Touch Football Australia Appoints National Independent Selectors for Opens Program

Touch Football Australia (TFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Boland (Emu #27), Melinda McMah (Emu #85), Peta Rogerson (Emu #109), and Ryan Pollock (Emu #160) as National Independent Selectors for the Australian Emus Opens program.

These appointments mark the formal reintroduction of an independent selection panel for the Emus program, underscoring TFA’s commitment to transparent, fair, and high-performance selection processes. They follow a rigorous two-stage process, including a formal application and interview phase, and represent a significant milestone in implementing the new Australian Emus National Selection Policy.

Each of the four selectors brings a wealth of experience and insight to the role, having all previously represented Australia as Emus athletes themselves. Their firsthand understanding of the demands, standards, and attributes required to perform at the elite international level positions them strongly to contribute to a transparent, consistent, and high-performing selection environment. Notably, both Mark and Peta have been recognised as the ‘best of the best’ in Touch Football as part of Golden Jubilee Teams, while Mark has also been inducted into the TFA Hall of Fame.

The introduction of National Independent Selectors reflects TFA’s ongoing commitment to best-practice governance and high-performance principles, ensuring selection decisions are informed, objective, and aligned with the long-term success of the Australian Emus program.

These appointments are effective immediately and will continue until the Opens international event in April 2026.

TFA congratulates Mark Boland, Mel McMah, Peta Rogerson, and Ryan Pollock on their appointments and looks forward to their contribution to the Opens program.