Skilful middle Zoe Peters, 12, is one of the best young prospects to emerge from the Nelson Bay Touch Football ranks. She is pictured with her dad, Jon Peters, one of the sport’s leading mentors.
ANNA Bay schoolgirl Zoe Peters continues to shine in the junior representative touch football arena.
With her skill and poise, the 12-year-old prodigy is one of the brightest prospects to emerge in the Hunter region and fast-developing into a play-making middle of the highest calibre.
Young gun Zoe has proved a stand out for the Nelson Bay Neptunes at representative carnivals this season where she impressed judges with her natural ball skills, positional play and tenacity in the big moments.
She was a key figure for the talented Neptunes Under 12s Girls team that won the annual Peter Wilson Memorial Cup tournament earlier this year at the Tomaree Sports Complex where she was named Player of the Series.
Zoe later backed up to lead the Neptunes to a semi final appearance and top three ranking at the prestigious Junior State Cup Northern Conference championships in Dubbo.
For her sterling efforts, she gained selection in the Hunter Western Hornets representative team to compete at this year’s National Youth Touch Football Championships.
Zoe is one of three Neptunes players featured in the Girls 12 years squad along with promising juniors Luna Kneipp and Ayana Parker.
It is a huge achievement for dedicated Zoe, who shows an on-field maturity that far belies her years.
Neptunes coach Trent Colley told News Of The Area that his mercurial middle was an “exceptional talent with all the tricks-of-the-trade”.
“Zoe has loads of potential and was the driving force behind the team’s success,” he said.
“She inspired the girls with her on-field smarts and led the way in the big games.
There were further honours for Zoe when she received the Junior State Cup Coaches Award at the Nelson Bay Touch Football Junior Rep Presentation last weekend.
The versatile athlete, who also excels in rugby league, soccer and AFL, is a chip off the old block.
She is the daughter of highly respected Port Stephens touch football mentor Jon Peters, who has helped develop many a touch footballer in the Nelson Bay association over the years.
An accomplished player himself, Jon devotes countless hours into nurturing the next generation of junior talent in the region as a leading coach.
His passion for the sport has grown since moving to Port Stephens as a 15-year-old from Canberra.
Jon was introduced to the game in his final year at the old Nelson Bay High School and was hooked and still enjoys his involvement these days as a player-mentor.
When Zoe’s elder brother Harry, 15, started playing in the local Nelson Bay Touch Football competition she tagged along.
A talented Neptunes and Hornets representative in his own right, Harry has influenced young Zoe who is always striving to improve her game.
Since making her representative debut with the Neptunes’ Under 10s Girls squad, the naturally-gifted Zoe has blossomed into a classy middle with leadership qualities.
Given the opportunity to try different sports and challenge herself, the Anna Bay Public School Year 6 pupil has carved her niche.
To improve her game, Zoe competes with several of her Neptunes team mates for the Honeybees in the Nelson Bay Intermediate Under 15 summer series against more seasoned opponents.
She thrives on the challenge of testing herself against the best and learning from top players three or four years her senior.
When Zoe isn’t steering her touch football teams to on-field success, she can be found at the Tomaree playing fields honing her skills and assisting her father Jon in coaching up-and-coming juniors.
Despite her tender years, Zoe enjoys putting back into the game and offering tips to her peers which is a commendable trait.
The gifted all rounder will line up for the inaugural Nelson Bay Marlins Under 12s Girls rugby league team as an organising half back this season and also represent the Mid North Coast and Inland AFL Schools representative side at the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association AFL Championships in Tamworth from 11-13 May.
By Chris KARAS