Despite never actually playing together for the Artie Smith Oval based club, Matt Tyler and Beau Black were named in this side following last week’s intra-army carnival in Queensland.

Tyler, a carpenter in the Royal Australian Engineers, and his South East Queensland Army Lions opened their tournament with a tough win against Townsville’s Three Brigade.

This win pitted Tyler’s Lions against Black, a military police officer, and his Northern Territory One Brigade side, at Aspley Oval – with is home of the Aspley Hornets North East Australian Football League side.

Behind the strong play of Black, the Darwin based side won 80-15, to take out the tournament.

“On a personal note, this was my first time playing representative army footy, as this has been the first year I haven’t been on course and therefore unavailable for selection,” Tyler said.

“I was a little rusty in our first up win against Townsville but started to find my feet against Darwin.

“It was good going up against Beau [Black], who was easily one of the best players at the whole tournament.

“It was also exciting to mix and match in the Lions side with guys from different job streams and ranks than mine.”

The pair’s train-on squad will head to Melbourne in March next year for a two-week training camp, before the final squad is picked – with this side taking on the national navy and airforce sides.

“Everyone wants to play brigade footy, so I’m going to make the most of this chance and enjoy it as much as I can,” Tyler said.