Quake Mid-Year Review

Halfway through the season already and now seems a good time to look back over the first round of games to see how the club is faring and how each team is progressing. We’ll give a summary of how each team has fared and take a shot at how we think they’ll do in the 2^nd round of games.

Before we do let’s give a big thank you to all our sponsors and we urge you to support them as they have supported us.

Firstly, let’s look at the overall performance of the club before we look at each team.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP – Quake Kit Sponsor – Joma Australia

We currently sit in 5^th place on the ladder on 76 points trailing runaway leaders Dural by 44 points. It’s fair to say we are no chance of taking the championship this year but keep in mind we finished 5^th last year yet we had 7 of our 9 teams make the Preliminary Final and we won 4 Grand Finals.

The other positive is that we have won 4 of the 7 rounds we have played and only lost to the top 3 clubs. Even though some of those were by big margins we had a chance in nearly every game and the points tally could have been very different!

So, from a Club Championship point of view we have been very competitive and we are looking for those tight games to end in our favour in the 2^nd round. If we close out these games we will climb the ladder quickly.

Academy – Proudly Sponsored by Xtreme Locksmiths

The Academy team is doing itself proud. More often than not they are competing against older, more physically developed players. And if they do meet players their own age they usually have to play against the 12 Boys ‘keeper who “fills in” because the other club doesn’t carry a ‘keeper in their squad. The games are meant to be non-competitive with scores not kept and so we at Quake don’t report on scores or scorers. But overall it’s fair to say the boys would be breaking even if we did keep scores and have only really been given a lesson on 2 occasions. The players and parents should be proud of the boys’ efforts to date and their futsal education is coming along nicely.

12 Boys – Proudly Sponsored by 40 Winks Campbelltown

Record: 1 Win, 6 Losses, -14 GD, 3 Competition Points, 7^th on the ladder

If you just look at the boy’s record you’d think they couldn’t play. But you’d be wrong. We can recall at least 4 games they were leading close to full-time but eventually lost and in the game against 2^nd placed Eagles they were gone for all money before giving them a big scare. Brett has concentrated on their skills and attack but deliberately done little on defence. At times this shows. This team is too good to be in 7^th place and look for them to reverse the results of the close games and move up the ladder. They’re only 7 points out of the top four and it’s not beyond them to make the finals.

12 Girls – Proudly Sponsored by JR Electrical

Record: 3 Wins, 1 Draw, 3 Losses,-2 GD, 10 Competition Points, 5^th on the ladder

After losing their first 2 games the girls have been very consistent. Last week they played in one of the best games of futsal you will ever see and scared the daylights out of Magic who have won every game. They also gave Magic a fright in the semi-final of State Titles so last week was no fluke. Their development has been more accelerated than we hoped for and they are a coach’s dream: working hard at training and games, following instructions and doing what’s best for the team. Now we know they can play at a higher level the expectations for them have changed and we will be looking for the girls to build on a respectable first half of the season. A semi-final position must now be their goal.

14 Boys – Proudly Sponsored by Capital Steel Buildings Southwest

Record: 3 Wins, 1 Draw, 3 Losses, +8 GD, 10 Competition Points, 5^th on the ladder

A slow start to the season with players missing due to other commitments and a lack of consistency sees the boys in 5^th place on the ladder. When they play the game Jimmy wants them to the lads are nearly unbeatable. They have so many scoring options and so much individual talent that they must be considered a chance to win the title. But they can go missing in defence sometimes and this is costing them points. Having said that, last week’s comeback against Magic was full of merit and proved the boys have the desire they need to be successful. With a full squad and half a year’s experience behind them we expect the boys to reverse the loss results and cement their place in the top 4.

14 Girls – Proudly Sponsored by Clintons Toyota

Record: 1 Win, 3 Draws, 3 Losses, -8 GD, 6 Competition Points, 6^th on the ladder

We didn’t really know what to expect from this group and the first game didn’t bode well at all for the future. But then the girls started to believe in themselves and to enjoy their futsal and put in some good performances. It’s fair to say that they should have won the games they drew and if they had they would be comfortably in the top 4. But the last 2 weeks hasn’t seen the girls at their best and they need to get back to enjoying the game and the results will come. They’re not far out of the top 4 and if they can take their chances and finish teams off they are a very realistic chance of playing in the finals this year.

16 Boys – Proudly Sponsored by Einhell Australia

Record: 4 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Losses, +7 GD, 13 Competition Points, 3^rd on the ladder

As expected the boys are in the top 4 but they are not dominating as we believed they could. This is a very talented squad with nearly all the boys playing in a Grand Final last year so the big challenge is making sure everybody does what the team needs to win. The younger players in the squad are coming along nicely and the older boys have really progressed from this time last year. We must mention Jamie Jallad’s performances to date – he’s been an absolute revelation in goals and he’s a very exciting prospect. Look for the boys to build momentum and here’s hoping we have another Quake vs. Rovers Grand Final and the boys go back-to-back.

16 Girls – Proudly Sponsored by Macarthur Marble & Granite

Record: 2 Win, 3 Draws, 2 Losses, -3 GD, 8 Competition Points, 6^th on the ladder

Much was expected of this squad with the majority of last year’s champion 14 Girls stepping up and the cream of last year’s better than expected 16 Girls returning. Along with some old faces returning to the club this group are generally considered within futsal circles to be favourites. But with coach Mel away for the first 2 games and every team lifting their game against them the girls have struggled and only really dominated 1 game this year. We all know they can do it as is evidenced by them cruising through the State Titles to be crowned champions and their comeback against Magic last week. So we're looking forward to the girls putting it all together and storming home to win a finals birth. And then let’s see the other teams panic.

Youth – Proudly Sponsored by A.H. Beard

Record: 1 Win, 4 Draws, 2 Losses, 0 GD, 7 Competition Points, 6^th on the ladder

With only 2 losses (0-1 & 0-2) the boys have acquitted themselves well especially considering the number of 14, 15 & 16 year olds that have been playing good minutes. Again, results are a case of what could have been with them fighting back to earn draws and hitting posts with seconds to go or letting leads slip late in matches. The effort is there and the ability is undoubted. They held runaway leaders Dural to a 0-0 draw and they made the semis at the State Titles where they proved that if they take their chances they will be a threat. This is a very close competition and it will only take a few wins to leap frog up the ladder. There’s every chance the boys can make the finals.

Women – Proudly Sponsored by Bella Arts Graphic Design

Record: 5 Win, 1 Draw, 1 Loss, +8 GD, 16 Competition Points, 2^nd on the ladder

A very respectable first round from the reigning champs, quietly going about their business and playing some excellent futsal. Along the way they made the final at State Titles only to run out of legs and suffer their first loss of the season. And their second was on Saturday and they still could have got a point when, understandably, they weren’t at their best. Expect the girls to maintain their position in the top 4 and then go hard in the finals. This team is doing much to lift the level of awareness and respect for womens’ futsal by the way they play the game. If you get a chance to stay back and support them then please do so.

Men – Proudly Sponsored by United Tools Liverpool

Record: 1 Win, 4 Losses, 1 Deferred, -5 GD, 3 Competition Points, 7th on the ladder

Apart from the Rovers match the lads have been up to their necks in every game only to cop a killer goal late on. They thoroughly outplayed Phoenix for their win and had leaders Boomerangs on the rack only to fall to a Daniel Fulton miracle goal. They also lead last year’s champions Dural 5-2 at the half but collapsed. Not bad considering they have not had a full squad at their disposal once this year with Youth and 16 Boys players filling in and doing very well indeed. We know that they are capable of causing trouble for the rest of the year because they dominated the State Titles to be crowned champions and so we’re confident that they can start to pick up vital wins. All they have to do is make it into the finals and, as last year proved with most of our teams, anything can happen.

In summary, our position on the Club Championship ladder is not a true reflection of how we’ve travelled this year. We’ve clawed our way back from a slow start and expect us to finish strongly and to consolidate finals births. After last years’ experience we all know what happens when Quake teams make finals…………and so do the other clubs.

As always………………..GO QUAKE!