2019 Shoalhaven Rep Carnival Wrap!
The 2019 Shoalhaven Rep carnival is now over, with all our Sapphire Coast teams showcasing exactly what Sapphire Coast footy is about, Hardness, toughness and never giving up! Take a look at what some of the Coaches had to say about the weekend.
On behalf of AFL Sapphire Coast, We would like to thank all Coaches, Parents, Families and everyone who made this weekend so successful!
Under 13s Wrap up – Coach Richard Janson
With a rainy start to game one, good overhead marks and ball skills turned into a 67-0 win.
Saturday was a hard slog, Lachlan Morosi, Will Tiffen and Logan Allison formed the Great wall of China in the half back line while Tasman Simons and Tyge Matters carved up the mid field.
With Beau Bennett missing the final and the midfield been battered and bruised it left big holes to fill. Jayden Deigham-Smith put his hand up for the centre and ripped the game apart.
Let’s not forget the big fella Jarryd Cotton winning every tap and even slotting a goal. The end result was every kid put in 110% letting them travel home winners.
Under 15s Wrap up – Coach Scott Ballard & Ritchie Faulkner
Friday started with a big win against central west in the rain. An all-round dominate team performance took us to a 11-goal win.
Best players Damon Kerr, Will Seach, Raymond Campbell, Will Kellar, Billy Spackman, and Jonathan McMahon.
Saturday morning saw us up against Illawarra, the greasy conditions made for a heavy hard fought 2 goal loss with Illawarra kicking their final goal after the siren. Best players Billy Spackman, Morris Absolon, Curtis Jack, Matt Parker, Jake Mikolic, and Angus Patmore.
Saturday afternoon saw us take on our neighbours the Shoalhaven in another all-round team performance. A 6-goal win saw us through to the final on Sunday. Best players included Matt Parker, Will Seach, Raymond Campbell, Will Kellar, Daniel Piccione and the tireless Billy Spackman.
The final against Illawarra was one of the most fiercely contested first halves of football with a 1 goal scored. The intensity shown by all 22 players from the Stingrays was second to none. Illawarra’s clean hands and outside ball movement proved the difference in the end with a five-goal win. Best players included every Stingrays player who played in defence. Billy Spackman, Jonathon McMahon, Matt Parker, Will Seach, and Curtis Jack. The team was led magnificently by two of the most courageous co/captains in Will Seach and “Macca” Jonathan McMahon. You might have noticed Billy Spackman’s popped up quite a bit in best players, Billy played every minute of the carnival in a on ball roll as a true centre man. Matt Parker at full back and ruck saved too many goals to count. Ray Campbell and Will Kellar played well beyond their tender age of fourteen with multiple goals and outstanding field positioning. Daniel Piccione’s forward tackling on Friday night set the tone for the rest of the carnival.
Every player should be proud of their effort as each person contributed to the team’s overall performance throughout the carnival.
Big thank you to Kirsty Faulkner for paper work duties, Ross Kellar for being the runner and Mitch Mikolic water carrier. And last of all the parents and carers for your fantastic support for the whole weekend. Go Stingrays!
Under 17s Wrap up – Coach Glen Baker
Friday night started with a wet, cold night under lights at Nowra Showgrounds, the boys were able to control the footy in wet conditions and come away win a big win to start the weekend off right! The downside to Friday night was Kynan Baker going down with a knee injury and unable to play the rest of the carnival.
The rest of the carnival was played in perfect conditions with the boys showcasing some of the best football the Sapphire Coast has to offer. Max Geaghan and Ryan Holdsworth were rocks down back, rebounding plenty of opposition attacks to give our forwards good delivery.
The boys played 2 cracking games of footy on the Saturday but unfortunately couldn’t get enough wins on the board to secure a spot in the 1st v 2nd final on Sunday.
Sunday we played off for 3rd spot and comfortably claimed that prize in what was our best game of footy for the 3 days.
Thank you to everyone that helped over the weekend, we couldn’t do it without you!
Youth Girls Wrap up – Coach Carlin Stanford
The Youth Girls started their weekend off in very average conditions under lights on Friday night, against a very strong Illawarra Saints outfit. The girls started very strong, with Julia Cullenward and Paris Groenewoud standing strong down back as Illawarra tried their best to get a score on the Board. Unfortunately, Illawarra proved to strong for our young team and ran away with the win.
Saturday saw our girls get their first win of the carnival, piling on the goals to record a convincing win over Central west. Leah Bonney and Jorja Moore were everywhere and getting plenty of the footy, which allowed our forwards to take full advantage of their dominance through the midfield. With 1 win and 1 loss, the girls played off against south Coast for a spot in the 1st v 2nd Grand Final, but ultimately went down in a great game.
Sunday, we played off against Central West for 3rd spot and the girls were really keen to finish the carnival with a win. Amelie Gautier played her best game for the carnival, getting in and under and laying some brilliant tackles, while Darby Hayes capitalised on our midfields hard work with 3 goals to help the side record a great win to finish of a fantastic weekend of footy.
A massive thank you must go to our team manager/runner, Euan Mckenzie, and to Justin Welsford for running water every game. Looking forward to 2020!
Women’s Rep Wrap up – by Coach Crowie
The game started at a quick pace with both sides trying to gain the upper hand in a mid-field battle. We had a lot of ball but couldn’t use it well enough going forward. Central made us pay by getting two goals late in the first quarter with Sapphire Coast yet to score.
In the 2nd quarter we seemed to have settled out nerves, Zalie Betts giving Cym, Mel & Kaitlyn first use of the ball with Kaitlyn managing to kick 2 goals for the quarter. Meanwhile our backline, Ello, Naomi, Brea, Tayla & Tyler repelled the ball to keep Central to only 1 goal for the quarter.
At the half time break we made a few tweaks to the side, moving Kate Mitchell to the backline, Tayla forward, TJ to the middle and Mel Mitchell forward, so the quarter was fairly even around the ground, we had our chances with Brooke Bragg tacking some good marks at Centre Half Forward, we just couldn’t capitalise with goals. Central West talls managed to kick a couple of goals taking the lead to 15 points coming into the final quarter.
The players were directed at 3 quarter time to make each entry into the forward line count on the scoreboard and have some faith in each others ability. This proved to be a winning formula as the team came out as if they had played with each other for years. Each passage of play was with confidence and purpose and with Zalie Betts coming out of the ruck into the forward line she combined well with Sophie Taylor. Our midfielders, Cym Parker, TJ Blacka, Kaitlyn started getting on top and delivering the ball into our forwards, me managed to capitalize on the scoreboard kicking 4 goals to nil for the quarter to take an 8-point victory.
Goal Kickers: Sophie Taylor 3 Goals; Kaitlyn Scott 2 Goals; Mel Mitchell 2 Goals.
Best: Zalie Betts (Best on Ground); Kate Mitchell; Elouise Russell; Cymmon Parker; Kaitlyn Scott; Brooke Bragg.
Special mention to our backline players who were excellent all game and were up against some talented and tall opposition. Also, Assistant Coach Adam Blacka who did a great job with the running and coaching – his calming influence was a great help to the girls.
Bring on 2020!
Crowie
