Mitch (Turbo) Goodsall, Braith Winner, Toby Tanks, Riley Bethune, Callum Rossiter, Chase Bullock and Matt Stadtmiller. Front Aidan Thomas, Lachie West, Kaidan Bell, Cody Bell, JJ Bell and Trae King.
22-year-old Kaidan Bell, has helped guide his team, the Hornets, to their fifth successive grand final title in the Gundagai Touch Football Competition. Kaidan scored five tries in the 10/5 win, with younger brother Cody scoring three. Aidan Thomas and Braith Winner each scored a try a piece.
They came up against their fierce rivals, the Goats, who managed five tries with Toby Dasey and Cooper Vanzanten both scoring a brace, while Nick McMurray chipped in with a meat pie of his own.
Kaidan has been a consistent and elite player in Gundagai and this was highlighted throughout his schooling. Touch footy isn’t a new sport for Kaidan, who was picked in Year Five and Six to represent the Riverina, before being asked again in Year’s Seven through to 10.
He has also played Southern Suns at age 16.
Kaidan says his dad, himself and a few other players used the name Hornets and put together a side which won B Grade some years prior.
All of the Bells and their tight knit group of friends kicked off under the Hornets banner in A
Grade and have gone on a winning spree, Chris leaving the side to let his sons continue on their own path which is now a half decade winning spree.
“We all got together and had a side that won the first A Grade one,” says Kaidan.
The Hornets are a tight knit group of players, with five of the original players (Kaidan, JJ, Cody, Aido and Riley) still playing for the team.
“There’s a bunch of us that have stayed together from the first original Hornets,” says Kaidan.
“Then, as the years went on, we picked up Braith and Lachie and next year Lachie’s brother might play.
One of the side’s favourites is Mitch (Turbo) Goodsall who has been playing for the last two seasons and came back from an unrelated injury to play in the Grand Final.
During their earlier years, Kaidan says he can remember several tough sides that they couldn’t knock off, although in recent years, they’ve been largely undefeated.
“Dad was a big part of teaching all his sons,” he says.
“He’s put all his money into me to take me away.
“I know Mum and Dad have taken me to Mudgee, Dubbo, everywhere, for me to play touch footy, which is good and I am very grateful for.”
Kaidan will continue to push the Hornets for their next (potential sixth in a row) win.
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