30 May Round 7 2024 Coaches Match Reports

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Hard to believe, but half-way through the season already and eyeing off that well timed mid-season break.  Let’s do the rounds and check in with all the teams and how they are doing:

 

U9s Papa Pig (Hayesy) and his piglets continue to impress and inspire the masses.    Their footy continues to grow and develop every week and their culture remains the envy of the club.   With the (unofficial) results starting to go their way the sky is the limit for our youngest Searchers.    Ned, Will and Henry have been real standouts for us this season so far with Patrick, Johan, Lincoln and Max also been solid.    No limits here to what this team is going to achieve in the future.
U10 Girls Wow, just wow.  These girls have been enormous so far.  Not just as the fantastic little they are, but for the whole football club and the direction we’re heading with girls Footy.   We took a punt on getting the u10 girls up and it’s paid off big time.  This team of girls are growing before our eyes and are the biggest improvers for the club from round 1 to now and we couldn’t be any prouder of what the girls have delivered for us far.   Indie, Willow, Erene, Mia and Tilly have been excellent so far this season with new-comer Eadie also showing she’s made of the right stuff !
U11 Boys First year of competitive footy and absolutely dominating.   What they lack in numbers, they make up for in effort, attitude and some outright talent.   Sitting at the pointy end of the Div 2 ladder with 5 wins from their 7 starts and cherry ripe to give this thing a shake.   Special mentions go to Cayden who has been huge all season, with Hunter, Charlie and Jack also major contributors  – But it has been nothing short of a complete team performances getting the job done for us every week and great reward for this team and the preparation they put into the season !
Ladder Position – 2nd         
Season 2024 Goals Total – Cayden – 23, Jack -12, Josh – 5
U12 Girls Battled away in the first half of the season and now settled into the correct division and starting to find their groove.   Sitting in the top four in Div 2 winning two out of their three in the Division, finals are well and truly on the table here – maybe even further.   A couple wins and a very narrow loss in recent weeks has them in pretty good form heading into the break and hopefully they can take that momentum into the second half of the season.    Elsie, Indiana and Anna have been the stand-out performers in a team full of very committed young ladies.
Ladder Position –  3rd         
Season 2024 Goals Total – Elsie -5, Indiana -3, Anna – 3
U13 Boys Tough Start for last year’s premiers after being incorrectly graded in Div 1.   But they’ve shown great character and now settled back into Div 2 life, things are certainly on the up.   They show up, put in the work and are starting to see the rewards.  Smashed with injuries and illness, no doubt a decent run at things will see some consistency in their performance.    Callum, Kai and Booga have been huge positives for the team with Joshy and new-comer Eoghan also having great starts to the season.  Huge second half of the year to come for this group.
Ladder Position – 4th           
Season 2024 Goals Total – Noah – 5, Cal -3, Ollie – 3
U14 Boys Big positive here for the Footy Club getting this group up and firing. Knocking the door down as a real contender in Div 2 is a massive achievement for this group after a number of quality players exited in the pre-season.    Only two very narrow losses from our seven starts, the 14s are well and truly in the game and will feature at the pointy end of the season.   Great start to the season for Tommy J and Baz, with Rav, Harvey and Jakey also being major influences in the first half of the season. Team culture has been the biggest winner here !
Ladder Position – 3rd           
Season 2024 Goals Total – Rav – 11, Baz – 9,  Harrison – 8,  Max – 8
U14 Girls In a team full of almost all bottom age girls, the 14 girls are battling away gracefully every week.   while the results haven’t been going their way, we can’t question their effort and attitude to competing hard and having a real crack.   They have been in every game to date and really challenged some of the better teams along the way.  Keep chipping away and the result will start to fall your way.   Skipper, Grace has been enormous for us all year, with great starts to the season from Iyla, Miranda and Stefanie also.    Big second half of the season to come for the 14 girls.
Ladder Position – 5th               
Season 2024 Goals Total – Grace – 4, Lexi – 3
U15 Boys Smashed with injuries in the first part of the season, the 15 boys are just starting to fire up.    banked some early wins through grading and now settled into a very strong div 2 line-up, the 15s have been very competitive in every game to date.   A full squad available in the second half of the season should see some consistency in their performance and hopefully the result with flow on from that.  absolutely in the hunt and don’t be too surprised if this team is featuring at the pointy end.   Haydos has been huge so far, with a couple of Zacs, Azzy, Mitch and Adzy also having a say most weeks.
Ladder Position – 5th           
Season 2024 Goals Total – Zac C – 10, Hughy – 8, Ozzy – 6.
U16 Girls Going from strength to strength are Kev’s girls and really starting to stamp their authority on the competition.   sitting pretty on top of the ladder, the 16 girls continue to impress with their solid ball movement and a real team-first attitude to their Footy.   Sienna and Dakota have led the way all the season with a very impressive starts to the season with great output as always from Addison and Ayva also.    Plenty of excitement around this group with a strong and healthy squad to power on into the second half of the season
Ladder Position – 1st           
Season 2024 Goals Total – Ayva – 9, Sienna -8, Dakota – 6
U17.5 Boys Last year’s Div 2 premiers have really had their work cut out for them as they continue to compete hard against the Div 1 heavy weights.   They have been in every game and besides the one blow out, have really taken up to their oppo every week.   Their attitudes have remained very positive with some great leadership and a team culture built on sticking together the lessons out of this year will hold them in very good stead moving forward.   An unfortunate run of injuries in the first half of the year hasn’t helped, so a change in luck in the second half might see some of those close ones fall our way.   Billy and Tom have had super starts to the season with Josh, Hamish and Jesse also showing that they are more than capable at the level.   Stick together boys !
Ladder Position – 6th
Season 2024 Goals Total –  Riley – 7, Tom – 6, Josh – 5
U18 Girls Big time team this one.   Massive in fact.   stacked full of talent, what they lack in numbers most weeks they make up for in absolute football mastery.  Adam has his girls as sharp and as slick as you will see at this level and it’s no surprise they sit atop of the ladder, currently undefeated.   Huge output from Anayah, Lilly and Issabella as expected with Alli, Tess and Ally also having big starts to the season.  But it really has been a balanced team performance across all lines, that is getting the job done, with every player knowing and playing their role for their team.   A huge second half to come for the 18 girls.
Ladder Position – 1st             
Season 2024 Goals Total – Ally – 17, Alli -11, Scarlet – 8, Sierra – 8, Abbi – 8.

Round 7 Coach Match Reports

 

Boys Under 11s

Research 11.11. 77 v Laurimar 3.1.19

Goals: Cayden 5, Jack 4, Ned 2

Under the bright sunshine of a glorious day, our Under 11 boys delivered a masterclass performance against Laurimar, overcoming their physically larger opponents with ease in a match filled with excitement, skills and goals.

From the opening whistle, we displayed our intent, controlling possession and dictating the tempo of the game despite facing a Laurimar side boasting a considerable size advantage.

With precise passing and quick movement of the ball, we immediately asserted our dominance in the middle.

It didn’t take long for us to convert and take the early lead.

Capitalizing on our swift start we continued to press forward relentlessly, utilizing our ability to bypass Laurimar’s physical presence.

Our efforts were rewarded time and time again culminating in a flurry of goals. Cayden superb with 5 from the midfield and Jack 4 goals also.

Laurimar struggled to impose themselves on the game, with our defense standing firm and denying them any opportunities.

Our backs in Cameron, Miles, Quinn, Hayden and Alex tackling everything and once again so dominant. Alex with his best game for the year. Well done mate.

Up forward we continued to showcase our attacking skills, carving open the Laurimar defence at will with precise passing and intelligent movement of the ball.

Max and Ned from the under 9s played well beyond their years, Ned kicking 2 goals and Max with multiple courageous efforts and setting up many goals himself. Our other half forwards in Huddo, Jeremy and Aston were solid all day also.

As the second half unfolded we maintained our stranglehold on the game, controlling possession and dictating play. Our usual play makers in the middle with Hunter, Max H, Charlie, Archie and Cayden giving us first use all day.

It was great to have Miles back this week as he is such a barometer for our side.

Captain Karlius leading the way with a solid game again.

Ashton was in everything. He had a positional change this week and it really showed us how versatile he really is. He ran all day and at times was outmanned but still victorious. Great game!

In the last quarter the mercy rule was activated and they added 2 cheap goals in junk time.

Our win over Laurimar was a match that highlighted our superior skill and teamwork despite facing a physically imposing opponent.

Our teamwork and gut running earning us a well-deserved victory on a beautiful sunny Sunday.

 

Boys Under 13s

Another ripping day for footy at Research Park and we were up against West Preston Lakeside.

First of all, I would like to congratulate Eli Cochrane on reaching 50 games. As I mentioned
in my speech on the ground Eli’s footy has improved a lot and he has become an integral
part of the team especially sometimes as our sole ruckman.

The team started off quite well dominating possession with the ball camping down in our
forward line with the team scoring the first goal and having quite a few scoring shots.

Unfortunately, West Preston started to fight back and kicked the next few to have the lead
going into quarter time. West Preston then started the second like the first and dominated
play to kick the first few of the quarter but to our team’s credit we fought back and had a few
scoring shots ourselves without any luck in kicking a goal.

The second half was very even for the entire half, but we weren’t able to make any major
inroads into the deficit with really just our finishing in front of goal letting us down we even
kept West Preston scoreless for the last quarter and we probably should have scored more
ourselves.

I can’t question at all the teams attack on the footy, their work in the contest, tackling and the
one percenter’s (ask the kids what the one percenters are, I’m banging on about them every
game and training session) and there general getting in there and everyone having a crack.

A few personal highlights from me:

  • Harry D- I challenged him to play full back and he delivered. Stopping at least 3 goals if not
    more
  • Eli – keeping up his fine season so far and was huge in the ruck this week. Due to illness
    and injury, he has had to ruck pretty much by himself all game and delivered again on the
    weekend. Not to mention in his 50 th appearance.
  • Kash – with the outs from last year I have had to run him through the middle and he has
    really performed with this week being his best game for the season.
  • Eoghan- for a kid that hasn’t played football he has had real crack, and his footy skills are
    improving rapidly. The coaches can see it form training and in game as well.
  • Heath – kicking his first goal for the team. Always a highlight!!

I feel this team has a lot of improvement still in it and will be a different team by the end of
the season. Keeping on working hard!!

 

 

Boys Under 14

Kilmore 1.3 9 v Research 5.9 39

We had a day trip out to Kilmore this round.  Weather was great and it’s a nice ground to play footy on.
This was our first game for the year where we had nearly everyone playing. Five on the bench which meant we had plenty of rotations on the big ground.
The boys started on fire. Running in numbers, linking up with handball and hitting targets by foot. We looked like super stars and I thought wow this is going to be a big win. The way we played was everything a coach could wish for. Even switching the ball out of defence was working. And for U14s that is a rare thing to say or even see.
But all good things come to an end. And boy did they ever. After halftime we looked like a different team. Such a strange change of game style and intensity had come across us. We actually struggled to get the ball into our forward line. The skills dropped off and that in turn put us under pressure in our backline for the remainder of the game. I couldn’t put my finger on it. A mix of the opposition putting more pressure on us. Us getting ahead of ourselves and losing our structure which on a big ground will never go well.
In the end we got the victory but it was a strange win that’s for sure. Even the boys commented on it feeling like we had lost.
Highlights:
  • Harvey K at full back. Time after time he just keeps the football away from the opposition. Intercept marking in defence and his reading of the play are awesome.
  • Rav had a great game across half forward. But more importantly in the last quarter I sent him to half back for some better ball movement. He didn’t let me down. Great game.
  • Max kicked two for the day and continues to improve his work rate and football smarts.
  • Orlando was like a bull all game. Running up and down the wing using his penetrating kick to our advantage. Bringing others into the game as well.
Onto next week for a four quarter effort.

Boys Under 15

RJFC 5-3-33  MJFC 10-13-73
After a couple of tough games against the two teams on top of the ladder we travelled to Lower Plenty take on Montmorency.
The boys had a great team discussion mid week on what was going well and where they wanted to improve, and from the bounce started executing what they had talked about. We wanted the ball and were competing hard in the air and on the ground and went in to the long break a couple of points down but right in the game and looking on top of Monty. A very strong last quarter for our opponent blew the score out in their favour, and while they deserved to win what was a great game to watch it was a much closer game than the final scoreline indicated.
Some incredible performances from our team including a breakout game from one of our rugby converts (big Trav) and a towering goal launched from the edge of the centre square by Mitch Hall, were just part of what was what was a tremendous team performance that the boys should be very proud of. We were very impressed by the way the team set some goals for improvement and then committed to the actions required in the game.
Well done boys!

Boys Under 17.5

Research 7.6.48 def by Whittlesea 17.10.112

Goals: Riley Kerr (2), Billy Johnson (2), Josh Northey (2), Harry Wenn
Best Players: Nathan Bradshaw, Billy Johnson, Josh Northey, Jesse Todd, Tom Dozzi, Harry Wenn, Kale Bollenhagen

I love the character in our team. It would be easy to look at the final scores in games or the ladder and feel despondent, but our team keeps persisting, has a great spirit, keeps turning up to training in numbers, keeps fighting hard to get better and for good chunks of games, keeps playing really good footy.

Each of the teams we play against are long established in Division 1 and have deep talent. As we discussed with the boys, we all want to win but the scoreboard and ladder are outcomes. They tell you something that has happened but tell you nothing about how the team is playing and whether we are getting better to be able to win games.

What I do know is that we are consistently winning centre clearances, our tackle counts have doubled, we are winning more overall stoppages than we were at the start of the season, often beating the opposition in these measures. We are vulnerable to turning the ball over at times but to develop players individually and as a team, we are also encouraging the team to switch the footy more to open up games, to take a little bit more time in possession (use the 7 seconds) to use spot up kicks and improve our decision making. With new players in our group now settled in, the team is looking more familiar now. We are seeing some really good passages of play at a high standard. We have players starting to settle into a rhythm of rotations and how they play with each other. We have a clearer idea of how to set
the team up each week although injuries and absences are always a challenge. We are holding teams defensively and only in one game has there been a true blow out. Most quarters are within a goal or two. We have struggled to score enough goals. It’s the forward line where we have had the most changes, been affected from injuries and we are yet to settle our side in that part of the ground but we are now setting up in a particular way now which should help in the second half of the season.

So, as the season reaches the halfway point, we all wish we the results could be different but the team has definitely progressed. The boys are playing at the highest level of junior footy in the NFNL following our success last year which is a real credit to them and a once only opportunity. They deserve massive credit in the way they are stepping up to the standard. We have now seen every opponent and are much better able to prepare for the way they play. I am optimistic that we can have a strong second half of the year and make sure that the boys love their final year of footy at Research JFC.

An example of the brilliant spirit in our group is Zac Jenkins. Zac played his first game for the season on the weekend. He joined our team to play another year in Under 17’s having been a long-term player at Research. Zac started in our pre-season before Christmas but unfortunately just before practice matches, he broke his finger. Despite this and not being allowed to train with the footy’s and of course games missed, Zac has continued to come to training most nights. Of 36 sessions we have done since October, Zac has trained 29 of them, pounding out lap after lap to keep his fitness up. He has been positive and encouraging of his team-mates and I have never once heard him complain. So, it was fantastic to see Zac play on Sunday and play well in a pretty intense game. Well done to Zac!

None of us like seeing injuries. A number of our team suffered from collision injuries on the weekend. I am proud of the way the boys check in with each other and parents check in to see that the boys are doing ok. I am also extremely grateful for the care and the medical expertise we have in our team. To Belinda, Hannah and Tim in particular, thank you for your care of our kids. We couldn’t be any luckier to
have you as part of our group and for the way you selflessly supported the boys on the weekend, during and after the game.

The game against Whittlesea followed a familiar pattern. We got off to an excellent start to the game and were just 11 points down at Quarter time. There was a period mid-way through the quarter when it looked like Whittlesea could really break us open but the boys rallied late in the quarter with late goals and with a couple we could have kicked, we were well in the game. Again, the second quarter we competed well. But injuries started to impact when we lost Hamish Collins with an ankle and took a couple of other knocks.

The injuries started to take their toll in the second half and it was hard for us to hold them. When I reflect on the game, my first thoughts are for the players injured. It is hard to see boys hurt and to River in particular, we are all thinking of him and pleased to hear he is on the road to recovery. I then reflect that Whittlesea had a boy kick 6 goals who was an outstanding player and I thought our defenders did a great job competing with him but he was a real talent. Take him out of the game, then there is the difference of the teams’ ability to score but in general play, we are holding our own and playing at a good level.

So, lots to work with and as I said, to look forward to in the second half of the season. After the long weekend, we should have a number of players return which will be a great help but this week, we look forward to another home game against South Morang and every chance to play at Research Park is one to treasure.

Paul and the Coaches

 

 

Girls Under 18

Research 9.4 58 d Eltham 0.4 4
Best Players: Alli Allen, Ally Pilakis, Bella Turner, Sierra Filippone, Anayah Maher 
Goal Kickers: Ally Pilakis 4, Anayah Maher, Sierra Filippone 2 and Abi Flenley
 
Our team is loving the home games at the moment and have appreciated the support form the families and other teams coming to watch us play.
This week the U14 Girls were welcomed in the rooms before and after the game which flowed onto a joint training session on Monday night, which I believe the U18 girls got so much out of teaching and training along side our future stars.
Our inside game has been exceptional all year and our focus this week was on outside transition from the back line to our forwards. From the absolute get go our transitions was amazing with overlapping handballs, short kicks then attack.
Heaps of forward entries set up Ally Pilakis’ 4 first Qrt goals. Tess and Alli’s run of the half back was damaging.
A special mention to Sophia for locking down on Eltham’s tall forward and the whole back line for keeping them goalless.
Abi and Sierra completing the forward line with skill and aggression split open their defence and rewarded themselves with the scoreboard pressure.
Our first gamer Grace was into the game early setting up the first goal of the game.
Another home game this week sees us play the physical Whittlesea.