Kew Junior Football Club.

Kew Comets Gold � Grand Final v Canterbury

Kew 4.6.30 def Canterbury 1.7.13

On a windswept Sunday which was preceded by a huge downpour (which did not suit Donald Mac�s hair style), the Kew Gold Team took the premiership flag from a very gallant Canterbury by 17 points.

The first quarter was very even, with tough hard footy in difficult conditions, but it did not take long before the Kew boys hit the front and put scoreboard pressure back on Canterbury.

The Second quarter, after some strategic moves, saw the Kew Gold�s move ahead.

The third was the decider, with the team under strict rules as to how it was to be played with lots of butcher�s paper up on the wall with crazy drawings.

The last quarter saw the Kew boys three goals up, and to their credit, Canterbury gave it a big shake and threw everything at the Kew Golds, but in the end the lead that had built up was just too much for Canterbury to match.

Game Wrap-Up

The game was played in terrific spirit and was of a high standard in such difficult conditions.

Boys from both teams are to be congratulated on the game and all supporters should be amazed at the level of skill from these young men.

After the game, Kew and Canterbury got together in the same room to share lemonade and enjoy being with each other after such a long season.

There is no doubt that these two teams have forged a friendship of competition and sportsmanship that stand them in good stead in their careers. There was not a winner in the room after the game, there was a room full of young men who had just played a great game of footy.

Player Summary of the Game

Christian Mason � did as requested down back and really improved out of sight during the year.

Jez Hannan � A great year at Full Back, a new role and just as expected stepped up and did the job.

Jack Ryan � Under 12 boy who was outstanding in heavy traffic in the first quarter and played exactly as coach has requested.

Liam Curran � the quiet man who also improved out of sight, he did his job without any instruction or request.

Mitch Nixon � outstanding Under 12 recruit who took on a role at half back and played extremely well � keep an eye on this lad in the future.

Hugh Beasley � quality game at Centre Half Back, was the general down back with not much getting past him all day.

Mitch Collard � Played on open side 1^st half and then thrown into the mix in second half � terrific game.

Patty Mitchell � Lot of hard work in centre, tackles, shepherds and did all the coach asked- terrific young man.

Callum Spencer � finished off the year with confidence on the wing, a super young player.

Andrew Checcin � did some hard tagging and always was there for the coach when a job was there to do.

Sam Crock � Awesome young man who really was our third big man and did all that was asked by the coach.

Jack Billings � Played forward early and then thrown on to ball � played an awesome game and is absolute quality young man and footballer.

Jake Buckley � had a role down forward and did the job as planned all year, hopefully enjoyed the year.

Will Hall � enjoyed his role and was our target down forward, competed well and improved his footy.

Jack Quartermain � Under 12 who proved his ability with some awesome forward play � huge potential

James Cosgrave � had a great year until injured, and will be an outstanding sportsman.

Matt Corrigan � Was really improving until injured.

David Ennels � Under 12 boy who took his opportunities and did all that was asked, thanks for helping out.

Adam Bennett � One game and a grand final medallion - well done, thanks for helping out.

Sam Casalaz � played injured in the second half of the year and was a real solid defender and terrific young man.

Ant Scott � Played one of the best roving games I have seen for his age group. Threw his body at everything, and this year matured into a real leader. Super game.

Jack Sinclair � Just a quality player who used his skill, huge motor, football brain and determination, played a super game.

Luke Macdonald � YJFL Best Player, Kew Comets U/13 gold Best and Fairest, Grand Final winning captain. Just keep your eye on this outstanding young man. Most people at the ground will not forget his 50m goal on the run.

Coach�s Summary

How lucky we are to have the quality of people on the Committee at Kew Comets with all their hard work on and off the field. Thanks to you all for your time and effort.

Big thanks to our Manager Kerrie Sinclair � once again the Rolls Royce of Managers

All the parents who helped in a role during the year, Angus Hall for giving up his time to run water for his brother�s team, Donald McDonald for his time when available as runner.

John Checcin for his continued commitment as boundary umpire.

This year was about continuing what we had started in 2007, fun, enjoyment, improvement, a strong team game plan and with it came success, but most of all I have met 24 terrific young men.

Speros Beasley

Coach

KEW GREYTHORN UNITED (KGU) GRAND FINAL REPORT

KGU 2-6-18 defeated by SFX Whitehorse Colts 12-11-83

KGU Miss The Ultimate Prize

Next time you�re found, with your chin on the ground
There�s a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he�ll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can�t
Move a rubber tree plant

But he�s got high hopes, he�s got high hopes
He�s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time you�re gettin� low
instead of lettin� go
Just remember that ant
Oops - there goes another rubber tree plant

When troubles call, and your backs to the wall
There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall

Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he�d punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin� that dam

�cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes
He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time you�re feelin� bad
instead of feelin� sad
Just remember that ram
Oops - there goes a billion kilowatt dam

Competitive team sport is all about the process of producing an ultimate winner � and rightfully so. One team becomes the premier team in football and earns the title of season champion. There has to be something for all the players in all the teams to strive for and the ultimate reward is earned over a regular season followed by a final series of games.

The lyrics above were originally sung by Frank Sinatra in the 1959 movie, �Hole in the Head,� and they contain sound words of advice for the KGU football team. Whilst the ultimate prize of the Colts Division Three Premiership became a rubber tree too difficult to move, there was a rich bounty of rewards achieved by KGU in season 2008.

For a moment, let�s dwell on the last game KGU played. The game for the ultimate prize on offer � the Colts Division Three Premiership. It hailed for about 10 minutes in the first quarter, it was slippery for about three quarters and it was very windy for most of the game. The conditions affected both sides but it was KGU�s opponent, SFX Whitehorse Colts, that coped with the conditions best and imposed their pressure relentlessly on the Sex Panthers.

In the end, it was the desperation and determination and refusal to stop displayed by SFX and created from losing a recent grand final that defeated KGU. Competitive team sport will always provide amazing results and unpredictable results. Despite an equal number of players on either side with the same number of arms and the same number of legs, it is how the minds of a team function that will inevitably determine the outcome of a pressure game. Mental pressure cannot be seen but it is very powerful. The mind can shackle willpower. The harder you try the less you can do. Mental pressure is very difficult to combat unless you have experienced it a number of times and you develop the over-riding willpower to harness the pressure.

There is a theory that to truly feel the elation of a major achievement, one has to have plunged to the depths of a crushing defeat. I subscribe to that theory. If KGU remember what happened last Sunday and burn that memory and feeling into your minds, it will help you summon your willpower and your desperation in the future when you really need it. Not everything happens the way we plan it. It�s how we react to and learn from the unplanned results that make us who we are and who we will be.

The end of year report for the yearbook will examine the season rather than this Grand Final Report. My overwhelming emotion for this magnificent team of young men is pride. I am proud of the way they developed as individuals and as a team during the year; I am proud of the way they have conducted themselves throughout the whole year; I am proud of the way they handled defeat and endured the need to contain their emotions after the game for such a long time; and I am proud they have created such strong friendships.

Some people who don�t understand community football or have never bothered to find out what it�s all about would try to shrug off the conclusion to KGU�s year by saying �don�t worry, it�s only a game, it doesn�t mean much at all.�

Yes, it�s only a game but it became a platform for 24 young men to magnificently develop and display a multitude of characteristics that they will use throughout their lives � responsibility, teamwork, commitment, leadership, courage, determination, togetherness and friendship. KGU has transcended the usual club/team relationship and has made firm friends from strangers. Both Greythorn and Kew football clubs have been exposed to the benefits of supporting football for football�s sake over football for a junior football club�s sake. Only time will tell whether those benefits will be understood and embraced.

Just like the Falcon and the Comet, KGU flew in out of nowhere and has made a lasting impression. I�m not sure if I�ll ever see another football team called the Sex Panthers � who knows, perhaps they�ve started a trend! To the future and lessons learned!

So any time you�re gettin� low
instead of lettin� go
Just remember that KGU
Yes - there goes a wonderful football team