To be totally honest I couldn’t wait to get home to do this week's write up, but as I sit here at the keyboard, I wonder how I compose a report that includes 22 players. Today was a danger game for us, especially after having 2 players pull out before the game and five regular players out due to injury.
As I have mentioned previously in one of my write ups, our success this year hinges on several factors, but today I realised that probably our biggest strength is our depth.
There were several key words mentioned today - 'belief', 'consistency' and 'risks'.
As the game unfolded, the above three words were adhered to the letter by 22 players who listened to what I had to say. They believed in themselves, played four quarters and took a few risks along the way without getting too carried away. I sit here typing and openly proud to be your coach.
Today I sat in the coach's box with Will, often in awe of some of the individual efforts, but it was our full 22 players who stood up today that truly inspired me. I would love to sit here and mention every single player in some way or another, but I would like to think that is not what we're about. I would like to think that when we sang the song together after the game (including injured players) that it was our thank you and praise to each other, and that is what counts. Today we played for each other, with heart and for the jersey that we wore. I have been involved in the game I love for over thirty years now and over those years I have seen players forget what footy is sometimes about, especially in this day and age at our level. True football players and clubs are not worried about money, flash grounds or who has the best facilities. A true footballer is selfless and plays with heart whilst wearing a jersey playing for a club and team that he loves. It's about playing for each other, putting your body on the line and pushing each other to the limit at training. It's about helping each other both on and off the field, putting differences aside and having one common goal. I truly thank the boys for reminding me of all of the above today. There were 22 committed players - and committed to a team that wants success.
We must now focus on our next biggest challenge and that is Coolie away, who I am sure like PBC today, will be pumped up to knock us off. It is imperative that everyone gets to training this week. Well done boys.
Oppy
Best Players: The Team
Goals: Nick McElroy 4, Alex McDonald 2, R Page, D Schmidt, L McMahon, L Ruf, T Ross - 1
Springwood 11 - 6 - 72 defeated PBC 4 - 8 - 32
Footnote: Congratulations to the McCloy twins, Cameron & Nathan, who celebrated their birthday today with tremendous efforts and the BIG win!
The pic is of Captain Josh Brown who played his 100th game for the Pumas recently and had a real 'captain's knock' today.
Last Modified on 16/06/2009 15:48