TFA ambassadors have been selected to represent TFA as a result of their consistent display of leadership, hard work and professionalism.
NICK GOOD
Team: Australian Men’s Open
Affiliate: Penrith / Western Suburbs
Nick is the incumbent captain of the Australian Men’s Open team, leading his country to a whitewash victory at the 2016 Open Trans-Tasman in Auckland NZ.Nick is a popular leader on and off the field and is excited by the challenge of continuing the legacy of Australian Men’s Open success.
ELIZABETH CAMPBELL
Team: Australian Women’s Open
Affiliate: Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association
Elizabeth or “Lizzie” as she is affectionately known, was bestowed with the honour of leading her country as reward for her no nonsense approach and inspiring work ethic. These attributes have cemented her place in the all-conquering Women’s Open Team and resulted in her leading the recent 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand in the 2016 Opens Trans-Tasman.
CAMERON NICHOLLS
Team: Australian Mixed Open
Affiliate: Parramatta
Cameron is the current Australian Mixed Open Captain and is a prominent leader on and off the field. Cameron owns his own successful real estate business in Sydney and this work ethic has entrenched Cam in our opens program in recent years.
STEVE ROBERTS
Team: Japan Men’s Open Coach (Former AUS Men’s Captain)
Affiliate: Canterbury Bulldogs
Steve debuted for Australia at the 2003 World Cup and has represented Australia at four World Cups – 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015. Steve has captained the Australian Men’s Open team since the 2012 Trans-Tasman Series. Steve retired from the Men’s Open team in 2016 and is now the coach of the Japan Men’s Open team.
He is a cousin of former Australian Women’s Open captain, Louise Winchester.
HANNAH DYBALL
Team: Australian Women’s Open
Affiliate: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Before she had finished High School, Hannah had enjoyed career success many would not achieve in a lifetime. A member of the 2015 Australian Women’s Open world championship team, victorious 2015 19s Girls Youth Team and NSWTA State Cup champion. In 2016, the list of allocates kept on coming, with Hannah a key member of the dominant Australian Trans-Tasman Women’s Open team.
KIMBERLY SUE SEE
Team: Australian Women’s Open
Affiliate: Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association
Another young athlete with a long international future ahead of her, Kim has positioned herself as one of the most important members of the Australian Women’s team. Kim enjoyed a stellar 2016, claiming the Elite 8 Championship with the Queensland Broncos and collected the Player of the Series and Player of the Final awards. Kimberley was also a member of the victorious 2016 Women’s Open Trans-Tasman team which defeated the Kiwi’s in Auckland.
SAM BRISBY
Team: Australian Men’s Open
Affiliate: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Sam Brisby debuted for the Australian Men’s Open team as a 17-year-old at the 2010 Trans-Tasman Series. He has played in two World Cup events – 2011 and 2015 and four Opens Trans-Tasman Test Series (2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016).
SAMANTHA RODGERS
Team: Australian Women’s Open
Affiliate: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Samantha Rodgers made her debut for the Australian Mixed Open team in the 2014 Trans-Tasman Series as an 18-year-old. She represented the Australian Women’s Open team in the 2015 Touch World Cup and 2016 Open’s Trans-Tasman.
PETE NORMAN
Team: Australian Men’s Open
Affiliate: Gold Coast
Peter Norman is a current star of the Australia’s Men’s Open team, scoring four tries at the recent Touch World Cup final against New Zealand.
Peter is the son of Kerry Norman, Australia’s most capped representative through her career as a player, coach and manager with 104 caps while father, Greg, has also played for Australia.
DYLAN HENNESSEY
Team: Australian Men’s Open
Affiliate: Wests Magpies
EMILY HENNESSEY
Team: Australian Women’s Open
Affiliate: Wests Magpies
‘The Hennessy’s’
Dylan and Emily Hennessey (nee Hopkin) are both star Australian representatives in the Men’s and Women’s teams respectively, each debuting at the 2009 Trans-Tasman Series.
Dylan is widely regarded as the best player in the world. He has played in every series since the 2009-2010 Trans-Tasman Series, including the 2011 Touch World Cup, the 2012/2013/2014 Trans-Tasman Series’ events as well as the recent 2015 Touch World Cup.
Emily played in the 2009 and 2010 Trans-Tasman events, the 2011 Touch World Cup, and the 2013 Super Trans-Tasman Series, as well as having two children in that time: Brooklyn (born January 2012) and Mila (born October 2014).
Her ability to come back to play a leading role at the 2015 Touch World Cup in such a short turnaround is a true credit to Emily’s determination and commitment to the sport. Emily’s sister, Samantha Hopkin, is also in the Australian Women’s Open team.
STUART BRIERTY
Team: Australian Men’s Open
Affiliate: Canterbury Bulldogs
Stuart has been a stalwart of the Australian Men’s Open team, debuting for the team in the 2009 Trans-Tasman Series.
He has represented Australia in every international tournament since, including the 2011 World Cup in Scotland and 2015 World Cup in Coffs Harbour, Australia, as well as the 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Trans-Tasman Series events.
Stuart is also captain of the Alliance Men’s Open team in the Elite Eight competition, having spent his childhood in Western Australia.
LEAH PERCY
Team: Australian Women’s Open
Affiliate: Melbourne City Lions
Leah became the first Victorian to represent the Australian Women’s Open team when she debuted at the 2012 Trans-Tasman Series in Mudgee.
She has been a constant member of the team ever since, playing in the 2013 and 2014 Trans-Tasman Series events as well as the 2015 World Cup. Leah is also the Alliance Women’s Open captain in the Elite Eight Series and a proud new Mum to Tahlia.
SCOTT BUCKLEY
Team: Australian Men’s Open
Affiliate: Penrith
Scott is a prominent player within the Australian Men’s Open team and another graduate from the Penrith Touch nursery of Australian representatives.
Scott has enjoyed a distinguished international career, most recently representing his country at the 2015 FIT Touch World Cup (World Champions) and 2016 Opens Trans-Tasman clean sweep in Auckland NZ.
REBECCA BEATH
Team: Alliance Women’s Open
Affiliate: Vikings (ACT)
Bec is one of the best Touch Footballers from the TFA Alliance Program, and an Alliance Women’s Open representative. Bec is an outstanding leader and currently studying engineering at the Australian National University, one of the country’s leading engineering programs.
MARIKKI WATEGO
Team: Australian Women’s Open
Affiliate: Gold Coast / South QLD Sharks
Marikki is a distinguished member of the all-conquering Australian women’s open team, and member of the 2015 World Championship team. She is also the captain of the TFA Indigenous All Stars team. Off the field, Marikki is an exceptional young woman and recent legal graduate, who frequently represents TFA and QTF on various media opportunities due to her composure and demeanour.
DANIELLE DAVIS
Team: Australian Women’s Open
Affiliate: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Danielle is an emerging star of the Australia’s Women’s Open team, and a key figure in the next chapter of Australia’s women’s world dominance. After being rested in the 2015 World Cup final Danni responded with a powerhouse performance in the 2016 Open Trans-Tasman Test Series in New Zealand. Danielle is the sister of Shellie Davis, one of Australia’s newest Women’s representatives who made her debut alongside Danni in Auckland in 2016, continuing a long tradition of sisters representing Australia in the Women’s Open division.
DAVID BAGGIO
Leading Male Referee
Affiliate: Wagga Wagga
Dave is currently the number one ranked referee in the world and has been Australia’s leading referee for numerous years.
He is passionate about the development of referees and is a mentor for the national emerging referees squad.
AMANDA SHEEKY
Leading Female Referee
Affiliate: Hope Valley Demons (SA)
Amanda is Australia’s leading female referee and more recently one of the top international referees. Residing in Adelaide, Amanda is also on the State Advisory panel for Touch Football SA and a dedicated committee member (and player/referee) for her local affiliate, Hope Valley Demons.
In her spare time, Amanda works for the Australian Sports Commission’s sporting schools program.