Being a Jet is really great,
Starting out as an under eight,
Now all my Saturday's are special dates,
Because I get to play footy with all my mates!

What's It All About ????

As a kid back in WA, my footy days started out in the under 9's what seems a very, very long time ago. I remember always being more interested in whether or not mum or dad was watching me, in playing and wrestling with the other kids - both our guys and the opposition, in playing with grass, bugs and the dirt, in almost anything except the actual game. I guess I did finally start to pay attention though, as I kept at my footy and did pretty well up into my late 20's when I was sidelined for good after a rather nasty broken leg.

However, the old selective memory factor was well and truly in place earlier this year when I went along with my child for his first game in the under 8's. I spent the first couple of weeks utterly frustrated at how painfully inattentive all the kids were. They would wrestle and play and daydream and there was little sign of any real commitment to getting the ball and winning the game. My child in particular (a phenomenom that affected every parent I think!) seemed to be always doing anything but watching the game.

Then, a few weeks into the season, I got some photo's back from the very first game. In them, I saw a bunch of very tiny, but very determined, very proud kids, full of desire to do well and giving their best shot at what was for most of them the ost foreign of concepts. This brought back my early memories, the fun, the fear, the desire to want to do well, never forgetting the feeling of looking to the sideline after I'd won a kick to see if mum or dad had been watching.

In one photo in particular, the classic "like father, like son" shot, I knew that the next few years were all about supporting the concept of having fun. The skills and 'desire' would come in time, but for now, the under 8's are all about learning to enjoy playing a game, being part of a team and having fun.

Not a bad concept that.

At Aussie Football Level (up to Under 11) results are not recorded nor is there a finals series and ultimate premiership decider. However just for the record:

• Under 8 – 16 Rounds – 5 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses, 1 bye and 2 washed-out games
• Under 10 – 16 Rounds – 2 wins, 1 draw, 12 losses and 1 washed-out game

Luke ALLEN

12

5

-

-

Coota/Tumut

5

14

Peter BAKER

13

1

-

-

Tumut

1

14

Caleb BATEMAN

-

-

15

11

Tumut

11

16

Daniel BATEMAN

1

-

15

0

Tumut

0

16

Hannah BATEMAN

-

-

15

1

Tumut

1

16

Priscilla BATEMAN

-

-

8

0

Tumut

0

9

Sam BLYTHE

2

1

15

0

Coota/Tumut

1

17

Rikk BURNS-POWERS

-

-

14

0

Tumut

0

15

Jacob CHALKER

10

1

-

-

Coota

1

11

David CRAWFORD

-

-

15

1

Tumut

1

16

Lucy CRAWFORD

13

0

-

-

Tumut

0

14

Adam CZARNY

13

3

-

-

Coota/Tumut

3

15

James CZARNY

-

-

14

1

Coota

1

15

David FOX

8

1

-

-

Tumut

1

9

Isaac FOX

-

-

14

0

Coota/Tumut

0

16

Daniel GANNON

-

-

15

8

Coota/Tumut

8

17

Jesse GANNON

13

5

-

-

Coota/Tumut

5

15

Josh GREAVES

-

-

14

0

Tumut

0

15

Josh HEUER

14

5

-

-

Tumut

5

15

Jake HOUSLEY

-

-

15

9

-

9

15

Jasmine HOUSLEY

-

-

3

0

-

0

3

Jaryd LARTER

14

7

-

-

Tumut

7

15

Brendan McGEE

14

3

1

-

Coota/Tumut

3

16

Shane McGEE

-

-

14

0

Coota/Tumut

0

16

Luke MARENGO

-

-

6

0

-

0

6

Shane MARION

-

-

14

0

-

0

14

Jewel MAULE

-

-

14

2

Tumut

2

15

Gary MILLS

12

1

-

-

Coota

1

13

James NOBLE

12

1

-

-

Coota/Tumut

1

14

Curt PEARCE

8

1

-

-

Tumut

1

9

Cameron PHASEY

-

-

10

1

Tumut

1

10

Dylan PHASEY

9

0

-

-

Tumut

0

10

Elliot PHASEY

13

10

2

0

Tumut

10

15

Gareth REID

-

-

14

1

Coota

1

15

Josh ROEBUCK

9

0

-

-

Coota/Tumut

0

11

Joel SMITH

-

-

13

0

Coota/Tumut

0

15

Hayden WALKER

13

0

-

-

Coota/Tumut

0

15

Jarryd WALKER

14

1

-

-

Coota/Tumut

1

16

Lachlan WHITING

13

0

-

-

-

0

13

Matt and Byrnesy's Excellent Adventure started in the wee hours (or so it seemed) of Sunday the 21st May 2000, from the car park at Ngunnawal Primary School. We wended our way south-west to Coota while the video on the bus played "Dr Doolittle" and was mixed with the excited banter among our expectant players of what was to be in store. Under the cautious control of our 'guest' Jet, Bus Driver Jamie, he guided the bus on the highways and bi-ways of southern NSW until we rolled into Coota with ample time to put the 10's onto the ground for their first game.

The 8's had the good fortune to have time to size up their opponents as their first game was not due 'til 11am. Our two teams of Junior Jets played 4 games each and although the win/loss ratio was in the negative for the day all players who represented Gungahlin tried their best and were a credit to our Club, quickly adapting to the 'rules' they were not accustomed to. We think that all the boys, whether under 8's through to the under 11's can't wait for the under 12's which allows tackling. Carnivals like this allow tackling so we might have to attend a few more to let the boys have their head. If anyone had seen our smallest boys in each team knocking over their bigger opponents they would've been amazed - we were!

We played teams from the Ungarie, Tumbarumba, Tumut, West Wyalong, Lockhart, Ganmain and Temora areas and all games were played in great spirit. Marist under 10's are also to be thanked for the tremendous assistance they gave us in lending us a few players for games we were short in. They also helped us put a combined Canberra side on the ground for the final game where we played a full 18-a-side game with Rucks, Rovers, and all the thrills of a game like the big-boys play.

With the completion of Presentations we boarded the bus for the return journey and made our way home, this time with "Mr Bean" to entertain us. After a refreshment stop at Yass McDonalds it was a weary bus-load of players and supporters who stepped off the bus at Ngunnawal and brought a great day to an end.

Thanks to Matt, Mark (acting coach of the 8's), Dave, Alan, the Czarny's, Bruce, Steve, the Mill's and the Allen's, our parents who helped out on the day, and I believe all had a great day too.

A very tired but proud of our travellers, Byrnesy.

Headlines from Coota

1. Mark Walker saves drowning apple.
2. Gungahlin JUniors announces plans to have an official investigation into mysterious plot to drown and even more mysterious apple.
3. Junior Jets pig out at most popular restaurant on Hume Highway.
4. Byrnesy sours relations with parents over non-partaking of various liquid refreshments on return leg of trip.
5. Matt runs out of tape strapping Reidy's fingers
6. Dave Gannon awoken from restful slumber (he missed all the scenery on the way up) so he can work up a sweat. Stev Noble does likewise with the 8's.
7. Cheerleaders Caroline Roebuck, Tracey Czarny & all the mums spurred the under 8's to great heights.
8. Chopper Reid worse for wear after two footy bus trips in the one week-end.
9. Bruce Chalker becomes longest serving goal-umpire in the history of the Junior Jets - to be presented with the Gold Flags. Chris Byrne becomes new apprentice goal-umpire (the jumper technique of flagwaving given new meaning).
10. It's Czarny with a 'ch' not a 'cz'; like Liza with a 'z' not an 's' (Matt will get it one day).
11. Under 10's uphold honour of Jets and win the battle of the swings at Nicholson Park, Cootamundra.
12. Pokemon chip sales reach new high in Cootamundra.
13. Transborder coach driver blames half eaten chip packets for excess luggage.
14. Dr Doolittle and Mr Bean provided entertainment so now kids really know where to hide the thermometer and how to stick the finger up at passing traffic (especially when you are in a bus).