Our first year....

Our second year....

This season saw the club increase its on-field presence with teams being fielded in the 8 (two teams), 9, 10, 11 and 13 year grades. The 13's recorded the first premiership points for the Jets in competition footy and moved us off the bottom of the ladder. Auskick numbers and junior development activity ensured our profile in the Gungahlin area improved which contributed greatly to numbers and we also welcomed an increase of players from Goulburn, obviously starved up there for a decent sport to play, who have now ensured their brand of desire and attitude is ingrained in the Jets development of tradition.

In regard to developing a tradition, we are also well placed compared to other clubs in the manner of conduct our kids display on the field and the social interaction of parents and their role and attitude towards the teams they are associated with.

As a club within the Gungahlin community we also made in-roads with the establishing of enduring sponsorship arrangements that promise to give the kids a strong foundation for their future development.

The efforts of the committee and some very effective and passionate supporters/volunteers have also ensured that the club has endured the uncertainty and shakiness of its birth as it moves into, possibly, its adolescence period.

From little things, big things grow

2003

A tough year to begin with in making the hard decision not to field an under 11's due to poor numbers. However, we were able to have players move either up into the 12's or stay in the 10's.

The numbers to put an under 14's on the paddock also did not eventuate. This too was demoralising for us and the kids still keen to play. Unfortunately, no coach and not enough players meant the decision to not enter a team in the competition. This meant players moving to other clubs or in some cases to other sports. This will be the sad situation for the Junior Jets until the player base becomes stable to support inevitable turnovers.

The significant thing was in the Juniors agreeing to support the Yass Roos and help them establish themselves as a club. To assist we provided a club umbrella for them to play in while allowing certain things to cement. Mainly that Yass indeed had the capability to sustain itself as a club in its own right. It was a deliberate decision by the Juniors to only assist for the one year and to the credit of Scott Bourke and the dedicated helpers in Yass it was not a deterrent. We at the Junior Jets were very impressed with Yass's involvement and will refer to Yass as a 'sister' club given we have both evolved at similar times.

On the sponsorship front, President Bruce was able to announce that a fabulous long-term arrangement with The Lakes golf club Gungahlin was achieved. This long term relationship benefits both clubs but moreso us as through the assets of The Lakes and its foundation club, The Ainslie Football Club, we are in a much stronger position to sustain the Junior Jets.

2004

We formally moved away from Ngunnawal Primary School and Amaroo (informally known as either 'Zimmer Oval' or 'The Z') became the real home ground for the Junior Jets as all club games were played out at 'Windy Flats'.

Our under 13's saw out the year with a trip to Sydney that looks like creating a tradition now for the under 12's each year to be given a trip. This will hopefully give the kids coming through the Aussie Footy teams (8's thru 11's) an incentive to stick around with us.

We successfully attempted to have our Presentation Day at The Lakes and this looks like it will be repeated from now on.

We had several players playing in representative teams in the 12/13's which underlies the talent being developed.

On a sad not though we had to say good-bye to Mark Walker and the Crawford family, two of our best serving assets.