| From the Committee
To say that losing is an unpleasant experience is somewhat understating the situation: Especially so after a very encouraging start to the season. In truth, we are violently undermanned with some 14 unavailable for a variety of reasons including, unfortunately, some long term injuries. Losing is easily remedied by winning the price of which will be hard work and the determination that whether we win or lose we have applied the best of ourselves to the task.
This is a reference to our entire football community and we hope the great level of support we have received so far this year will continue through the next few difficult weeks. We were delighted to induct 17 new life members into our ranks last week and the level of support from past players was gratifying.
Broadview at home this Saturday will be a tricky affair whether or not re-enforcements arrive to swell our playing ranks. We’d love to see you at the Caterer.
The shining light has been the C’s who carried on their winning ways against a top side on Saturday. After some years in the doldrums, it’s great to see them winning and enjoying their football as much as they are. Let’s hope it’s infectious.
Go SPOCOS
A Grade Match Report
SACRED HEART O C 18.13 (121) defeated ST PETER’S OC 7.8 (50)
Goal kickers: O Sharpe 2, L Trenorden 2, A Matheson, B Copping, T Fotheringham 1
Best Players: C Goldsworthy, T Fotheringham, B Haysman, B Copping, S Roberts.
A disappointing result after a fair start to the game.
Once again, we were seriously depleted with injuries to many senior players, and then the late withdrawal of Tom Butler (our most consistent player this season,) with a niggling calf injury and debilitating injuries to Brad Hartman and Dan Franklin early in the game, did not help.
There were encouraging signs in the first half, but once again our inexperience showed through in the last quarter and a half, as try as they might, our younger players just could not match it with a very good SHOC team.
We can take some positives out of the game. There were a lot of lessons learnt about commitment when the chips are down, about maintaining concentration on the basic game plan , and a further realization that this is a serious level of football where our deficiencies will get shown up.
Luke Trenorden kicked a couple of great goals early and that was a terrific restoration in confidence of his undoubted sharp shooting ability. Jimmy Duncan again showed fantastic courage and tenacity and this is going to be a strong season for him.
Charlie Goldsworthy seemed to get better as the game went on, and he will be one of SPOCCOs elite players of the future, as will Ben Haysman, whose skills are superb.
Tom Fotheringham just battles on, his ability to get back in defence and maintain our direction, is incredibly valuable. Benet Copping and Sam Roberts tried hard all day, their efforts and versatility are important to us.
This week we play Broadview at home, and that is sixth vs seventh on the premiership table. Obviously an important game, where we need to just hang on until a few of the more experienced players get back.
There is still strong belief that we can beat any other team in Division 2 if we have a full team. Given the number of younger players who are persistently performing well, this belief is well founded.
B Grade
SPOC 6.7-43 Def By SHOC 18.8-116
C Grade
SPOC C GRADE LEGENDS: 16.11.107
SCOTCH OLD SCHOLARS 8.9.57
In a game we had been setting ourselves for a few weeks, we knew Scotch was going to be a stronger opponent than some of the sides we had played earlier in the season. After watching the results of other games in our division we felt this would be a true test to see where we are in the mix this season.
The first quarter was as we expected quite tight and Scotch kicking with quite a strong wind took a 2 goal lead into quarter time. Although Scotch had come out the blocks strongly we weren't playing badly by any means rather we had to set ourselves to what playing on a windy day meant and adjusted our plans with taking the ball into our forward line and adjusting in defence.
The second quarter we flew out the blocks with 2 centre clearances resulting in 2 goals within a matter of minute and evaporating Scotch's lead in the blink of an eye.
Zak Egerton, Nick Lopez and Jackson Fielke in their first games for the club in some time took no time at all in adjusting to the C grade way, after seeing Nic Bailey run out of the middle from a few Tom Hyde tap outs the new boys soon realised Hydey was a magician and cashed in on our weekly massive hitout advantage.
Nik Byrne playing his second game for the year lead our back line well. Scotch's forward line looked menacing when they were going forward early, Byrney managed to lock down on the seasoned Scotch forwards but also ran off on the spread and created a massive amount of rebound from defence. Byrney was joined down back by Nick Rowlands after switching from Pultney Old Scholars to the mighty SPOCCOS. Rollos massive frame and leg speed was great to sure down centre half back and managed to kill numerous Scotch entries.
C grade legends Jordan Caminiti, Tom Van Reesma, Tom Kaldis, Nick Tideman, Baines Bruce, Jack Yates and Oscar Rogers were all excellent in playing a role for the team. A number of players rotated heavily off the bench, Although these rotations are a little foreign to some guys who would wish to be on the field longer, it is a great way to heighten involvement of all 25 players we take in on saturday and keep our legs fresh. It has to be said our rotations are working to our advantage with our second half scores heavily outscoring all our opposition so far this year.
At half time we had a strong lead and some Scotch players were more interested in starting fights than stopping our run we had on. Critical goals to Nic Algie, Anthony De Pizzol, Zak Egerton and Nick Lopez had us running away with comfortable lead.
To all players credit as we finished in a very strong fashion with a flood of team goals in the final quarter. In our last 2 games we have scored close to 20 goals in final quarters without having one scored against us. A tick to our fitness work.
A very proud coach and a number of players who played extremely well. Zak Egerton, 5 goals playing through the midfield was an incredible effort. Jackson Fielke's 2 goals and countless bounding runs excited all onlookers, a number of times our bench was bouncing with excitement watching Jackson go at it.
Our co-captain Nic Algie who was playing on a much taller forward who had his measure in the opening of the game was pulled off to the bench to find a better match up responded in the most impressive way, collecting too many to count contested possessions and heaped mountains of pressure on a Scotch player any time he was near the contest. A great captains game, with a great captains goal to top it all off. You should be very proud of your efforts Algs.
Special thankyou's to Ali Day, Matt Grzeskowiak, Fraser Whitehead and Cameron Green for supplying water and messages.
Thanks to Hank for his ongoing Match day role.
Thanks to the crowds that have started following us, the boys love playing in front of you and can feel the enthusiasm behind us every Saturday.
And finally Tom Wait, went and picked up Marquees for our bench saturday morning. What a dead set C grade legend.
The support we have for one another at the moment is the most exciting thing out of our season so far. Let keep on rolling.
Top of the table 1 VS 2 clash this week.
Up Coming Social Events
Country Day will be on the 16th July. Keep a look out for more details in next weeks newsletter.
The 1996 Premiership Reunion lunch to be held on Friday the 15th of July with The Factor organising the day it will be one not to miss.
End of Year Presentation will be held on the 24th of September, please add this to your diary, it will be a great night.
Player Auction Update
1st Group 7 on 18 points
2nd Groups 2 and 8 on 10 points
3rd Group 1 and 5 on 8 points
A Grade Team
B Grade Team
C Grade Team
 |
