Sport
18 June, 2023
Storming into the mid season break
Seniors: At the beginning of the season, it was difficult to gauge how the team would shape up this year having lost about half the players from the team that finished fourth last year. With injuries and availability causing many players to miss...
Seniors:
At the beginning of the season, it was difficult to gauge how the team would shape up this year having lost about half the players from the team that finished fourth last year.
With injuries and availability causing many players to miss game, 31 players have played for the Seniors in first eight games.
So far the improvement in a great bunch of young players and a new style of play has taken the team to a higher level at the halfway stage of this season, and left them sitting in second place with seven wins and a single loss to the top team, Harrow Balmoral.
Jeparit Rainbow has been the only team to get within 80 points of the ladder leaders.
New recruits Nick Yarran, Tom Clarke and Will Hutchison have provided great drive in the midfield with each of them featuring amongst the best players in nearly every game they have played, showcasing their ball getting ability and skills.
They have also kicked 10, 14 and 15 goals respectively.
Brad Stokes has played well as a midfielder/defender, while Matt Synoradski has given great drive from the wing.
Jakob Cocks has continued on with his good form from last year, while Tom Schumann, Xavier Oakley, Jordan Leach, Matt Thomas and Zac Pietzsch have all stepped up to a higher level this year.
Nine players have kicked 10 or more goals.
Ash Clugston is the leading goal kicker with 26, Peter Weir has kicked 14 from his five games and newcomer Javaad Anderson 11 goals from five games.
A solid defence led by Schumann, Will Batson and Simon Clugston has conceded an average of just under 60 points a game.
Joint-coach Scott Driscoll said he is pleased with how the team is performing.
"The key thing for us having the success we have had to date is the group's buy in to a new game plan with consistent roleplay from the over-30 players that have played Senior football," he said.
"The group has been willing to take risks and be positive in their approach which has led to us finishing games strongly.”
Reserves:
It was a tough start to the season for the Reserves as they struggled for player numbers and suffered some heavy defeats.
A number of players with Seniors experience coming back into the team has seen them win their last two games to add to a previous draw.
Jake Parry has been a top leader, finishing amongst the best in all five of his games, winning lots of the ball in the midfield.
He has had good support from defender Hayden Jamieson and onballer Trey Patullo.
Justin Cozens and Bailey Clark, who have alternated between the Seniors and Reserves, have finished amongst the best in all their Reserves games.
A highlight has been the form of U17’s player Jaime Eckermann who has finished amongst the best players in five games.
Playing his second game for the day and still having a big influence in Reserves is a great effort from this very promising youngster.
Goal kicking has been difficult for the team, with key forward Aidan Gelligen the leading goal kicker with eight.
Crowd favourite Jonathon Dai with seven goals, and Rory O’Halloran with six goals has seen the team putting in great individual efforts in a single game.
Mention must be made of the two veterans, Jason Hutson and Allan Roberts, who provide great leadership in every game.
U17’s:
It has been a mixed first half of the season for the team with three wins, a couple narrow losses and two heavy defeats.
Jaime Eckermann has shown great leadership to his younger teammates, many of whom have come up from last year's U14’s team.
Will Fisher is one of those players.
He has been named amongst the best players in every game, with his ability to run all game and rack up possessions making him a very valuable player.
Other younger players in Zander Eckermann, Cooper Stasinowsky, Parker Gould and Seamus Clarke have also been playing some good football.
Newcomers to Jeparit Rainbow Bailey Mason and Xavier Hiscock have been good additions to the team.
U14’s:
The boys began the season well despite several of last year’s players moving up to the U17’s, winning three of their first five games although they have lost the last three.
Lenny Weir has been in outstanding form, leading by example in every game, winning lots of the ball, as well as kicking 10goals in his eight games.
He has good support from Fletcher Keller and Ryder Gould who also have been impressive in most games.
Max Spokes has taken his football to a new level this year becoming a valuable member of the team.