The historic series, which will be played under lights at Queens Park on Thursday 24 April, will see the region’s best touch footballers go head-to-head in three elite-level matches across Men’s Open, Women’s Open, and Men’s Over 30s divisions. With pride, service, and rivalry all on the line, the match-ups promise to deliver an evening of top-tier touch and powerful community spirit.
The Townsville Saints, representing Townsville Touch Football, will be coached by Rhys Bevan (Men’s Open), Mark Edwards (Women’s Open), and Dean Condon (Men’s Over 30s), with a strong mix of youth, speed, and experience across all squads.
Meanwhile, the Defence Crocs, selected from the North Queensland Defence Force Touch Association (NQDFTA), will be led by Matthew Sullivan, Damien Scott, and Matthew Griffiths. The Defence sides are packed with strength, discipline, and a level of intensity that only service members can bring to the game.
The Challenge will open with a commemorative ceremony at 5:45pm, led by serving ADF personnel and featuring The Last Post and a minute’s silence, before the action begins at 6:00pm with the Men’s Over 30s match. The Women’s Open will follow at 6:50pm, with the Men’s Open to close out the series at 7:40pm, and the ANZAC Day Challenge Shield awarded to the overall winner.
The ANZAC Day Challenge is free to attend, with a BBQ and licensed area operating throughout the evening. All members of the public — especially Defence families, current and former ADF personnel, and the Townsville sporting community — are encouraged to come down and be part of a respectful and exciting night of representative touch football.
Team rivalries may take centre stage, but the true winner will be the connection shared between sport, service, and community.
The squads named are as follows:
Townsville Saints
Anthony Steel
Brian Knight
David Argent
Dean Condon
Jason Pierce
Joshua Hall
Luke Hildabrandt
Matthew Salmon
Michael Parsloe
Mitchell Lauder
Paul Adams
Trent Foley
Tristan Smith
Troy Bower
Coach: Dean Condon
Assistant Coach: Jason Hughes
NQDFTA Crocs
Damien Scott
Lewis White
Toby Minns
David Krause
Benjamin Alderson
Matthew Griffiths
Wayne Wilson
Tom Palmer
Jared Hanna
Orion De Havillard
Lachlan Walsh
Cameron Majewski
Michael Campbell
Darwish Singh
Coach: Matthew Griffiths
Townsville Saints
Abby King
Aimee Angus
Caitlin Brennan
Gabbriella Parenti
Heidee Nyen
Jane Schefe
Caydee Kyle
Layne Prince
Madeleine Wallace
Montaya Hudson
Riley Seamark
Sophie Smith
Teesha Edwards
Coach: Mark Edwards
Assistant Coach: Kyle Woolfe
NQDFTA Crocs
Justyce Cleverly
Alicia Albury
Summer Donnelly
Sophie Hartley
Abbey Braund
Jenna Kelly
Mia Hayes
Holly Sansom
Mikaela Gallaher
Josie Humphreys
Talia Losberg
Sarah Shooks
Annie Luckman
Coach: Damien Scott
Townsville Saints
Callum Purdon
Conor Wilson
Jake Brewer
Joel Craperi
Kelvin Caspani
Kristian Congoo
Luke Swain
Malachy Friel
Matthew Eggins
Ryan McCarron
Samuel Twiname
Shaemus Edwards
Shaun Francis
Zak Paul
Coach: Rhys Bevan
Assistant Coaches: Brenton Snelling
& Trent Foley
NQDFTA Crocs
Jack Mason
Blake Skinner
David Stewart
Jesse Thamm
Issac Rosenberg
Matthew Sullivan
Jesse Taylor
Blake McCaffrey
Barclay Roach
Ethan Walsh
Tyler Kerr
Ty Schafer
Daniel Stiff
Coach: Matthew Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Matthew Griffiths