From the field to the page: A championship win, told by Jaxon Taylor
May 12th, 2026
By Jaxon Taylor
Last month, several MDNSW participants took part in the 2026 Australian Powerchair Football Association (APFA) Club Championship, Australia’s elite powerchair football competition.
This national competition, held yearly, saw 10 teams face off to take home the title of Club Champions for 2026.
Powerchair football is an adapted version of soccer for wheelchair users and sees four players per side face off in high-speed action. The aim? Score more goals than the opposition in 40 minutes.
The winning team, Western Sydney Wanderers. Wheelchair users, left to right (Riley Johnson, Jonathan Reyes, Jaxon Taylor, Jai Mehta, Rumeth Herath, Steve Webb, Andy Waite). Staff, left to right (Greg Islip, Lorenzo Campagna, Jess O’Connor, Craig O’Connor, Michael Waite, Javier Caamano) | Photo Credit: Western Sydney Wanderers
For many MDNSW participants, this competition is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar.
Teams trained to their breaking point and beyond, with arguably the strongest competition Australia has ever seen. Where most competitions see between two or three teams fighting for the title, this year saw four teams give their all to come out on top against the country’s best.
Reflecting on the week, it was amazing to see such a wonderful community thrive together, getting to play the sport they love.
Standout moments from the competition include MDNSW community member Joshua Ryan being voted Most Valuable Player by referees, alongside strong performances from many other athletes with neuromuscular conditions. Jaxon Taylor and Jai Mehta also tasted sweet victory, taking home the trophy with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
When asked what led to him winning Most Valuable Player, Josh was quick to note the preparation and hard work that his team put in:
“I think the biggest part of our preparation… is being able to play reasonably high-quality games against the best in the country…”
As a player, seeing community members bond over a common interest was so special, made even more meaningful by the support and encouragement of MDNSW volunteers. A return to football for both Fletcher Ball and Jaxon Taylor were two notable events for our community, with Ball returning from surgery and Taylor coming back from a break from the game.
When asked about his return, Fletcher put it quite bluntly. “I came to win”.
Fletcher’s ruthless attack mixed in with the performances of MDNSW participants Joshua Ryan, Daniel O’Brien, Cody Towne, Riley Brown, Harry Simmons, George Teong, as well as Chris Suffield saw Sydney FC finish valiantly in 5th.
Sydney FC extended squad, including family, celebrating their 5th place finish at the tournament | Photo Credit: Sydney FC Foundation Powerchair Team.
Australian representatives Ryan Seck and Chris Hastas had a strong week for the Newcastle Jets. The two mainstays of the Jets finished in tied third after their playoff game against Melbourne City could not be settled by penalties.
Ryan Seck playing against Melbourne City | Photo Credit: William A Stewart AFIAP, FAPS, SAPS
Chris Hastas (left) playing against Melbourne City’s Shaun Mott | Photo Credit: William A Stewart AFIAP, FAPS, SAPS
The Western Sydney Wanderers returned to the top this year, mirroring their 2024 win when American Zach Dickey flew into Brisbane, his voice heard across the entirety of Nissan Arena. The team didn’t concede a single goal. National champions.
American captain Riley Johnson was the talk of the town for the Wanderers this time, and their competition alike. In response, it was his football that would do the talking. Johnson’s leadership, coaching and talent saw the trophy return to Western Sydney for the first time since 2024, defeating Brisbane’s River City in the final.
A huge thank you goes out to the players for delivering such an intense competition, as well as the organisers, media team for their efforts on broadcast, the volunteers who made it happen, and you for reading this article.
Postal Address: PO Box 3071, North Strathfield NSW 2137
Muscular Dystrophy NSW would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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