JUNIOR REP PREVIEW
Junior Rep footy takes center stage this weekend with the Sapphire to take on the Shoalhaven, Illawarra and central West in the under 12’s, 14.5’s, 17’s and Youth Girls.
Fixtures
UNDER 12’S
Sapphire Coast v Shoalhaven (Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry) 6:00pm Friday
Sapphire Coast v Illawarra (Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry) 10:30am Saturday
Sapphire Coast v Central West (Nowra Showgrounds, Nowra) 12:30pm Saturday
3rd v 4th Consolation Final (Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry) 9:30am Sunday
Grand Final 1st v 2nd (Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry) 10:30am Sunday
UNDER 14.5’S
Sapphire Coast v Shoalhaven (Nowra Showgrounds, Nowra) 6:00pm Friday
Sapphire Coast v Illawarra (Nowra Showgrounds, Nowra) 9:30am Saturday
Sapphire Coast v Central West (Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry) 2:00pm Saturday
3rd v 4th Consolation Final (Nowra Showgrounds, Nowra) 9:30am Sunday
Grand Final 1st v 2nd (Nowra Showgrounds, Nowra) 11:30am Sunday
Junior Rep Preview
Under 12’s
2017’s version of the under 12 Sapphire Coast team looks a tantalising prospect which should see the team highly competitive again in 2017. The side contains a number of players who have represented the South Coast at primary school level with the likes of Tyge Matters, Tasman Simons, Jardy Palmer among others. The under 12 side sees a number of new faces come into the side and will see Bermagui’s Luke Moresi take the reigns as they look to reverse 2016’s result where Illawarra were too strong in the final. Among the new faces are some key position players in Eden’s Jemma Pollock in the ruck, Pambula’s Jai Van Camp down back and leading under 13 goal kicker Campbell Raymond from Bermagui. With a number of players top age in 2017 and some classy younger players the Sapphire Coast will be confident of claiming carnival honours this year. The Stingrays kick off the carnival against the Shoalhaven on the Friday night in what could be a defining game. Historically these two sides have been evenly matched and a win in this contest would go a long way in making the final. On the Saturday two more big games await with the Sapphire taking on the typically strong Illawarra Storm before rounding out pool games against the Central West. Look for this side to play some exciting football at the carnival with the team possessing a number of game changing players whilst also having the toughness to win the ball at the contest.
Player to Watch: Jai Van Camp, Van Camp looks likely to hold down a spot at centre half back with the Pambula player eager to impress at his first representative carnival. Van Camp will look to intercept and rebound off the back 50 into attack for the Sapphire.
Under 14.5’s
There have been a number of changes for the under 14.5 team in 2017 with the majority of 2016’s squad moving up into the under 17 grade. Although this is the case, coaches Tim Holdsworth and Peter Hodge have put together an extremely competitive squad for the Carnival. The team sees the return of the like of Ryan Holdsworth, Thomas Hodge, Jonty Dwyer and Rocco Lagana from 2016 with these players set to receive an increased role in 2017 ad they chase carnival honours. Joining the top age brigade is a number of impressive bottom age players with the likes of Will Seach to slot into the midfield, Jonathan Harkins-McMahon into half back and Tom O’Meara who can be used all over the ground. Although these player may be bottom age, they all have experience playing up into the under 16’s within the Sapphire Coast competition which should give these players a great deal of confidence when coming up against the bigger bodies. The likes of Jakeb Booth, Blade Raeck, Jack Hirst, William Williams and Bill Sutherland will be getting their first taste of representative football for the Sapphire Coast and will be looking to make a positive impact as they chase for carnival honours. The Stingrays start with a tough test against the Shoalhaven who have been historically strong in the 14.5’s and it wont get any easier on the Saturday with the squad taking on the Illawarra and Central West. With the side to play the majority of games at the Nowra Showgrounds the team will look to play an exciting brand of football as they look to run and carry.
Player to Watch: Charlie Buckingham, Was out due to family commitments although now is back in the squad and will make a big impact to this team. Is a utility player who can make an impact all around the ground with his accurate left foot and polish.
Fixtures
UNDER 17’s
Sapphire Coast v Shoalhaven (West St Oval, Nowra) 6:00pm Friday
Sapphire Coast v Illawarra (West St Oval, Nowra) 11:30am Saturday
Sapphire Coast v Central West (West St Oval, Nowra) 2:00pm Saturday
3rd v 4th Consolation Final (West St Oval, Nowra) 9:30am Sunday
Grand Final 1st v 2nd (West St Oval, Nowra) 11:00am Sunday
YOUTH GIRLS SOUTH
Sapphire Coast South v Illawarra (Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry) 8:00pm Friday
Sapphire Coast South v Central West (West St Oval, Nowra) 1:00pm Saturday
Sapphire South v Sapphire North (Artie Smith, Bomaderry) 3:00pm Saturday
YOUTH GIRLS NORTH
Sapphire Coast North v Central West (Nowra Showgrounds) 7:00pm Friday
Sapphire Coast North v Illawarra (West St Oval, Nowra) 10:30am Saturday
Sapphire North v Sapphire South (Artie Smith, Bomaderry) 3:00pm Saturday
3rd v 4th Consolation Final (Nowra Showgrounds) 10:30am Sunday
Grand Final 1st v 2nd (Nowra Showgrounds) 12:30pm Sunday
Junior Rep Preview
Under 17’s
The under 17’s on paper have gone younger in 2017 although the skill and flair of previous teams will still remain. A number of the players from last years dominant under 14.5’s side come up this year with the likes of star men in Jedd Martyn, Max Geaghan, Kynan Baker, Flynn Cook, Tyson Mikolic and more set to take the final step in the junior rep careers into the 17’s. Although these boys will be bottom age, there is no doubting the skill with the likes of Martyn, Cook and Baker playing state level football with the Giants academy. Complementing the young brigade is a number of great senior players playing senior football on a weekly basis in Will Regan, Declan Simonson, Adam Wilson, Billy Stubbs, Jeremy Sly and Zac Martin. Regan and Sly look to be the two x factors for this side with both players playing at an extremely high level in 2017 for their senior clubs in Merimbula and Narooma respectively. Looking up and down this list, this team will be hard to beat although will need to play at their best to claim carnival honours after the Illawarra were convincing in the 2016 edition of the carnival. As well as skill this team has some toughness with the likes of Finley Cooke, Harry Hards and Lachlan Brennan not afraid to get the hard ball. Friday nights match will be an important game in the context of the carnival against the Shoalhaven before the side will be tested against the Illawarra and the Central West on the Saturday. This side is set to play some beautiful football with targets to be hit and big forwards available to kick goals.
Player to Watch: Angus Tarpey, Tarpey has come of age in recent years gaining height and strength to his frame. Although still bottom age, Tarpey will hold down a key position forward or back and is also set to give Adam Wilson and chop out in the ruck. Will be a focal point of the Stingrays play.
Youth Girl’s
The Sapphire Coast will head to Nowra with two teams in 2017 due to the withdrawal of one of 2016’s teams. The sides have been split into North and South with the contest between the two sides set to be the match of the carnival on the Saturday. Both teams are relatively similar in ability with the North possessing A graders in the form of Grace Gowing, Zalie Betts, Katlyn Scott and Kristelle Westbrook whilst the South have A graders in Hayley Spink, Bianca Findlay and Kaylah Faulkner. With both side containing 15 players the future is bright for Sapphire Coast women’s football and the two sides will be looking to translate this onto the scoreboard. The North possess a number of Bermagui girls which should translate into chemistry straight off the bat with the side having a great mixture of experience and youth with the like of Maddison Thornton, Molly Minett and Angelita Hochkins impressing at club level. The Southern side have a wider spread of players and building chemistry early will be key for the side as they look to challenge. The like of Chloe Jennings, Kaylah Faulkner, Smantha Crowley and Ashlee Miller will all be important for the South to win the hard ball and drive the side forward.
Player to Watch (South): Lilly Butler-Woolard, One of the younger players on the side, Butler-Woolard has the tools to have a great carnival possessing the ability to run all day and kick over the lines.
Player to Watch (North): Grace Gowing, Gowing has been consistently in Bermagui’s best in 2017 and these displays have led to Bermagui being one spot out of the 4 in the race for finals. Was impressive in 2016, will be better in 2017!
