Passion – Teamwork – Fun – Respect
A mate of mine wrote this on Facebook today, I thought I would pass this on as I am proud to be an Aussie…
I sit on my couch watching the footy, beer in hand and thinking how lucky I am to have been gifted the best country in the world to grow up in happy, safe and free. To all the wonderful Aussie service men & women past and present that have always repelled tyranny, terrorism, invading forces and represented this country’s interests with such pride to ensure that my family and I have what we have today….. I give you my never- ending thanks and respect.
Well said Wayne Sharkie (former teammate of mine at Doncaster East FC)
Every week I notice a story that jumps out and it smacks you fast as the feel-good story of the week. Sunday, I went down to support the U16 D2 team at Moorleigh Reserve and I bumped into Grant Griffin who took on the U14 D4 team coaching job. I asked him how he went and with a broad smile Griffo said they won. I was aware of how skinny they were for numbers as the D1 U14 team had several out with injuries. Grant said they had played well and deserved to sing the song. I am very happy for these boys as they have been pulled from pillar to post in the last 2 years. Well done boys and to the U12 lads that helped, well done to you guys also.
Great to see Jesse and Tom guide the U17 lads to a victory, this made me smile, they are up and about the lads and the match report mentioned how hard the contested ball was.
Richard Coyne also sang the song with the girls in the U18 ladies game. I am very happy for these girls who are mainly playing up as many are U16 but chose to keep the squad together from last year.
You hear me talk about development often; we develop best when life is good, things are in order, we are organised. I received a phone call from Gathers (Andrew Gathercole) 2 weeks ago who helped me think outside the square with forming a third U12 girls team based on numbers having closed the books 2 weeks earlier. We at Rovers have had a proud history of welcoming all children and never closing the door on anyone (we did one year and we were less proud and have learnt from our mistake). With numbers mounting and girls sitting on the bench, it made better sense to run a little skinny for numbers and seek the assistance from the SMJFL, the GM for Footy, Emily McIntrye at HQ, loved the idea. Em said she had a bye we can fill, problem solved, we hope. As I said to the U10 mixed teams, development is only experienced when being active. Positive action = proactive development. Sitting on the bench is not learned habit. A big thank you to Emma Nicholl, Fi Gathercole, Callum and Josh for being so insightful for coaches so young. GREAT WORK TEAM, GO GET EM YOUNG LADIES.
All Under 8 teams expressed a great day had. Tim said his team grows daily, each time they touch a footy improvement is witnessed.
The Under 9 squad is thriving, a mixed bag of results but kids everywhere and loving footy on a sunny day at multi venues.
The Under 10 reports from Marcus and Michael were great as all the reports are. East Malvern and Vampires would have enjoyed the games no doubt, good mention of the 2 lads that played up in Michael’s team from U9.
Damo wrote on his U11 Report “The boys should hold their heads high – they never gave up and kept a positive attitude all day. Our teamwork is improving all the time and we now know the level we can play at”.
Wayno wrote “Was extremely proud the way the boys played as a unit and like all good Hampton Rovers teams, never gave in”.
Tim’s Under 12 team met a fully fired up Zebs team late in the arvo at the fortress. The Zebs showed us what a graded team looks like in D2, the result was a blow out.
Dave reported a strong showing, I got the good oil and heard the attention a few of his boys received was concerning, well done fellas.
Another feel good story is the improvement of the U13 D5 team. Brodie Jeffrey as Captain led from the front. Billy Morris and Jack Cahill supported Brod’s perfectly, well done Mike Cahill, your team I witnessed first-hand at Boss James played a brand of footy a coach should be proud of.
The D1 U13 team struggled, 8 new faces, it will take some time to gel, we had plenty of the ball early but didn’t capitalise.
14 D1 struggled, plenty of outs through injury, they played a finals bound St Kilda who link well and share the load.
Sunday was a great day to be an Aussie, today is the proudest day on our calendar, we should never forget those who forged a path for all Australians to enjoy the best sport in the best country on planet earth.
4 more sleeps and we get to play footy all over again.
GO ROVERS
Caggs
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