Gungahlin Junior AFC

2000 Under 10 Season Summary

Team Report

The under 10 team that I had the privilege to coach in season 2000 consisted of both boys and girls whose ages ranged from 7 to 11 when we commenced training back in March. We had a total of 20, "Under 10's" players don the Jets jumper during the year and all contributed to the great improvement and fun the team had during the 16 rounds of the under 10 competition. Of this group of players only 4 or 5 had played competition football before, while a few more had participated in Auskick, but generally all were fairly inexperienced footballers when we started. The weeks during the season we were together changed this and by season's end all had improved their skill levels, some dramatically, and it showed in games on Saturdays and in the way they performed drills at training.

The team played a standard of football that although not as skillful, due to our teams time in the code, as our opponents but our desire and drive to get the ball and use it was equal to and in a number of cases far better than any of our opponents.

Training was held on Tuesday afternoons at Ngunnawal Oval and was generally well supported with sickness, school commitments and "I forgot" the main reason for non-attendance. Sessions were mainly based on learning the basic skills of football and starting to ground players in the habits that will benefit them as they progress in any sport e.g., warm-up routines of running and stretching. The skill training started out fairly basic with handball, kicking and marking skills taking precedence but by season's end the group was starting to come to grips and performing more complicated training drills set for them.

The highlights of the year were obviously the improvement both individually and in team aspects of the game by all players and, although we are not supposed to put to much emphasis on winning, it was pleasing to see that we did win and draw more games than was generally expected when we started out playing games back in April. Other highlights of the year were the trip to Cootamundra when all that attended had a great day, the visit of Tumut late in the year and the way that all the players responded to me as their Coach (this was most gratifying).

In a team report such as this there are a number of "thanks" you have to make and in this one I must start at our team level by thanking Mark Bateman for being our Manager and also helping me on training nights to train the players. He took on the duties with great gusto and nothing was too much trouble for him as he achieved a level of expertise that the club can be justly grateful for. Mark was ably supported by his wife Priscilla who backed him up admirably on match days and thanks is also extended to her.

Further, to our team officials I must thank our club Umpire Steve Crawford who must have done an excellent job as I hardly disagreed with any of his decisions in any of our home games. Seriously, Steve did do an excellent job taking on a hard task on a regular basis not only for the under 10's but then doubling up to do the under 8's each week. Thank you Steve.

The final thankyou I must give is to our club administrator Matt Blythe and his wife Sue for their untiring efforts in getting the Junior Jets club of the ground this season. Without their efforts the club may well be still in existence but it would be no where as advanced due to their unswerving dedication to the enhancement of the Junior Jets Club. They both will probably, as usual, shy from any accolades that should be justly extended to them but through these few words I would ask all to thank them as this season ends.

Your in Football,

Byrnesy
Coach 2000

Under 10 Player Pen Pics
Name About
Caleb B Caleb never played a bad game, even when he was off colour he gave his all for the team. He was continually put into hard positions to play but without fail he took that telling mark or kicked truly to enhance the team's position in the game. A great season of skilled and dedicated football from a top young man.
Daniel B A lot of times during the season we forgot that Daniel is still eligible to play in the under 8's. His abilities far outstrips his years and in a number of games he was in our best players. He plays the game with a fervor that makes a Coach's heart beat quicker as you know he will always give his all in a game.
Hannah B Hannah played mainly in the forward line during the season, as she was always a tall option for us to aim at. The overall improvement in her skills was great as when she started the season she could only kick a few metres but by season's end after much hard work at training her kicking distance has improved remarkably.
Priscilla B Priscilla started playing with the team about halfway through the season and she enjoyed it so much she decided to play full-time. She has worked hard at improving her skills and desire to win the ball and at the end of the year Priscilla was getting the ball for the team.
Sam B Sam, like many of our smaller players, was a bit tentative when he started out back in March but by season's end he was continually boring into packs to win the ball for the team and his teammates. He has had a great year considering he is still eligible for the under 9's age grouping. Skills have improved dramatically.
Rikk B-P Rikk is another of our small brigade who could play under 9 footy but his improvement during the season was great also. Skill levels have shown very good progress and his drop punts are an important part of his repertoire now. A top young man to be involved with because of his attitude to all in the team.
David C Another of our smalls who was a bit tentative early, but the longer the season went the harder at the ball he became taking some hard knocks along the way. Playing all over the ground as he developed in confidence he could be relied upon to win the ball and continually put the team in a better position on the oval.
James C James, a stylish left-footer, has had a remarkable start to his Aussie Rules career, taking to the game like a duck to water. He commenced with some hesitancy due to his lack of knowledge of the game but once he gained a feel for the game he came ahead in leaps and bounds. His big achievement was by season end he was playing in key positions for the team.
Isaac F Isaac is a rugged player who will be a real good footballer in the future if he can persevere a little bit harder with his training. He played some good games for the team and showed no fear in going in to get the ball, getting it to his teammates down the ground. A likeable young man it was a treat to have him in the team.
Daniel G Danny was our Mr Consistency; never putting in a bad game and always willing to put his body on the line for the team in a real "Hawk" like manner. Courage, good skills, controlled aggression and drive were his main attributes and the team benefited from them every time he took to the field on game day.
Joshua G Joshua is another of our players who could play in the under 9's. He has had a consistent season of football and the stylish way he moves on a football field shows that he will have a great future in the code. Able to play in most positions on the field we hope that St Eddies don't get a team in his age group next year.
Jake H Jake started off the season trying out for the Primary School Rep. side and this for an under 10 shows the calibre of a player. A mainstay of our under 10's he continually did the hard things on the football field that make team officials look on in wonderment during games. A natural goal kicker he played all over the ground and performed consistently where ever he played.
Jasmine H Jas started playing with us early in the season but due mainly to her age (she is also an under 8) and the size of the players around her she became one of our water runners and a keen supporter. We thank her for her efforts when she did play as if she had not been there in the early games we would not have been able to field a full team to play.
Shane M Shane took a little while to settle into football mainly because he had not been involved in team sport before but his dedication to learning paid off late in the season when he really put into practice what he had been learning at training. A delightful young man to be involved with and this year's grounding will see him blossom in coming years.
Luke M Luke only played about half the season so we never saw if he was going to improve to a level that would have been an asset to the team but at all times he tried his hardest and always attempted to put into practice what he had been shown on the training track.
Jewel M Jewel was one of our main talls and for a player with little experience in football carried the workload in a manner that bellied his time in the game. A personable attitude to all made him a favourite with team officials and supporters alike and this year's grounding should see him blossom in the next couple of seasons into a mainstay of any team he plays for.
Shane Mc We haven't seen the best of "Bobby" yet but when we can get him to show more confidence in himself and display the football he showed glimpses of this season, the Jets will have a competent footballer that will set the football world alight for many years. He is a congenial young man who has been a treat to be involved with.
Cameron P Cameron did a hand during the last third of the season and we never benefited from the great football he was playing for us prior to the injury. A likeable young man he always tried his hardest for the team no matter where he was placed on the football field. Toowoomba's gain for next season is definitely our loss. The club will miss Cameron in 2001.
Gareth R Reidy has been the Rock of Gibraltar for the team during the year being called on to do the hard things on the ground in most games. A strong and robust player he always put the team first by doing the team things asked of him. His "impish" manner made him a real bonus to relieve the tense times in games and at training.
Joel S Joel was another little fellow who showed what could be achieved if you train regularly and put into practice in a game what you have been shown at training. He progressed through the year and he can now be relied on to win the hard ball for the team and kick to teammates around him on game day.