News – 22 April 2008

Round two saw Malvern receiving 3 walkovers from 5 junior games — not the sort of Saturday we like to see, but the Coaches managed to organise some games and training. Next Saturday’s game are on SportingPulse, but we already know of some changes, so check with your Coach and the whiteboard at training on Thursday, as we’re aiming to avoid a repeat of this week’s problems.
Thanks to our Coaches for getting their reports to me in time for sending this week’s roundup out early in the week. This week we’ll also have Contact Lists for each of our junior teams, to facilitate car pooling and party organising.

Thanks for the encouraging emails — last week’s report should also appear in the Stonnington Leader; thanks to their Sports Reporter, Marty Shevelove, for supporting us. Didn’t receive any photos or stories, so I’ve put in a photo of mine from last year’s Division 2 Grand Final — what a terrific day that was.

Note that this Sunday at Surrey Park the first tryout sessions are on for the U19 Vic Team (9am) and U17 South-East Titans Team (11am). This year’s U17 and U19 Nationals will be at Caulfield in the July school holidays. With these Nationals just down the road, and coinciding with the U19′s Championships and U18 Kangas Tournament in Canada, these are a good opportunity for some more of our up and coming young players to represent our Club at State and Zone level. If you’re unsure whether you should try out, have a word to the Club Coaches before Sunday. For full details, see Mlcmail messages, or LV website.

Again, please send me your feedback and inside stories and I’ll include them in next week’s mailing. And if you have a good Club photo, serious or funny or embarrassing, send it to me compressed to 200 KB — winning photo each week gets a lacrosse match ball.

Best regards,

Mike

Picture of the week: 2007 Division 2 Grand Final — party time for the Malvern Cheer Squad

Ally Campbell, Nic Chapman, Darcy Campbell, Mitch Baker, Jordy Campbell, Koby Cook

Mens Round 2: 19th April 2008

State League: vs Camberwell 11-14

Coach Skeps wrote:
This week’s encounter with Camberwell showed that things are definitely improving: Jay Baskaran backed up his first game performance with another stellar effort in goals. Our attack line was bolstered with the return of Rob Chamberlain who combined well with Trav Croll and Josh Naughton. The game was an evenly balanced contest going goal for goal most of the game, Malvern holding the lead for a short period in the third term by a goal. Great work in the face off by Pat McG gave us plenty of opportunities, and a tireless effort from the midfield led by Garrett, Coleman, Smith, Anglicas and Moloney kept us in the game and ensured some scoreboard pressure on the opposition. Brendan Farrell took control of a young defence line, with Ryan Scanlan the find of the day picking up a long stick for the first time and showing plenty of physical presence in the back half, also providing plenty of run out of the backline, with Shearman and Lopes in support.

Division 2: vs Altona 13-4

Coach Westy wrote:
Division 2 travelled to Altona and for the second week had over 16 players. This was lucky because the old guys were feeling it. Gerrard out early with a leg injury, Squeak slowed down with a twitchy hammy, Rod Ansell just old, Cook puffing and Shannon’s mind and body still out of sync. Lucky the younger brigade where there to keep running. The return of Doody helped with him returning 4 goals while Finnigan continued to hit the target (the goalie’s chest!). The young defence line held firm all day with Zac Ansell, Naughton, Norris, Jenkinson and Hourigan-Richmond providing great support for an even younger Benson in goals. The game was played in good spirits (Ed. what, was that in the water?), with Malvern winning 13 to 4.

U18: vs Caulfield 15-1

Asst Coach Bosi wrote:

It was clear from the start that the Caulfield team was very inexperienced, having a number of first year players. This gave our boys a good opportunity to practice some of our plays and to get the forward line working together. Contributions were very even across the field, however special mentions go to the following:

* Jake Coleman for his tireless work in the centre.
* Oliver Johnson for his cameo role on the forward line scoring 2 goals.
* Angus Norris with a welcome return to form and fitness.
* The eagerly awaited return of Courtney Scanlan who slotted neatly into the backline.
* Daniel Anglicas for doing the unforgiveable and mentioning the possibility of a shutout. For those new to the game you should never say this word while the game is in progress. Invariably the other team scores soon after which was the case on this day.

U16: vs Moreland walkover

Mike Naughton wrote:

U16′s waited and waited, but the boys from Moreland called it off, citing Fixture problems, with their team spread across suburbs from Eltham to Moreland to Malvern to Camberwell. A scratch match was hastily arranged, with Dave Joy coaching our President’s merry crew, with players from Moreland, Norm anchoring the defence (well, he moved like he was anchored, anyway), Ellen Coleman joining the fray, and some lively U14′s putting in. Don’t know the score, but Norm said it seemed like it went on for two games long, as he was wearing Dave Gerrard’s size 6 boots (no room for socks). A good example of making the best of the situation, a good time was had by all.

U14: vs Caulfield walkover

Mike Naughton wrote:

The Under 14s team is building steadily, this week joined by new recruits and a couple of players coming across from Caulfield. With a walkover from the scheduled game against Caulfield, they used the Saturday slot to put in a solid training session, and then a number of players jumped in to join the U16′s scratch match. Hopefully, next week’s game vs Moreland will be more live than this week’s U16′s Moreland game turned out to be.

U12 Black: vs Eltham 13-2

Coach Gazzer wrote:
The Black team had the honour of travelling out to Eltham for a 9:30 game on the weekend, but it did not stop the team from a strong 13-2 win. Jaxon Glover and Ben “Hugo” Chapman, who in his first game for the year got a nice assist, were welcome inclusions to the team this week, which meant we had 9 players. All players managed to get on the scorecard while either an assist or a goal. With 4 goals coming from Jordy Campbell and Jaxon Glover, 2 each from Darcy Campbell after having a great first quarter in the cage and Guy Exton who also gave us a great display of stickwork in and outside of the cage. Nic Chapman also netted a goal and had 4 assists for the day, and Tim Flanagan gave us some strong run in the midfield and attack with an assist, while Elliot Petritsch once again showed us his abilities in the goals and getting an assist while playing attack. Rupert Smith showed some great running from defence, running the ball into attack all day and was rewarded with 2 assists, and a great all round game!

U12 Red: vs Footscray walkover

Mike Naughton wrote:

U12 Reds travelled to Footscray, only to find they say they have no B Team, even though the Fixtures say otherwise — they’d better not get any bonus points for receiving a walkover in Round 1! Some quick mobile work from Coach Gus found them a game down by the river mouth with the Willy’s. Our intrepid new recruits took the field against Willy’s two U12 A teams, not at the same time, but still a steep learning curve — one of these weeks they’ll get a game against a ridgy-didge U12 B Team and they’ll wipe them off the park.