Identifying clear values in life and living those can sometimes be overshadowed with circumstances that are outside our control. Reaffirming priorities, evaluating the positives are always the core ingredient to nurturing young minds. In 2017 we as a committee asked ourselves a simple question: who are we and what do we stand for?
To answer this, we needed to identify several items that must not waiver at any stage. We understood our core business and the sense of community and the things that belonging allows. We needed to invest in something basic, tangible and easy to understand.
We identified that FUN must always be associated with DNA in children’s sport.
TEAMWORK is vital, a WE not ME foundation was discussed and agreed.
The next two were discussed for all of 30 seconds; we said we will play with PASSION but identified our RESPECT must never be compromised.
On Sunday I witnessed plenty that I love about our club, the support filtering through at Under 10 Girls at Boss James at 8.30am was wonderful to see. I watched the spirit of Rohan’s U9 team at East Malvern, they play with Passion and are well coached.
As I was driving to East Malvern around 10.00am, I pulled up at the lights on the corner of East Boundary and Centre Rd, Bentleigh where I saw three Rovers U19 players raising funds for the Red Shield Appeal. I thought how wonderful that our club have backed the RSA again this year. RESPECT.
Talk about Passion, Saturday morning I’m cruising along Bluff Rd and see some crew from the Mighty U10 with Julian and Steve.
I enjoyed the vision of several teams reading out the statement regarding Sir Doug Nicholl’s round, the Respect shown says ample about our club.
L-R, Jordan, Ben, Cecil. Ben was judged by Cecil and Jordan as playing well & in the spirit of fair play, he got to keep the flag.
The U14 D1 team were asked to find their inner champion. The Club Mantra was discussed at half time and ¾ time, the boys shocked East Malvern who were clearly on top of the D1 ladder.
U14 D5 played St Peters on Boss James, plenty of room to run given it was 14 a side, due to St Peters numbers, the boys got plenty of ball and a few played up in the U15 D3 team.
After the excitement of East Malvern, I went down to see the U11 D6 team coached by Ben Smith. The lads fought hard against Mordi Brae, plenty of endeavour shown, they got caught on a break, but the skill and link play was great to see. The calm message from Ben was good to hear, reassurance of process and not specific of end result is vital with development. I understand the D3 team had a nail biter and got home by a point, looks like the Div 3 grade was appropriate for spirited lads.
The U15 age group had a reminder of how vast a gap D1 can be, Mordi Brae have plenty of class and big bodies, they controlled our lads. The D3 and 4 teams lost.
The U12 and U14 girls did it tough with no song sung, likewise with Richard’s U18 ladies in Div 1. The girls are training with the VAFA Ladies and enjoying the senior’s encouragement, great Respect shown.
The U12 boys both fell short, D6 by 4 pts and D1 by 2 sausage rolls.
The U16 D3 team had a great win, these guys have stuck with the club and Andy the coach and are clearly loving footy after the last two weeks.
The U17 saw St Peters in all their glory, back to the track lads.
Well, round 5 is finished, a big thanks to all volunteers of our great club, all members approach the sport in the way it should be, plenty of TEAMWORK, PASSION, FUN & RESPECT.
Train hard this week and let’s sing the song with Passion, Sunday.
Cheers Caggs
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