It is a new year, with a new coach, bringing a new beginning and new approach down at the Village Green in 2014.
With a fine heritage of esteemed coaches - including Krissie Steen who has now moved on to the GWS Giants and Ben Porter who is still acting in a coaching capacity – the UNSW Eastern Suburbs Stingrays have again recruited the best of the best. Tracey Kick, the current NSW Women’s State Coach, joins the club this year and has already ingrained her deep knowledge of the game within her eager students.
"Tracey is a consummate professional – organised, approachable and well respected amongst the women’s football fraternity – and has brought with her an amazing knowledge of the game and an impressive ability to communicate this with ease," explains club representative Sarah Court.
Following an agonising two-goal defeat at the hands of Balmain in last year’s Preliminary Final, UNSW Eastern Suburbs have adopted a back-to-basics mindset during the pre-season.
"We’ve made sure we’re doing all of the basics well - from technique, to footy fundamentals like shepherding, defending, and getting numbers to the ball while combining that with a lot of repeated running and application in mini games."
Finding fun in their professional pre-season training regime, the Stingrays have also made sure that their team gets to know each other off the field. Recently partaking in a training camp away from the city, the women put their fitness to the test whilst learning the ways of their fellow teammates.
"Think hill sprints, beep test, skills work, truck tyres and sandbags followed by some impromptu singing around the bonfire. All in all, it was just a fantastic way to bond as a team and establish a strong sense of trust and friendship amongst the playing group."
Ahead of Round One, the Stingrays recently took part in a friendly with the Newtown Breakaways and also came away with the ‘Uni Cup’ – defending their 2013 title against the other university women’s AFL teams.
"It’s always good to have an early hit out to test your new players and work on some simple game structures before the season kicks off."
"We were pleased to see the rookies adapt to the game and use their space and speed when the opportunity presented itself. It was also great to see that the things we’ve worked on in pre-season – strong leads, effective disposals and correct technique – were all evident on the pitch."
With these fundamental skills now at the forefront of their team strategy, the Stingrays aspire to "play good, consistent footy" and cement their position as a contender in the league this year.
Maddy Collier (a new recruit from the Wollongong Saints), Emma Mackay and Remi Banuelos are named as women who will almost certainly make their mark in the 2014 season for the club.
As well as Maddy Collier, the club has also recruited enough women to be able to form a reserves team in the Division Two competition - the first of the Sydney AFL women’s clubs to do so.
"We’ve picked up a couple of fantastic premier league soccer girls along with some super fit individuals who all bring unbridled enthusiasm to the team."
Court acknowledges that there is still an element of surprise from others when she and her club-mates explain to outsiders that they play Australian Rules football, but she admits that the growth of women’s league is as solid as ever.
"I think the pathways that are being created through Auskick and the Youth Girls competition by the Sydney AFL are at the strongest they have been. And as they continue to grow, and things like the AFL women’s draft gain more and more coverage, we’ll see participation levels increase even more steeply in the years to come."
Fortunately for the UNSW Eastern Suburbs Stingrays, they have outstanding support from their men’s team, the Bulldogs. As the coaches band together across the board, they ensure that each of the UNSW Eastern Suburbs squads are playing worthy football in each of their divisions.
"The guys are great. We’re lucky to be part of such a large and supportive community based football club…and the respect amongst all the playing groups is second to none."
The UNSW Eastern Suburbs Stingrays Division One side takes on the Newtown Breakaways in Round One at Blacktown International Sportspark on 12 April 2014 at 10:00am.
The Division Two team plays the Wollongong Saints on 5 April 2014 at 11:00am at Mona Park.
AFL Sydney Analysis
The Star
Courtney Gum – Not only the star of UNSW-ES but also the star of the competition. Courtney has achieved everything in football (apart from an AFL Sydney Premiership medal) - All Australian Honours’, MVP at the 2013 Women’s National Championships, selection in the inaugural Womens AFL match in 2013, League Best & Fairests and in 2013 the Howarth Trophy as the AFL Sydney Representative Player of the Year (the first time a female has won this prestigious award). An out and out star who will be a real key for the Stingrays chances in 2014.
The Rising Star
Maddy Collier – While already a well known name for opposition coaches following her League Best & Fairest award in 2013, Maddy is scarily still improving and will really benefit with some more experienced players around her this year. The Under 18 All Australian player was obviously the biggest off season transfer in 2014 and is one to watch. Definitely a star on the rise
AFL Sydney Prediction –2nd
2013 saw the Stingrays be the big player in the off season and 2014 has been no different. Apart from a few key recruits they have also signed 2013 NSW Coach Tracey Kick as Head Coach for the year which is a real coup for the club. After narrowly going down in the Preliminary Final last year we think they will take the next step and make it to the big one in 2014. Every chance of claiming a maiden premiership flag this year.
Last Modified on 02/04/2014 14:26
