Macquarie University - the best development team going around!
Macquarie University Warriors, one of the joint newest clubs in the land proved good value to the rest of the league with their players increasing their skills at every opportunity. The team had a wide spectrum of experience from captain-coach Belinda Harrison, Kerrie Taylor and Janice Variant-Bell to newbies who hadn't discovered football before this year. They blended well together to form a tight unit despite some one-sided scorelines from other teams. Next year they really need to build upon their playing list to avoid forfeits when the inevitable injuries occur. Most importantly the team looked like they were having fun while they were playing which is the true essence of football.
UNSW-Easts
The UNSW-Easts Stingrays won the 2009 trivia and SWAFLVision! However it was safe to say the 2009 season was a tough season for all concerned. It wasn't much fun being on the end of some hidings but the team stayed unified where possible. At times the Stingrays could make a real go of the contest surprising their much fancied opponents. Won 0, Lost 12. For: 108 Against 1077. A direct comparsion can't be made due to the introduction of the Bondi Shamrocks and three less official games but the attack remained statstically netural but defence let in an average of two more goals. Coach Ben Porter did his utmost to get his side up each week which is a great effort. One of the aims of the Stingrays will be to continually recruit to increase the breadth and depth of their squad.
St. George
St George improved on their win record to three wins a season in 2009 under new coach Gary Slowgrove. Surprisingly was one of the best performed teams against minor premiers Newtown compared to Bondi Shamrocks, Sydney University and UNSW-Easts. Their shock win over Sydney University showed the potential of the squad but injuries to their senior squad really exposed the lack of depth in the playing ranks. One of their aims should be to increase the number of the squad when the inevitable injuries occurred. The appointment of Gary to the SWAFL team against the USA showed how much his coaching is held in regard by the rest of the league. Should they can keep the same squad for next year and not have any injuries - an improvement on the number of win/loss ratio next year would not be unexpected. Won 3, Lost 11. For: 319 Against: 779. The comparsion to last year attack improved by almost a goal whilst defence remained the same.
Sydney University
The Bombers would be ruing the one that got away. If the results of the St George vs Sydney Uni match had been the exact same score but Sydney University been the winner, they would be the fourth placed finalist this year. With a well settled coaching structure of Kellie Nolan and Penny Stringer, the Bombers managed to get their very young squad to be very competitive against most of the top teams. With the numbers of new talent out at campus, I expect the Students to make a serious attempt at the premiership in the next three years. Their best game was the win over Balmain in Round 4, followed by the demolition of the Shamrocks in round 14. Won 5, Lost 7. For: 537 Against: 469. The attack has improved by two goals whilst the defence has tightened up by a goal.
Last Modified on 20/08/2009 21:17