Last Sunday the division 3 of our under 12’s Maroochy RSL Club AFL Sunshine Coast Juniors season curtain’s were finally drawn, following a most successful inaugural season of junior footy at this level. The league undertook a round robin carnival in conjunction with Noosa AFC, bringing together all teams and players for the final encore.
The early skies that were a little cloudy over the northern lands of the sunny coast soon burnt off to reveal a very hot “winters” day, bright blue with near burning sun. It is surprising how we have one week jumped out of the depths of winter and into summer the next.
The weather treated all spectators well, as shelter was bountiful and certainly the comfort of the clubhouse landing providing those spectators with near the Sunday morning reading the paper on the verandah theme – all good. For the players they were oblivious to overhead as too much action beckoned in their world of footy. Two fields in play on the Noosa main field, had games on the half hour of two twelve minute halves this saw all six teams play two games each prior to the scheduled presentation break at 10.30am. Post presentation the teams were to return to the field of play for their final 48 minutes of 09 match play kick and catch.
All in all the footy was of a very good standard indicating the player development at this participation level over the course of season proper. Our coaches Brett Gordon (Coolum Beach), Phil McCombe (Glasshouse Hinterland), Jason Bromilow and crew (Gympie), Corey Bolck (Maroochydore), Rod O’Donnell (Nambour & Hinterland) and Benji Maher (Noosa) all doing a fantastic job in educating and progressing their players skills – thanks to all the coaches.
Of highlight was the girl power over at the Coolum Beach Breakers crew, as indicated with young Molly “Moose” O’Dwyer polling 13 votes (five fewer games) to come home in fourth spot in the Best and Fairest vote count. Michaela Teevan, Abbey Gordon and Claire Croyden also finishing high in the vote count. Over at the Nambour & Hinterland Blues team huddle was Maddy McCabe also flexing the girl power muscle – well done girls!
As mentioned when the clock ticked 10.30am we all gathered in the Noosa clubhouse (well nearly all) to undertake the seasons vote count and recognise some memorable moments. To say the playing group assembled was excited is an understatement – they were pumped on a hundred red snakes I reckon – full of adrenalin, the atmosphere was lightening sharp.
The votes were delivered per round with a tally board recognising leaders after the round five and twelve mark. As we know post round five saw the birth of second U12 teams for Cats of Gympie and the Breakers of Coolum Beach step up.
By the completion of round five as we headed to the leader board everyone was wondering who is, and where is Patrick? The leader board revealed that Nambour & Hinterland’s Patrick Chancellor had polled best on grounds in all five games to that point and had put himself in an almost unbeatable position; second placed Xander Evans of Noosa Gold new to the game in 09 from rugby was going along very well. Where’s Patrick, young Patrick wasn’t onsite but supposedly on his way, by this stage a nervous mum who was there was on the phone.
The girls started polling, others came to the fore with their games of the season as many new names flashed across the powerpoint presentation vote count board; this all just bought great excitement and back slaps amongst the players as they sat glued to the screen from the club room floor.
Post round 12 it was a two horse race with Blue’s Patrick Chancellor on 33 votes and Tiger’s Xander Evans (23) probably too many behind to cause a shock. Still no Patrick! But Xander with his enthusiasm was keeping us all amused as he cheered every Xander vote.
Round 18 came and went with all vote getters excited to the core, time to check the leaders board and recognise the competitions Best and Fairest and runner-up player and you guessed it “who’s Patrick” by six votes over Xander on 33. Maroochydore Gold’s Joshua Keleher generated 19 votes with Coolum Beach’s Molly “Moose” O’Dwyer in fourth with 13. See the full vote count board for all the details.
Still “who is Patrick”, Mum had to accept Patrick’s trophy on his behalf with Patrick on the end of the phone all excited, half an hour later young Patrick arrived after helping his clubs division 1 12’s team get over the line in a semi final at Glasshouse Hinterlands “Jungle”. This trophy nearly as big as Patrick sat patiently in the team huddle waiting for his arrival, great excitement then prevailed. Xander Evans received the runners–up trophy and was most pleased with his first year of junior AFL.
In recognition of the efforts of all six teams to this inaugural “participation” competition, we struck “coaches medallions”, these to recognise each teams player who best epitomised the sportsmanship, willingness to learn and all round good citizen attributes they look for and appreciate.
The coaches came forward and we recognized each clubs player with a few kind words and the presentation of a 5 kilo struck medallion.
So all in all we have much to applaud with the striking of this 12’s division 3 competition and let’s hope it serves its purpose as a one year stop from 10’s for those 9, 10 and possibly a few 11year olds to further develop their skills and game sense before heading to their big league.
By 1pm the final siren of 2009 division 3 12’s had sounded, cars packed with football belongings and although some sadness at the end of a great season big faces also piled in for the trip home – as junior footy should be – hey!!! See you all next year!
Last Modified on 08/09/2009 12:14