brought in a new generation of stellar Victorian players who have demonstrated extraordinary prowess at the club level, mixed in with some of the more experienced players. This year’s Leadbeaters features six State Shield debutants, with a further three playing their second state series. 

What is immediately apparent about this iteration of the Leadbeaters is the Muggles core. While historically club teams like the Manticores and now the Ravens have dominated the Melbourne league, the Monash Muggles have been a consistent power over the years. This year they have come well into their own with emphatic victories in the Vic Cup league finals and interstate tournament Melbourne Mudbash, losing only one game all season.

A total of nine Leadbeaters currently play for the Muggles powerhouse, with a further four players having originated from the Monash club, not to mention the three current and one former Monash player on the reserves for the team. Two of these former players include Nicola Gertler and Nathan Morton, who have both represented Victoria at every series in the history of the competition and represent the veteran side of the Leadbeaters. They return this year among other stalwarts of the team such as the dominant Muggles quaffle-carrying duo Dan Leane and Edward Vienet, and Dropbears Clementine Round and James Williams who both hail from the Ravens. The return of championship winning coach, Liam McCoppin who is also affiliated with the Ravens, will also help solidify the core of Victoria’s strength. 

New to the Leadbeaters but certainly not new to quidditch is Andrew Hull, a keeper for Willows Quidditch Club and originally of Quidditch UK where he was one of Team UK’s lead keepers. Hull, alongside State veteran Dan Leane, will form the new keeping core of the Leadbeaters. Madeleine Bell, who made her debut at State Shield last year, is now also joined by a further three Madelines on the team, including Vic Cup’s Division 1 highest female goal scorer, Madeline Fitzgerald of the Monash Muggles. Fitzgerald is being hailed as the new Caitlin Thomas, also receiving acclaim as the best new talent at Victorian Fantasy Tournament earlier this year and will certainly be a player to look out for. 

Madeline Fitzgerald playing for Monash Muggles in the 2019 Vic Cup Grand Final | Photo: James Layh

Also of the Muggles is the notable dynamic beater duo, Sam Kilpatrick, who joined the Leadbeaters in 2018, and Zach Giofkou, on debut though he played on series in 2016. This pair caused major strife for eventual finalist University of Sydney Unspeakables at last year’s National Championships, many players who are on this year’s NSW Blue Tongues state team. Indeed, Kilpatrick and Giofkou also ran circles around the mixed NSW teams at Mudbash and will likely be critical to the Leadbeaters’ success at the 2019 State Shield.

While the Leadbeaters’ trial and selection process began substantially later than their rivals in NSW this year, the cohesion that the Muggles core will bring to the team, combined with the intense training regime the team has undergone, will make them a force to be reckoned with. One of the challenges of state teams has always been the melding and synergy of different elite players from across a number of different teams and the Victorian side has gone to great lengths to combat this. Furthermore, while 2018 saw the major change in the female chaser line for the Leadbeaters with a significant influx of new names replacing Dropbear veterans, these players including Jessica Cooper and Madeline Bell, as well as Emily Kirsh in the beater line, now approach the tournament much more experienced at State-level play. 

Nevertheless, the loss of Mayling, internationally regarded as being one of the best quidditch players in the world, a major driving threat for Victoria, and the best tackler in Australia, along with Osmond, another major driving and seeking threat, leaves a major gap in the Leadbeater line up that players like Leane, Vienet, and Allan must fill in with their physicality. With two Dropbear drivers, Brandon Frison and Dameon Osborn, missing from NSW Blue Tongues as well, there is much scope across the two rivals for new players to step into those roles or for a new style of play less focused on physicality and driving. 

Dan Leane keeping for Monash Muggles | Photo: James Layh

Victoria’s snitch-on-pitch game will also of course be critical and substantial change after losing so many in-range games last year will need to be seen. A lot will be riding on debut state seeker Massimo Galli, as well as returning seeker Dylan Waller, who notably caught the National Championship winning snitch for the Melbourne Manticores last year.

With the training the team has put in and their solid core of established and new players, the Leadbeaters should be able to gain control of the quaffle and bludger game enough to keep their most competitive matches in range, but they will need a superior snitch-on-pitch plan, especially in the beater game, if they want to win the title back from NSW. 

NSW Blue Tongues certainly remain the Leadbeaters’ greatest challenge and threat in the tournament, as the two states are the oldest and most established, with the most history and experience and depth of players to draw on, and the rivalry between these two teams has been the hallmark and driving force of state representative quidditch since the beginning. Nevertheless, the younger Queensland, who were able to best the Leadbeaters once before, will be equally keen to do so again this year, and have been growing in strength year by year. The NSW B team, newly rebranded to the Bluebottles, are also now facing their third State Shield, with a number of returning players from a rapidly growing NSW playerbase. While the Leadbeaters have dominated NSW B in the past, they should not underestimate the more experienced team this year. With the debut of a Victorian B team now as well, what is more certain is that the future of the Leadbeaters is much more secure. 

Find out more about the other teams as we introduce them over the course of the next few days in the lead up to the 2019 State Shield, and get excited to see the Leadbeaters in action on home ground at the Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Oval as they fight to reclaim the Shield and win their third State title.