Grand Final Day 2009 - U12 Black
Wow! On Grand Final Day 2009 U12 Black became the first Blue Mountains Kangaroos team to ever play a GF on Oval 1, the new AFL Stadium at Blacktown. The team of 19 - our regular 15 (including 4 Rookies) plus the fab four U11s who each qualified to play for us - made club history. The team played a good game of footy against the St Clair Crows (GF 2008 runners-up) but it was clear that the team was overwhelmed by the excited crowd, the large electronic scoreboard, sparkling emerald turf and the commentator who loudly announced through the sound sytem the name of each goal kicker as it happended during the game.
The Kangaroos met pre-game in a change room at the ground, a first. The umpires came into the change-room to talk about the game, another first. Nerves were obvious as coaches tried to calm an unusually jumpy squad, still as they ran out onto the ground through their Grand Final banner, the team knew that regardless of the outcome, they had played a season of consistently fair footy and had finished 2nd on the ladder in the Home & Away season. They also knew that whatever the outcome, they were 11 and 12 years old and their coaches thought their effort to be in the Grand Final was glorious! After lining up onfield to sing the National Anthem (more new moments) the game commenced. Goal kickers for the match were Jack Bragg (1-0), Seb Camilleri (1-0), Patrick De la Mare (1-0), Luke Hyland (2-0) and Jay Watson (1-0) with a point to Ashton Hogan. Best on Ground by the umpires was Kangaroo Max Bragg. Great team performances by all players mentioned above, as well as by Georgia Addison, Micah Bawden, Henry Bowley, Ben Egan, Peter Frith, Ethan McDonald, Connor McPaul-Browne, Jack Moore, Thomas Moore, Tom Morgan, Mark Noney and Sean Talavera.
While the team was defeated by the Crows 8-7-55 v BMK 6-6-42, when the team lined up for their runners-up medallions, and later stepped aside for the Crows to receive the winners cup, the Kangaroos cheered for the Crows in a remarkable show of sportsmanship and friendship.
For me as coach, that was the best moment for, while to win is exciting, even more exciting has been to see the development of this fine young group over the best part of a year (for most we have travelled as a team for 3 years) ... and a team heading towards their teenage years with this attitude... was the most rewarding.
The team sends its best wishes to Georgia who leaves the club this season after 8 years.
My sincere thanks to Assistant Coach Rob Morgan and to water/message runner Steven Addison. Thanks too, to all parents who supported and played their part in creating a strong team unit on and off the field.
Warm wishes for a great footy future,
Carolyn Watson - Coach
Trophies 2009: Best & Fairest: Jack Moore Runner-Up Best & Fairest: Tom Morgan
Coach Awards: Peter Frith & Luke Hyland.
Last Modified on 02/04/2011 21:40