THERE would have been a few opposition players dodging Peninsula footballer Mitchell Koch at the Queensland Primary Schools Australian Rules Championships in Brisbane. 

The 11-year-old midfielder was quick to answer when asked what he liked most about playing in the centre of the park.

"Because you get to go in hard," he said.

"Putting on hard hits and putting on tackles. That’s the best bit."

Peninsula teammate Tom Michael had more sedate reasons for liking Australian rules.

"It’s fun playing against other people and you get to make new friends," he said.

Regardless of what the boys think about Australian rules, it is clear they both have a talent for the sport.

Koch and Michael earned call-ups to the Queensland side after starring for Peninsula at the state championships.

It was a successful tournament all-round for the Peninsula players, who finished second in the country pool behind Darling Downs.

Team manager Kristen Knight said it was a major improvement on last year’s fourth placing.

"We had five boys come back from the team last year and I think that made a big difference," she said.

"We did so much better, played well as a team and everyone contributed.

"We were really pleased at how the boys went."

Share this article