Meet the Australian Survivor 2019 contestants

David Genat, 39, international model, CHAMPION

Friend and season two player, Sarah Tilleke, convinced David to join the show.

He’ll be coming into the game with a hard plan, too, telling TV WEEK, “I want four strong players to line up with a goat each… and then take them to the slaughter. BYO goat.”

Shaun Hampson, 31, retired AFL player, CONTENDER

A former AFL player who played for Carlton and Richmond Football Clubs, Shaun doesn’t feel like he ever really made it with his AFL career due to injuries that forced him into an early retirement.

FUN FACT: the now dad of two and café owner is engaged to Australian model Megan Gale.

Samantha Schoers, 30, VIP gaming manager, CONTENDER

A VIP gaming manager for the country’s biggest casinos, Sam is responsible for the biggest players and making sure they are looked after. So if there’s anything Sam knows, it’s how to socialise and win people over.

Laura Choong, 31, digital marketing manager, CONTENDER

Small in stature,but not in personality, Laura may only be 4’9″ but she won’t go unnoticed.

She describes herself as “a Chihuahua that thinks she’s a Rottweiler.”

Harry Hills, 30, ice-cream maker, CONTENDER

Planning to actively undermine his opponents and play a lovable villain, Harry’s Survivor favourites are 2017 stars Luke and Jericho. “I’m a massive fan of theirs, I just loved all their mischievous moments like sneaking around with the cookie jar,” reveals Harry. “‘m hoping I can emulate them.”

Daisy Richardson, 24, travel agent, CONTENDER

Moving away from her family into a world of new people at boarding school and learning to adapt is one reason Daisy thinks she’s got what it takes to win Survivor. “Boarding school massively shaped who I am as a person and gave me resilience at a really young age,” she says.

Casey Hawkins, 31, educator, CONTENDER

Casey has spent the last two years travelling around Australia to remote communities educating kids about creative writing.

FUN FACT: Casey was an extra in Blue Heelers as a child

Baden Gilbert, 23, science student, CONTENDER

Science may not be top of the skills list when it comes to the game of Survivor, but after watching last year’s genius Sam make it to Jury Villa, Baden was inspired to give it a go.

Andrew Meldrum, 47, marketing executive, CONTENDER

The ultimate Survivor fan, Andrew plans on becoming the ultimate villain and taking out the top prize.

“I don’t just want to win, I want to win big in the most memorable way than anybody has ever won before,” he says.

Hannah Pentreath, 27, police officer, CONTENDER

Hannah plans on tricking her fellow contestants into underestimating her by pretending to be a hairdresser.

Anastasia Woolmer, 45, memory champion, CHAMPION

A memory athlete and two-time Australian Memory Champion, Anastasia also trained at the Australian Ballet School – skills that can prove an advantage in both physical and mental challenges.

Abbey Holmes, 28, AFL premiership winner, CHAMPION

The Adelaide Crows’ star forward and midfielder was the first woman to kick 100 goals in a season and now has her sights set on Australian Survivor 2019.

Inspired by last year’s series Abbey says she “thought it would be an unbelievable challenge

and experience”.

Pia Miranda, 46, actress, CHAMPION

Looking For Alibrandi star Pia is ready for the challenge of Survivor after years in the world of film, television and stage productions.

“I have been watching Survivor since the first season in 2000 and I’ve been sitting on the couch for almost 20 years saying I could win, so I guess now is my chance!” says Pia. “I really want to play as a fan and be someone that a fan would enjoy watching.”

FUN FACT: Pia’s on-screen dad in Looking For Alibrandi was played by Anthony LaPaglia – yep, brother to Australian Survivor host JLP.

Luke Toki, 32, survivor legend, CHAMPION

The King returns! Australian Survivor season two favourite Luke Toki is heading back in to the jungle to claim his crown.

Luke is competing as part of the Champions tribe – of course – and promises to pick up his antics where he left off.

“I’m gonna play hard and take the piss out of people,” says Luke, laughing. “I really believe I have the tools to win. I am willing to die out here to win.”

Nova Peris, 48, Olympic gold medallist, CHAMPION

Fans will recognise Nova as an athlete and senator. She first came to the nation’s attention as part of the Gold Medal winning women’s hockey team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

After then taking out the Gold at the Commonwealth Games, she switched sports and competed in the following Olympics as a sprinter.

In 1997 she was awarded Young Australian of The Year as well as receiving a medal for the Order of Australia, making her Nova Peris OAM. Nova went on to become the first Indigenous woman to be elected to Commonwealth Parliament for the senate in the Northern Territory.

Simon Black, 40, AFL superstar, CHAMPION

One of the most decorated players in recent AFL history, viewers will recognise the former Brisbane Lions Captain as soon as he steps on to the island.

He was a three-time premiership player, AFL Rising Star Nominee, Brownlow Medallist, Norm Smith Medallist, three-time All Australian team member and was also awarded Club Best & Fairest three times.

“The combination of physical and mental challenges seemed like something that would stretch me as a person,” Simon says of the show. “The gamesmanship will be a big challenge, but I am very excited to get out there and I am going to do my absolute best.”

Janine Allis, 53, CEO powerhouse, CHAMPION

Janine is a leading entrepreneur and CEO, and is the founder of Boost Juice bars. With more than 600 stores in 15 countries, the iconic brand has secured Janine a spot in the list of top Aussie businesses.

Janine is also a familiar face for Network 10 viewers for her role on Shark Tank.

Ross Clarke-Jones, 53, big wave surfer, CHAMPION

Legendary big wave surfer Ross is one of the most iconic surfers to catch waves over 80 feet high. Ross, known as Mad Dog, spent 12 years on the ASP World Tour.

In 2001 he became the first Australian surfer to win the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, and in 2016 took second place in The Eddie. He’s certainly a fierce competitor to look out for when Survivor kicks off!

Andrew Ettingshausen, 53, NRL legend, CHAMPION

NRL legend Andrew, who is known fondly by fans as ET, is renowned as one of the best NRL players of all time. He played 328 games for the Cronulla Sharks over 18 years and won the Dally M Centre of the Year Award in 1994 and 1996.

No stranger to the spotlight, he’s also got his own fishing show on Network 10 called Escape With ET. Will ET be crowned the Sole Survivor? Host Jonathan certainly thinks he’s one to watch.

“There’s that sports mentality, working as a team and being honourable,” says JLP. “It works to a degree, but the show is so much more complicated than that.”

Steven Bradbury, 45, Olympic gold medallist, CHAMPION

The Australian Olympian is so famous there’s a saying named after him: ‘Doing a Bradbury’. Steven is known for his Gold Medal win at the 2002 Winter Olympics. When his four opponents collided, Steven glided to victory at the 1000m short track speed skating event.

Susie Maroney, 44, marathon swimmer, CHAMPION

Susie is a legendary long-distance swimmer, most famous for her 1999 swim from Mexico to Cuba. The 200km swim took Susie 38 hours to complete, a feat no-one has achieved since. We think Susie will be one to watch this year.

John Eastoe, 28, gold miner, CONTENDER

John is temporarily ditching the underground gold miner life in Western Australia to try his hand at Australian Survivor.

The cheeky larrikin hopes his determination and desire to have a good time will help him in the game, though he admits he’s not a “superfan” of the show.

Matty Farrelly, 29, high school teacher/pro wrestler, CONTENDER

Humble school teacher by day, fiesty pro-wrestler by night, Matty is described as having two “very strong” sides to his personality.

Though he may seem strategic and cocky, he knows how to look after people and make them feel comfortable thanks to his day job.

Sarah Ayles, 45, cleaner, CONTENDER

A cleaner and mum-of-two from South Australia, Sarah is also a real-life Survivor.

The contestant survived the Boxing Day tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2004. Not knowing what was happening until it was too late, she jumped off a balcony and was dragged 800 metres away trying to hold on to anything she could. She eventually was grabbed and pulled onto a roof.

Australian Survivor begins Wednesday, July 24, Thursday, July 25, and Sunday, July 28, 7.30pm, 10