PLAY Magazine Issue #18 by Play Canberra

2013

BRUMBIES

MEMBERSHIP 8 GAME MEMBERSHIPS Canberra’s First

FROM $145 One day AUSTRALIAN

( ADULT/GENERAL ADMISSION )

International We talk to:

ISSUE #18 DECEMBER 2012 www.playcanberra.com.au follow us

PLUS: Canberra CavalRy ACT Brumbies unveil new strip Canberra Raiders fight for positions Canberra Capitals Brigitte “bizZ” ardossi Canberra’s top 10 of 2012 Centenary of canberra sport crossword

Sir VIV RICHARDS JOEL GARNER MICHAEL HOLDING & BRAD HADDIN

FLEXIBLE

DON’T MISS OUT FOR ALL MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS AND HOME GAME DRAW, GO TO BRUMBIES.COM.AU OR CALL 1300 733 899

Proud official media partner of:

Issue #18 december 2012

for great giveaways:

playcanberra.com.au

ISSN: 1839-3756 I CFL PUBLISHING PTY LTD

MONTHLY PAYMENT

Interested in a career in fitness Interested Interested career fitness Interestedinin inaaacareer careerinin infitness fitness massage but can’t decide oror or massage massage but but can’t can’t decide decide or massage but can’t decide which path to take? which which path take? whichpath pathtoto totake? take?

Canberra Institute of Technology Canberra Canberra Institute Institute of Technology Technology Workplace Online of Campus | cit.edu.au Canberra Institute of Technology Workplace WorkplaceOnline OnlineCampus Campus | cit.edu.au | cit.edu.au Workplace Online Campus | cit.edu.au

playcanberra.com.au

Issue #18 December 2012

CRICOS CRICOS No. CRICOS 00001K. No. 00001K. No. HCW120877. 00001K. HCW120877. HCW120877. November November 2012 November 2012 2012

With CIT, you can get both a fitness and massage therapy qualification in the With With CIT, CIT, you you can can get both both a fitness ayourself fitness and and massage therapy therapy qualification qualification in in thethe same amount ofget time. Give themassage edge with real professional experience, With CIT, you can get both a fitness and massage therapy qualification in the same same amount amount of of time. time. Give Give yourself yourself the the edge edge with with real real professional professional experience, experience, training in CIT’sofcommercial gym andthestudent massage clinic. same amount time. Give yourself edge with real professional experience, training training in in CIT’s CIT’s commercial commercial gym gym and and student student massage massage clinic. clinic. training in CIT’s commercial gym 2013. and student massage clinic. Enrol now and start in February Enrol Enrol now now and and start start in in February February 2013. 2013. Enrol now and start in February 2013. For more information call CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188, ForFor more more information information call call CIT CIT Student Student Services Services onon (02) (02) 6207 6207 3188, 3188, visit cit.edu.au/combine or email infoline@cit.edu.au. For more information call CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188, visit visit cit.edu.au/combine cit.edu.au/combine oror email email infoline@cit.edu.au. infoline@cit.edu.au. visit cit.edu.au/combine or email infoline@cit.edu.au.

CRICOS No. 00001K. HCW120877. November 2012

Want to get ahead in the fitness industry? Want Want to to get get ahead ahead in in the the fitness fitness industry? industry? Want to get ahead in the fitness industry?

#18 5. GOLF - 2013 ISPS Handa LPGA Australian Open 6. AFL - Giants Ambassador Program 7. AFL - The Changing Nature of the Draft 8. Brumbies - A Year in the Capital - Ben Mowen 9. Brumbies - Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano 10. Capitals - Brigitte “Bizz” Ardossi 12. FEATURE - Canberra’s Australian ODI Debut 14. Raiders - Preseason Battle Begins 15. RAIDERS - Launch of 100-4-100 16. Cavalry- Bats on Fire, the Finals Charge 18. United - Washington Joins United 19. united - United’s Asian Adventure 20. social pics - Crace Recreation Opening 21. ACTEWAGL - Calendar of Events 22. Canberra -Top 10 sporting moments of 2012 Image: Getty.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & COLLABORATORS: Antony Perry Brett McKay Shaun Ebert Adam Phelan Brendan Parnell Russ Gibbs Josh Matic Todd Davey Peta Guy Joshua Mercer Lyndall Parker Chris Cairns Jessica Munoz PHOTOGRAPHERS: Joseph Purdam Andrew Finch Ben Southall

Michael Clarke’s men come to Manuka

Though Canberra and the ACT region have a long and proud history of top quality cricket being played, and top quality cricketers being produced, the 2012/2013 season will see that history lifted to new levels. By Brett McKay

@BMcSport

One-Day Internationals have been played sporadically at Manuka Oval for twenty years now, with the first way back in 1992, when South Africa played Zimbabwe in a World Cup match. More recently, India and Sri Lanka played off as part of the old tri-series tournament in 2008.

This was a point not lost on former Australian wicketkeeper, and local product, Brad Haddin, who was in town recently to kick off Canberra’s Summer of Cricket, where his New South Wales side hosted Queensland in Sheffield Shield and Ryobi One-Day Cup matches.

WEB PLAYCANBERRA.COM.AU

For the first time in Manuka Oval’s 80-year history, however, the Australian cricket team will feature, with Michael Clarke’s men all set to take on the West Indies in a One-Day International under lights in the Nation’s Capital on February 6.

CONTACT EDITORIAL Nathan Minerds - editor@playcanberra.com.au 0452 220 100

After taking on the Prime Minister’s XI in the ground’s inaugural game under lights on January 29, the West Indies head to Perth for two Commonwealth Bank Series ODIs, and then return to Manuka for the third match of the five-match series.

“I think it’s great for the game,” Haddin said. “And I think it’s also great that Canberra have the opportunity to get the International here. I’ve been involved in the PM’s fixture on a number of occasions, and that’s a great day, but to get this international flavour with Australia and the West Indies playing in a tournament, it’s going to be great for the region.”

Michael Phelan

ADVERTISING Ad Guys - advertise@playcanberra.com.au 0407 078 893 DISCLAIMER PLAY Canberra is a monthly magazine distributed to over 500 locations in Canberra on the first Thursday of the month. The opinions, view and comments expressed in PLAY do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publisher. PLAY Canberra is not responsible for the information submitted in the ads by the advertisers. Issue #18 december 2012

The fact that game three of the series is being played in Canberra is perhaps one of the more significant elements of this match. Alongside the obvious attraction of having the Australian team in town as part of the Centenary celebrations this match is a important part of the Commonwealth Bank series meaning corporate supporters and cricket lovers in general will see the game played at the highest possible intensity, rather than the festival-type games we’ve grown used to over the years.

West Indian cricket legends, Sir Viv Richards, Joel Garner, and Michael Holding were also in Canberra recently, and spoke with a genuine fondness of the ground in which they all played those first PMs games after Bob Hawke revived the fixture in the mid-80s. Holding, in his characteristically forthright manner, spoke highly of the upcoming Manuka events, “I hope it all goes well, I know everyone here has done a lot of work, and I hope it is successful and that Cricket Australia will look kindly in your direction in the future, for many more games.” Continued on page 12 playcanberra.com.au

Canberra Institute of Technology Canberra Canberra Institute Institute of Technology Technology Workplace Online of Campus | cit.edu.au Canberra Institute of Technology Workplace WorkplaceOnline OnlineCampus Campus| cit.edu.au | cit.edu.au Workplace Online Campus | cit.edu.au

playcanberra.com.au

Issue #18 December 2012

CRICOS CRICOS No. 00001K. No. 00001K. HCW120918. HCW120918. December December 2012 2012

Study Study sports sports development development oror fitness fitness atatCIT andgetgetreal realindustry industry experience while you learn by training inCIT aand commercial fitness facility with Study sports development or fitness at CIT and get real industry experience experience whileyou you learn learnby bytraining trainingin ina commercial a commercialfitness fitnessfacility facilitywith with access towhile leading sports professionals. experience while you learn by training in a commercial fitness facility with access accesstotoleading leadingsports sportsprofessionals. professionals. access to leading sports professionals. With flexible learning and the option to study part-time, sports With With flexible flexiblelearning learning and and thetheoption option to tostudy study part-time, part-time, sports sports development or fitness courses at CIT are suitable whether you want to With flexible learning and the option to study part-time, sports development development or or fitness fitness courses courses at at CIT CIT are are suitable suitable whether whether you youwant wanttoto update your skills or start a new career. development orskills fitness courses atcareer. CIT are suitable whether you want to update updateyour yourskills ororstart start a new a new career. update your skills or start a new career. For more information call CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188, ForFor more more information informationcall call CIT CIT Student Student Services Servicesonon(02) (02)6207 62073188, 3188, visit cit.edu.au/fitness or email infoline@cit.edu.au. For more information call CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188, visit visit cit.edu.au/fitness cit.edu.au/fitness oror email email infoline@cit.edu.au. infoline@cit.edu.au. visit cit.edu.au/fitness or email infoline@cit.edu.au.

CRICOS CRICOS No. 00001K. No. 00001K. HCW120918. HCW120918. December December 2012 2012

Want to be a sports coach, Want Wantto beaaasports sportscoach, coach, Want totobe be sports coach, fitness specialist or fitness fitness specialist specialist or or fitness specialist or personal trainer? personal personaltrainer? trainer? personal trainer? Study sports development or fitness at CIT and get real industry

WORLD’S BEST GOLFERS READY FOR CAPITAL SHOWCASE

Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam recorded her first-ever victory as a professional at the same event.

The 2013 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will bring the world’s best golfers and the global LPGA golf tour to Canberra for the first time in history as part of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations next February.

Webb recorded her first of four victories at Women’s Australian Open in 2000 where she won two of the four majors in the same year.

this historic occasion will see the world’s finest players return to Australia

She would go on to record another 89 wins worldwide and become one of the most successful golfers in history.

It is a title steeped in history. With dozens of Major victories and five World Golf Hall of Fame members highlighting the winners of a championship where Australian women now match the world’s best players all over the course.

MBERSHIP OPTIONS A BIES.COM.AU OR CALL Headlined by World Number 1 Taiwanese Yani Tseng and Australia’s queen of golf Karrie Webb, this historic occasion will see the world’s finest players return to Australia in search of world ranking points and the richest Australian women’s golf purse in the seasonopening event on the stunning stage at Royal Canberra Golf Club at Yarralumla. Set in the picturesque Westbourne Woods arboretum, Royal Canberra has drawn comparisons with some of the most famous tree-lined venues at major championships in the United States. In February 2012, American rookie Jessica Korda held on in an extraordinary six-way play-off at Royal Melbourne to win her first LPGA Tour event and ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open title.

In doing so, she became the first American to lift the Patricia Bridges Bowl since 1978 and mirrored the success of her tennis playing father Petr who won the Australian Open tennis championship in 1998.

Korda’s win added another chapter to the Women’s Australian Open championship which has one of the richest histories in Australian and international sport.

With past champions coming from across the globe and boasting more than 30 Major championship victories between them, this championship is renowned for showcasing the best female golfers to have ever played the game on Australia’s premier golf courses. The inaugural championship was held in 1974 and Japan’s Chako Higuchi lifted the Patricia Bridges Bowl for the first time.

Higuchi would become one of five former champions of the tournament to be admitted to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Nineteen year-old Queenslander Karrie Webb made her first professional appearance in 1994 in Adelaide and

Community sport to flourish in Centenary year ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher claims sports lovers were in for a real feast next year as Canberra celebrates its Centenary.

“In addition to the fabulous elite sporting events in Canberra next year, ‘Sportenary’ and ‘Centenary Club of the Month’ will focus on the community,” the Chief Minister said.

Beginning in mid-January ‘Sportenary’ will feature 100 community sporting events across the Centenary year showcasing a diversity of sport and recreation activities with the aim of getting Canberrans participating in physical activities. As the Sportenary program continues to evolve the first couple of activities include trying your hand at baseball with ACT Baseball/Canberra Cavalry at Narrabundah Ball Park and basketball with the Issue #18 december 2012

2013 is also a Solheim Cup year – the biennial tournament where the best of the American and European women go head to head in their answer to the Ryder Cup – and team selection points are on offer in the first event of the year in Canberra.

Some of the finest players from all over the world will travel to Canberra to compete with one motive: universal respect for one of international golf’s most coveted prizes. The ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open is now a championship on the biggest international stage with the LPGA Tour. ‘The Centenary Club of the Month’ will run from February to November with a local sporting team, club or organisation winning a monthly award, before each recipient goes into the draw to become ‘Centenary Club of the Year’. Each monthly winner will receive a $500 sporting grant, while winners of the ‘Centenary Club of the Year’ will receive prizes from Sportsman’s Warehouse. Canberra’s sporting calendar in 2013 is headlined by number of international fixtures which include the first-ever international cricket match to be played under lights at Manuka Oval, with Australia going head to head against the West Indies on February 6.

Both the ‘Sportenary’ and ‘Centenary Club of the Month’ programs were launched today, with a community focus the basis for both initiatives.

“Sport plays an important part in our lives and I encourage all Canberrans to become involved in some form of physical activity during our Centenary year.”

The 2013 championship will be something special as players prepare themselves for a three week swing through the Asia Pacific region including Canberra, Thailand and Singapore.

Canberra Capitals at the AIS Arena, with both events encouraging large community engagement. “Sportenary will engage our many community sporting clubs and elite sporting teams and encourage Canberrans to use our outstanding local sportsgrounds, beautiful lakes and abundant nature parks,” the Chief Minister said. “The Centenary Club of the Month will recognise a club’s success in spreading the message about the Centenary through its own networks and will be a great way of fostering team sports in the nation’s capital,” the Chief Minister concluded.

The cream of the world’s women golfers will compete in the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open at Royal Canberra, while Canberra Stadium will host both Australia and New Zealand in the ANZAC Rugby League test match and the Brumbies game against the British and Irish Lions. The Australian Netball team the Diamonds also take on their traditional foes, the New Zealand Silver Ferns, at the AIS Arena.

Quick Details For further information visit www.canberra100.com.au

playcanberra.com.au

GIANTS connect with local Clubs

In a new initiative, the GIANTS will be aiming to increase their presence in the local community with the brand new Club Ambassador Program being Launch for the 2013 season. The Club Ambassador program, which officially kicked off on the 4th of December in Canberra, sees each club within the GIANTS region appointed a player to act as a club ambassador who will attend events when the team comes to town.

GIANT ambassadors Ainslie

Jonathan Giles

Belconnen Cats

Nathan Wilson

Belconnen Magpies

Taylor Adams

Calwell Swans

Adam Tomlinson

Cooma

Sam Darley

Eastlake

Josh Bruce

Gungahlin Jets

Stephen Cognilio

“Hopefully it will also mean that our local kids start to see a direct a path to professional football and I’m sure the player will provide some insight into what it takes to play at the top level” he added.

Marist

Phil Davis

Queanbeyan

Steve Gilham

St Edmunds

Kurt Aylett

The GIANTS final activity in the ACT region for the year happened on the 4th and 5th of December when the team visited their community camp.

Tuggeranong Bulldogs

Shaun Edwards

Tuggeranong Lions

Kristian Jaksch

Tuggeranong Hawks

Dom Tyson

AFL NSW/ACT Development Coordinator for the ACT Cameron James believes that this program will be really beneficial for clubs in the region. “I think this will provide our local clubs with a great opportunity to really get up close and personal with a few of the GIANTS players and help them form a strong relationship with local club” James said.

Image: GETTY

Another part of this program will see each player maintain regular contact with the clubs and donate a signed jumper for the local clubs to use to fund raise. The program will see many big names linked with local clubs with the likes of co-captain Phil Davis and Josh Bruce returning to where they started with Marist and Eastlake respectively, while the number 2 pick in last years draft, Stephen Congilio, will align himself with the Gungahlin Jets.

This camp also involved a surprise announcement between the GIANTS and Brumbies pledging their commitment to the Canberra region and their mission to grow both sports. The message from this meeting was simple, there is room for everyone.

The camp involved school and hospital visits as well as the GIANTS players first involvement with their newest clubs through local club visits.

Weston Creek Wildcats Sam Schulz

NSW/ACT region and we are really looking forward to him leading the team in 2013,” he said. To secure someone with his experience and skills is very exciting, and we’re confident his guidance will lift the performance of our side next year.” Cannon, currently the senior assistant coach of the Eastlake Football Club, has an impressive coaching background, leading Eastlake to premiership success in 2001, and more recently coaching at state level with the NSW/ACT RAMS under 16s and 18s. “It’s a great honour to be offered this role and I am really looking forward to getting stuck into things,” Cannon said.

HALL OF FAMER NAMED NEAFL HEAD COACH

Guy Cannon announced as NEAFL Eastern Conference head coach for 2013 Former Eastlake Premiership Captain/Coach and Mulrooney Medallist Guy Cannon has been appointed to the role of Head Coach of the NEAFL Eastern Conference Representative Team for 2013. The NEAFL Eastern Conference administration recently completed a comprehensive review of 6

playcanberra.com.au

operations, resulting in the recruitment of Cannon to this position. NEAFL Eastern Conference Manager Jack Masters said the league was delighted to secure the services of Cannon. “Guy is very much a respected football person in the

“We have an enormous amount of talent at our disposal in the Eastern Conference and I think the game against Tasmania next year is going to be a great contest. “Jack and the league have done a comprehensive review of the representative program and next year promises big things.” The NEAFL Eastern Conference will take on the Tasmania Football League in June 2013 as part of the AFL’s National State League Representative Program introduced in 2012. The program sees all state leagues participating, with the Eastern Conference due to play a category one state league (VFL/WAFL/SANFL) every third year. Issue #18 December 2012

penchant for off-field misdemeanors, while Watts was the guy you need not worry about. Four years on and the majority AFL pundits would consider Darling to be the vastly superior player. Yet AFL clubs have continued to display a reluctance to take a chance on players with question marks on their character.

Clubs can hardly be blamed either, with an average of a 250,000 dollar investment over two years for an AFL draftee, list managers will want to be as sure as they can be their faith, time and money will be reciprocated. It’s the same attitudinal query that has seen Western Australian dynamo Dayle Garlett go through undrafted. Image: GETTY

Christian Jaksch, Lachie Plowman, Lachie Whitfield, Jonathan O’Rouke and Aidan Corr after being drafted during the 2012 AFL Draft.

TALENT ALONE IS NO LONGER ENOUGH

By Todd Davey

Garlett’s failure to secure a club via the national draft in 2012 has highlighted a trend in AFL recruiting.

@ToddJDavey

Why AFL clubs are no longer prepared to draft players on skill alone. The 2012 AFL national draft wrapped up on November the 22nd with an eclectic mix of budding young players from all across the country.

Of the top five draft picks this year, at least three players sky-rocketed up the order based not only on their enormous talent, but their good character.

With so much time, money and club resources poured into identifying and nurturing talent, the key emphasis for many teams going into the draft night was drafting players with “character”.

It’s been a recurring theme for years in the AFL system.

What is character exactly? According to one AFL list manager, it includes the ability to complete all their off-field duties, such as team meetings, injury rehabilitation and game preparation.

Garlett, rated by experts to be a top-10 player on talent alone was overlooked by all 18 clubs in the national draft based on several off-field behavioural issues that clubs deemed too hard to ignore.

Only two years ago West Coast forward Jack Darling slid right through to the second round of the 2008 draft (pick 26) on the back of rumours of an attitude problem. The same draft saw Melbourne take Jack Watts at pick one. Watts and Darling both played up forward as juniors but were seen as polar opposites. Darling had an apparent

Talent alone is no longer a guarantee you’ll find your way onto an AFL list. Clubs can hardly be blamed either, with an average of a 250,000 dollar investment over two years for an AFL draftee, list managers will want to be as sure as they can be their faith, time and money will be reciprocated. This may be part of the reason why ex-Bomber Kyle Reimers and Richmond discard Daniel Connors were unable to find new homes. Both delistees took to the media to plead their case to prospective clubs, citing new found dedication to the cause and the tried and true “fittest I’ve ever been” line that always seems to find its way into players’ vernaculars this time of year. One thing is for certain after this year’s draft period; attitude and application is no longer an attribute that AFL clubs will look for in draftees, it’s a non-negotiable.

WANT MORE TIME TO PLAY? Business Opportunity For Seriously Driven Individuals Take control of your hours, your income and your life by starting your own business. Full ongoing training and support available. For more information visit www.genuinesuccessforlife.com.au Issue #18 december 2012

playcanberra.com.au

that teams will come to Canberra Stadium expecting a big game.” “That’s a challenge we’re comfortable with. The external expectation [of the side in 2012] might not have been much, but the internal [expectation] has always remained that we want to win the competition. And we expect ourselves to get better every year, so we see no reason why we can’t win this comp next year.”

Image: Andrew Finch

Brumbies ready for bigger things in 2013 By Brett McKay

2012 has definitely been a year to remember for Brumbies Captain, Ben Mowen. A new club in new city, a new house and with it the obligatory renovations, a Wallaby squad call-up, and finally, he and his wife welcomed their first child into the world only a few months ago. “Yeah, definitely,” Mowen told me, at the Brumbies recent 2013 playing strip launch, coinciding with the announcement of Land Rover as the new jersey sleeve sponsor for the next two seasons. “On the personal life side, it couldn’t have been better - and couldn’t have been busier at the same time! It definitely wasn’t a ‘cruisey’ year, we were trying to do a lot of things at once, but that was part of this stage of my career and our family life, that when we moved to Canberra we saw it as a long-term move, and it was all about setting that up. We wanted to make sure we put good roots down so that we were here for three or four years rather than just in and out quickly.”

@BMcSport

to achieving the seemingly unachievable, the players themselves score that near miss a lot tougher. “To me there is no passes,” Mowen explains, matter-offactly. “It’s either perfect or it’s not, and it wasn’t perfect. We’ll take a lot out of it, and we definitely needed the early parts of [2012] to find our rhythm and find our combinations, but once we found them we should’ve gone on with it.” “In saying that, we are an extremely young squad - not the youngest squad, but definitely [among] the most inexperienced Super Rugby squad out there. So instead of coming in making their debuts now, guys have got 16 games behind them. Each week we’re just getting more experience, and I think for a lot of the guys [in their] second pre-season now as professionals, physically we’re at the point where we can compete as hard as we need to for the entirety of the year. So we’re expecting big things again.”

Taking a while to settle was something the Brumbies of 2012 certainly didn’t do. Written off, or at the very least cast aside as a young team unlikely to threaten, the Brumbies surprised everyone but themselves in leading the Australian Super Rugby conference for all but the last weekend of the season.

This second season not only makes things easier for the Brumbies players, though. Having only missed out on a Finals berth after a disappointing last round effort at Canberra Stadium against the Blues, the Brumbies will go into season 2013 very much as a known entity. That ‘surprise element’ that shot them to the top of the tables in 2012 will be a distant memory, and opposing teams will be better prepared and better equipped for the Brumbies both at home and away.

And while rugby pundits everywhere have heaped praise and pass marks on the Brumbies for getting so close

Mowen agrees. “We’ve spoken about that as a group already, that that [surprise] aspect is gone for us, and

“It took a little while to get all that settled, but yeah, it’s been a good year,” Mowen adds.

One area the Brumbies have greatly improved things already, is the number of Wallabies getting around in the ACT jersey. Where they started the year with just the three active Wallabies - Ben Alexander, Pat McCabe, and Stephen Moore - by the end of 2012, the Brumbies were be able to add Michael Hooper, Jesse Mogg, Dan Palmer, and Joe Tomane to the national honour board. Mowen and Nic White also spent time in Wallaby squads during the year, and while current Wallabies no.7 Hooper technically isn’t a Brumby any more, new recruit and outstanding opensider David Pocock most definitely is. Former Wallabies Peter Kimlin and Clyde Rathbone also remain in the wings. “Yeah, I think that’s reflective of the team performance,” Mowen offers. “The way we played wasn’t reliant on individuals, but it allowed individual guys to stand out at certain times.” “We spoke [as a squad, early in the 2012 season] when we only had three Wallabies at that stage, and realistically you need 10 to 15 to win the competition. And we’re up around that 10 mark now, and as guys get more and more [Wallaby] experience, it’s only going to benefit us as a team.” “The beauty of it for Jake [White, Brumbies coach] now, is that he has selection headaches everywhere, and that’s what you need ... it’s important to have that depth.” The big question then, looking ahead, is what can Brumbies fans expect in 2013 and perhaps more importantly, what does the team want to show them? “We expect our game to take that next step,” Mowen says. “We had so many good parts to our game this year, and it’s not necessarily about throwing them all out and starting again, but about developing them further and making sure we can continue to develop our attack.” “I think there’s so many good parts to our game that from a fans point of view, any time you get a Brumbies ticket expecting a really entertaining game, and we’ve got so many young exciting outside backs that you’re going to get it.”

THROW a sTeak On THe BaRBie

WiTH THe BRumBies WWW.BRumBies.cOm.au/HOspiTaliTy.aspx 8

playcanberra.com.au

Issue #18 December 2012

Brumbies duo’s unfortunate year comes with a silver lining

Fairy tale endings don’t come around too often in professional sport. More often than not, hearts are broken and turmoil rears its ugly head – just ask ACT Brumbies players Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano. By Antony Perry @antonyperry Although not the most desirable way of securing the job, Lealiifano transitioned into his more suited position at No.10 at the expense of his team mate and, just as Toomua had done, thrived in the spotlight. The then 24-year-old led the young ACT side to two wins in a month during which the club toured South Africa, a trip which yielded a comprehensive defeat of the Lions and an agonising two-point loss to the Bulls. But it was in round 11 that he impressed the most. Lealiifano produced a virtuoso performance against the New South Wales Waratahs, scoring 13 points in the Brumbies’ 23-6 victory. But a season-ending injury suffered by Lealiifano soured what was an otherwise jubilant night in the capital. An ankle dislocation in the 80th minute of that clash cut short Lealiifano’s season and brought his rise to Super Rugby’s elite ranks to a screeching halt. Toomua and Lealiifano were in scintillating form up until sustaining their respective injuries. The pair exhibited shades of their gifted predecessors, Larkham and Giteau, and breathed life into a Brumbies side still in its infancy.

2012 loomed as an exciting year for the pair, perhaps the biggest of their careers so far. The departure of veteran playmaker Matt Giteau from Brumbyland after the 2011 Super Rugby season opened the door for the two aspiring inside backs to ply their trade as chief playmakers. The coveted ACT No.10 jersey, worn by one of Canberra’s favourite rugby sons, Stephen Larkham, prior to his retirement in 2007, had been Giteau’s customary position in the Brumbies backline since he returned to Canberra in 2010 after a three-year stint with the Western Force. Needless to say, filling the void at No.10 posed a daunting task for Toomua and Lealiifano, but also an unprecedented opportunity after many years spent as relative unknowns to rugby circles outside of the ACT. No longer would the pair play second fiddle to Giteau and 2012 dawned as the pair’s reward for their longrunning persistence. Cue the beginning of the Brumbies’ 2012 Super Rugby campaign. Issue #18 december 2012

No one expected much from the Brumbies after the previous year’s tumultuous campaign. Having basically a no-name squad and an average age of 22 in 2012 had a lot to do with the lack of belief in the side among the ACT’s parochial fan base. The dwindling support of the club’s faithful added to the magnitude of the task entrusted to Toomua and Lealiifano. Toomua began the season as coach Jake White’s first preference in the pivot’s role, with Lealiifano assuming duties at inside centre. For the first five rounds of competition, Toomua exceeded expectations. The 22-year-old guided the Brumbies to three wins and looked to be the man to carry the club to its first finals appearance since 2004. That was, until disaster struck. Toomua suffered a season-ending knee injury during his side’s round six fixture against the Sharks at Canberra Stadium, a match the Brumbies narrowly lost 26-29.

Some hold to the belief that had Toomua’s and Lealiifano’s seasons not been cruelly cut short, the Brumbies would have marched on to claim a top three finish and return to Super Rugby’s playoffs after a seven-year absence in the competition’s wilderness. Nothing, however, is to be taken away from third choice five eighth Zack Holmes, who assumed the reins from Lealiifano and revelled in the No.10 role. It may be difficult to always see, but when a disaster strikes there is often a silver lining and there is certainly one attached to the unfortunate events that rocked the Brumbies camp this year. In their shortened seasons, the pair displayed maturity, tenacity and composure beyond their years and both now possess the first tier experience they lacked at the start of the campaign. 2012 provided Toomua and Lealiifano with the platform from which to launch their respective careers. And while injury may have curtailed what was to be a memorable year for the two men, 2013 is expected to be a year in which they pick up from where they left off. There is no denying that this duo has what is required to propel the Brumbies back to the summit of Super Rugby. An exciting era of Brumbies rugby is upon us. playcanberra.com.au

Ardossi’s journey to the Capitals tracks back to her teenage years where she went through three different high schools mostly due to the simple fact that despite being more than capable academically, she “simply didn’t like school.” A coach at her local association was keen for her to pursue College Scholarship opportunities at some smaller American Universities when her late developing talent began to bloom. However in typically assertive fashion she took charge of her own destiny. “I researched the top 100 teams across America and came up with one I preferred [Georgia Tech], that was in a strong conference, was part of the Southern culture I liked and emailed the coach directly, she said. “After corresponding and sending across video tape it all eventually fell into place without any help.”

Image: Ben Southall

Busy Bee keeps spreading her wings Brendan Parnell.

@CanberraCaps

Famed American College Coach John Wooden was fond of saying that “basketball is just part of life’s puzzle” and would have liked Canberra Capitals forward Brigitte Ardossi, because once you get past her impressive team leading statistics and cut a little deeper into the person behind the player, it’s an endlessly interesting view. It’s easy to forget when you first meet her face to face that Brigitte, or Bizz as she is known, is entering just her second season in the Women’s National Basketball League. Despite her relatively tender years and experience, she has an engagingly dry sense of humour and a decidedly eclectic collection of offcourt interests.

“I’m a lot more comfortable this year having played Division One in Victoria at Altona with some friends over the off season. It was refreshing and helped me to arrive in better condition and with more motivation, “ she said of her preparation for this WNBL season. When pressed on whether she now considers Canberra home, an ever present and infectious laughter leads her reply. “I wouldn’t consider it home but I wouldn’t mark it off my destination list. I have a lot of friends from the last few years and Canberra has some quirky things I like that are starting to become a bit ‘Melbournish’; minus the beach of course. But it’s growing and as it grows it might keep growing on me.”

The exact details of her achievements in America are quite startling: The 2010 State of Georgia Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, played in 130 straight games for the Yellow Jackets as Georgia Tech’s teams are known, part of the winningest senior class in Georgia Tech program history, participated in four straight NCAA Tournaments and was drafted 28th overall to the Atlanta Dream of the world leading Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). “I did the preseason month for the Dream and played two practice games,” she says between gulps of laughter. “Kelsey Griffin [now with the Bendigo Spirit] and I were actually benchies on opposing teams at one stage. But Atlanta had 30 people in camp vying for one roster spot and I just wasn’t the position they were looking for. It’s definitely still an ambition and I don’t think it’s far fetched, as I’m definitely more suited to the American game because of my strength and the fouls they call on me here they definitely don’t call over there.” The last remark seems to amuse her no end and hints at her very distinctly different off court persona. “Obviously we don’t get paid a lot in the WNBL but I’m not the type of person who wants to go and get three jobs and be obsessed with money. My preference is for quality over quantity and that’s one of the reasons I like working here [The Tradies]. The people you interact with are quite often elderly and sometimes have no family round here and in some ways you become their surrogate daughter. I like being here and sitting down in the break and having a chat or going to volunteer at

TOWNSVILLE FRI 21 DEC DANDENONG FRI 4 JAN

playcanberra.com.au

Issue #18 December 2012

Issue #18 december 2012

them for a few weeks at a time and working out their training, habits, socialisation and vaccinations. We then put the dog on the website and people contact me about adoption and we’re able to visit the prospective new owners to assess suitability for both parties.” Whether this is another clue to a possible life after basketball direction for her is hard to gauge, as her mind is always abuzz with competing ideas and opinions. She graduated in business management at Georgia Tech after having to opt out of psychology due to scheduling issues with practice but studying law is well and truly on her radar some time in the future as well. Canberra Capitals and Australian Olympic Head Coach Carrie Graf has been in a good position to watch her development since arriving and had no hesitation in describing her as big in both a life and basketball sense. “Bizz is a strong, athletic competitor and when she taps into what her body can actually do she could be something special. As a person she’s big in a wonderful way and has an enormous personality,” Graf said. “She’s not shy, she’s engaging and she’ll tell you what she thinks, she’ll tell you even if you don’t want to know, but that’s one of her strengths and our team in particular has warmed to her much more this year because they understand her better. On first meeting a lot of people might misunderstand

her but she’s a big, strong, assertive young woman who has a soft centre and when you get to know her you see the soft underbelly that goes with the big personality.” For her part, Brigitte has basketball or sporting dreams to pursue before her many other interests completely take over. “The primary reason I wanted to play back in the WNBL and was to push to try and make an Australian team,” she says. “I understood that not having been a traditional star junior player it was important to improve my game here and try to get identified, hoping that my international experience would give me an advantage in other ways. Rio is my mission for the moment and Rugby 7s may even be an option as well after they made contact and put me on their talent identification radar.” In many ways her beginning and ending point could be the origin of her all-pervasive nickname Bizz. As Brigitte herself concedes, most nicknames we inherit are group specific and it takes an odd turn or connection for one to follow a person all around the world through every different team and program they have been part of. “When I was young I was always doing lots of different things all the time and my mum started calling me busy bee. I’m not exactly sure how or why but it contracted to Bizz and it’s become part of me wherever I go.”

playcanberra.com.au

Continued from page 3 “As to how well the West Indies will do, who knows!” Holding said, smiling a knowing look of how up and down the West Indies can be. “I would hope they will do well, but I’ll leave them to perform and speak for themselves.” While both Holding and Garner were thrilled with the news that the Manuka Oval lights ensures the ground can now become a genuine international cricket venue in Australia, it was Richards, the former ‘master blaster’ himself, who best portrayed what’s in store for the game on February 6.

“Being the West Indies,” Richards continued, “and with them winning the World Twenty20, it is a great opportunity to see a team on the rise, and I hope with them endorsing this oval with the first matches [under lights] - if they win - that that winning habit can continue for quite a long time.”

“And I know for sure, that Chris Gayle, who I presently feel is the most dynamic of players to be found anywhere in the cricket world today, coming here ... to bless this particular oval, you can’t have any better person than that.” -Sir Viv Richards

“I know for sure, that Chris Gayle, who I presently feel is the most dynamic of players to be found anywhere in the cricket world today, coming here ... to bless this particular oval, you can’t have any better person than that.”

“So let’s hope this is the place where it all starts,” Richards finished, in his typically cool, not-reallysure-if-he’s-joking-orthreatening style.

The public seating is all but sold out for the ODI already, which is brilliant news for Canberra cricket and sends a definite message to Cricket Australia that there is a demand for high quality matches in the Capital. The Canberra community still have some fantastic opportunities to create a wonderful event to remember.

------------ tickets ------------

Tickets for the Commonwealth Bank Series One-Day International are selling fast and hospitality options are still available! So to avoid missing out on this iconic event be sure to book your hospitality now. Catered seats are still available for the die hard cricket fans, and for those just wanting to relax and mingle a ticket to the exclusive Tempus Two marquee and bar is an excellent choice! To find out more about hospitality options and to make a booking contact Earlybird Marketing and Events on (02) 6126 5900 or email cricket@theearlybird.com.au

-----------------------------------

playcanberra.com.au

With the day/night match not starting until 2.20pm, the afternoon and evening offers a great format for entertaining. Guests don’t have to miss a day in the office and it allows the event to become an evening one based around dinner, rather than lunch. Hospitality packages are now selling and range from dinner in the Bradman room, to open boxes and marquees. Options include boxes in the Menzies or Hawke Stands for between four to 12 people, or a fully catered marquee that can hold 125 guests. A number of new corporate structures will be introduced for the big games, and especially the Australia-West Indies match. Marquee options will include the always popular Manuka Hill for up to 50 guests, as well as new options in front of the iconic Manuka Oval Cottage, again for up to 50 guests. For smaller numbers, table and individual options exist for new Paddock Marquees in the southwestern corner of the ground, which comprise premium grandstand seating along with catered dinner and beverage inclusions. If a cocktail function is more your scene, then options are there to entertain up to 90 guests in the privacy of your own dinner cocktail function. Guests will take in the match in Platinum seating within the Sir Donald Bradman Stand, and during the dinner break, enjoy a private cocktail party. Whatever the hospitality option, Canberra cricket’s big night under lights will be sure to go down as one of the major sporting events of the Centenary year. The sellout crowd already guarantees a wonderful atmosphere, but the element of high-quality cricket under lights in such a picturesque venue will only add to the occasion. For further information or to discuss any of the available hospitality options, please contact Earlybird Marketing and Events on 02 6126 5900 or email cricket@theearlybird.com.au Issue #18 December 2012

Canberraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer of Cricket will be the first time a day-night match is ever played at Manuka Oval, and will also see the Australian Cricket team take to the pitch in Canberra for the first time. The Commonwealth Bank Series One-Day International is guaranteed to be a big event so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on this iconic match and book your hospitality package now. For more information on the packages available or to make a booking contact Earlybird Marketing and Events on 02 6126 5900 or email cricket@theearlybird.com.au

Issue #18 december 2012

playcanberra.com.au

Injury plagued Terry Campese may still miss the club’s trial games in February, but his eventual return will likely force either Sam Williams or McCrone out of the halves. However McCrone said this pressure will only be good for his own form. “That should help me. It keeps you on your toes I suppose,” he said. Thomson said competition for spots in the forwards meant he has to train hard. “There’s some good forwards coming through and some new blood coming in, so there’s a fair bit of competition, so I’ve got to make sure I train my hardest and make sure I’m right to go,” he said. Another key player who will be looking at returning to his 2012 form is Jarrod Croker. The Dally M highest points scorer has just returned to training from surgery on his cheekbone, which he injured in the elimination final win over Cronulla. “I won’t be doing contact for a month or so, but apart from that it’s all going along well,” he said. Image: GETTY

Raiders Pre-season Battle for positions begins

The Canberra Raiders returned to training three weeks ago for pre-season preparation, and are already working towards a finalised regular first grade squad for season 2013. By Joshua Matic @MaticJm After a six week break following a heartbreaking semifinal loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, players have started ball work and individual fitness and gym training, and will stick with just that until after Christmas.

Former Kiwi international forward Bronson Harrison, who endured a horrendous 2012 with injuries, released pressure on the Raiders to keep him by signing a two year deal with St George Illawarra.

Already though, there are issues surrounding the club, including contract negotiations and injury concerns.

The 27 year old veteran of 162 games completed four seasons with the Green Machine, and at times this year his ball skills were sorely missed.

Utility Shaun Berrigan’s return to training just a fortnight ago and confirmation he will play on with the Green Machine in 2013, came as much relief for them as no other potential rakes have been able to train. First choice hooker in 2012 Glen Buttriss is not expected back at training until either just before or after Christmas due to undergoing a second ankle operation, while Kiwi junior Matt McIlwrick, who debuted this year and played four games, also underwent ankle surgery. U20s star halfback Mick Picker, who has also played hooker in the past, is expected to miss the first two months of pre-season after undergoing hip surgery, while forgotten talent Travis Waddell has not been offered a new contract by the club. McIlwrick is the only potential rake signed until the end of 2014, and would prove a longer term fix should he keep fit. 14

playcanberra.com.au

He said that Coach David Furner was yet to choose a secondary goal kicker upon conversion struggles after his injury. “I haven’t had much of a kick myself at the moment. Fergo [Fergusson] and Duges [fullback Josh Dugan] train as hard as I do and they can all kick,” he said. The Raiders will be looking to make back to back finals series for the first time since 2004 in 2013, and player combinations will be key. They were almost unstoppable in the second half of 2012, and star Raiders and Country centre Blake Fergusson credited his own form flourish to combinations. “A lot of combinations with Josh Papalii and Josh McCrone really helped my game. The other one was Sandor Earl...my game’s really blossomed,” he said. He said all he had to do to form a great right side partnership with Earl was “kick back”, and he will look to repeat this in 2013.

Despite these disruptions however, half-back Josh McCrone said they have not proved a major barrier at training so far.

Croker said it was hard to narrow down the form turnaround of 2012 to one thing, but thought harder training, sticking together as a group and improved defence were the foundation for it.

“The programs are very individualised [at training at the moment]...it’d be good to get them back, but that’s not having too much influence on our training yet,” he said.

“We just sort of gelled together, and once we knew how we were defending we started doing that for a couple of weeks, it was easy.

Multi-skilled utility centre and forward Joel Thomson, who got married during the team’s break, said that fitness and getting the body at its peak was currently the focus of pre-season training.

“If we can start like that next year, everything will come along, and hopefully we can.”

“We’re just making sure we get our bodies ready for round one, and I think tactics and everything will come into it after Christmas,” he said. While the hooker position is still up for grabs, there is also plenty of competition in the halves and forwards.

He has already entered discussions surrounding his own contract, which expires at the end of next year. The Raiders are awaiting an inevitable salary cap increase before proceeding with any negotiations. The Raiders will break for one week over Christmas before preparing for their first trial game against Melbourne in Geelong on February 8. Issue #18 December 2012

Raiders launch 100-4-100 for 2013 season

The Canberra Raiders have ramped up their 2013 membership drive, with the launch of their 100-4-100 membership campaign for the 2013 season. The program is in its second year after a highly successful campaign in 2012, where the Raiders provided over 120 unique opportunities for their members. Today’s launch involved Raiders members Graeme Keed #3240 and Robert Pillifeant #3242 as they became Raiders for a day, spending the day with an exclusive inside look at training at Raiders HQ. The pair joined the weights groups this morning to observe Strength Coach Leigh Woodbridge put the team through its paces and then attended the afternoon session on the field with the team as they went through their field session. In-between they joined Raiders props Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Dane Tilse for a bite to eat at local restaurant Café Momo and had the chance to talk tactics with Raiders stars Josh McCrone and Joel Thompson earlier in the day. They were also presented with a full 2013 training kit, becoming the first supporters to have the chance to wear the new training shirts, shorts and caps.

Issue #18 december 2012

“I was involved in a few of these events last year and every time the members had huge smiles on their faces. Bob and Graeme have been great today and we’ve enjoyed having them here with us” - Joel Thompson Mr Keed said he was privileged to have been given the opportunity to see what happened in the running of an NRL team and said he was surprised at the toughness of the training sessions. “This has been a great insight into the team and I’ve absolutely loved every minute of it,” Mr Keed said. “To get the chance to see the team in action is amazing and I’ve learnt so much in just a few short hours.

“I played footy over 40 years ago and its nothing like what it was in the old days, the amount of work these guys are doing is quite incredible and I’m sure it will pay off next season.” Mr Pillifeant has been a long time member of the Raiders and said he’d never had the chance to experience something like this before, and was a huge supporter of the 100-4-100 concept. “I’m blown away,” Mr Pillifeant said. “The size of these guys up close is truly something you can’t understand until you see it in person. “I followed the 100-4-100 campaign last year and was a proud member to see what the club provides their fans and I’m even prouder after being a part of it.” Raiders forward Joel Thompson said giving members a chance to be a part of the team through 100-4-100 was a great way to interact with the loyalist of supporters. “I was involved in a few of these events last year and every time the members had huge smiles on their faces,” Thompson said. “Bob and Graeme have been great today and we’ve enjoyed having them here with us”. The Raiders are asking their members to send in their own ideas for 100-4-100 in the 2013 season.

If you are a Raiders member or know a Raiders member who could benefit from the campaign, simply send an email to reception@raiders.com.au with your idea.

playcanberra.com.au

stand out performance against the Sydney Blue Sox. Hobson made incredible defensive plays and had six hits in ten at-bats with two runs batted in during the opening series. Since then Hobson’s bat has cooled down a bit, but he is still very proficient in the offensive driving force for the Cavalry. Hobson is also has been known to make incredible defensive plays to save runs and has become an asset first baseman to the pitchers. He currently leads the team in RBIs (9). Hobson was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 6th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft from Stockdale High School in Stockdale, CA.

Chris Motta: The Wild Card

Image: Ben Southall/SMP

Bats on fire with the finals around the corner By Jessica Munoz

Baseball is back in Canberra, and the ABL playoff race looks like it is going to be just as close as it was last year. After the Adelaide series, the Canberra Cavalry now stand in third place on the ladder and only two and a half games out of first as they head into the final two months of the season. Last year Canberra just missed the playoffs finishing in fifth place, the top four make playoffs. At the end of the ABL season last year four out of the six teams finished in a tie for the last two playoff spots, including Canberra. The Cavalry were eliminated on a countback in the tiebreaker system to decide who finished third and who finished fourth. This year promises to be even more competitive with only three teams making it to the playoff post season. ABL playoff race is close and every game matters. The Cavalry are a team that wins ballgames thanks to excellent pitching and defense. However the Cavalry have recently found the missing link, their offence. Now is the perfect time for the Cavalry bats to get

hot as they race to make the ABL playoffs for the first time. December sees the Cavalry travel to Sydney (6-9 December) and Melbourne (13-15 December) before returning home to face Brisbane (20-23 December) then going on the road again to visit Perth (28-31 December)

Names to watch for: Brian Grening: The ACE Brian Grening is the ace of the Cavalry pitching staff and leads the team in wins (2), strikeouts (22) and innings pitched (25.1). Grening returned to the Cavalry after spending the North American season with Steven Kent on the pitching staff of the American Association’s Kansas City T-Bones. Last year Grening was the backbone of the Cavalry bullpen. He made the move to a starter for the T-Bones and has made the easy transition into the number one starter for the Cavalry this season, pitching six plus innings in each outing.

KC Hobson: ABL player of the week After the opening weekend of the ABL season K.C. Hobson was named ABL Player Of The Week for his

GAMES IN ]

DECEMBER

Narrabundah Ball Park www.canberracavalry.com.au 16

playcanberra.com.au

Motta is making his professional baseball debut this season. He has stepped into the starting rotation and has been pitching lights out. Motta is coming out of Concordia College in Bronx, NY and has recently made the transition from catcher to pitcher.

Ryan Stovall: The Comeback Kid Ryan Stovall joined the Cavalry roster after the exhibition series against New Zealand. Stovall had previously been playing for an ACT club baseball team, the Tuggeranong Vikings. Since joining the Cavalry he has stepped into the core of the Cavalry offence, joining KC Hobson, Jack Murphy and Jeremy Barnes. He currently leads the team in batting average (.353) and is second in RBIs (6) behind Hobson.

Sean Toler: The Closer (pictured) It is Toler time in the ninth inning. Sean Toler has stepped into the role as the Cavalry’s go to guy in the ninth, the closer. Toler leads the team, and the league in saves this season with (5). He has also tallied an impressive nine strikeouts thus far (after week five) the most in the Cavalry bullpen.

Jack Murphy: The Giant Jack Murphy, the 193cm catcher, had a break out weekend in round four against the Melbourne Aces. Murphy went 9-17 including a homerun and a double with five runs batted in. Murphy was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 31st round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. Splitting last season between class High A Dunedin and class AA New Hampshire.

V V V V BRISBANE BRISBANE BRISBANE BRISBANE BANDITS BANDITS BANDITS BANDITS Thursday December 20 7.00pm

Friday December 21 7.00pm

Saturday December 22 6.00pm

Sunday December 23 12.00pm

Issue #18 December 2012

Cavalry Honour Military and Legacy The first of four charity dates a success for the Cavalry. On Saturday, 1 December, the Canberra Cavalry driven by Rolfe Renault played host to the Adelaide Bite for a double header. These games are the first of four special charity dates that the Cavalry will be having this season, with the focus this weekend on Military Appreciation and raising money for Legacy.

soldier throwing the ceremonial first pitch of the game. Legacy is an independent organisation of veterans, servicemen and women, and volunteers from the community who share the ideals of the founding Legatees. They are dedicated to the care of the dependents of Australia’s servicemen and women who have died in the service of their country or subsequently as a result of that service. The Legacy Club of Canberra was inaugurated on Anzac Day 1928 with 32 members following the establishment of the first club in Melbourne in 1923.

Victorian Cross winners Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG, Keith Payne VC OAM, and Daniel Keighran VC, along with George Cross winner Michael Pratt GC were honoured on the field prior to the game

The Cavalry wore special camouflage jerseys during the day featuring the Legacy logo on the front and back. Not only did the Cavalry wear special jerseys, but also special guests highlighted the pregame festivities on the Saturday game. Victorian Cross winners Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG, Keith Payne VC OAM, and Daniel Keighran VC, along with George Cross winner Michael Pratt GC were honoured on the field prior to the game, with Roberts-Smith, the most decorated Australian

Some of the camouflage jerseys were be available to purchase via auction during the game with all the proceeds going to Legacy to help with the great work they do.

Image: Ben Southall/SMP

Ben Roberts-Smith VC, MG throws out the ceremonial first pitch of the game. PLAY safely assumed there were no plans to rush the mound if the pitch strayed wide and stuck someone.

The Cavalry won game four over the Adelaide Bite by a score of 4-2 to get their first series win of the season taking three of the four games. The win puts the Cavalry in third place in the ABL and places them firmly in finals contention. Next home series is against the Brisbane bandits. See opposite page for details.

TIMETABLE DESTINATION

$5 CASH FARE SUBURBS COVERED: CITY TO ê

Gungahlin

Acton, Turner, O’Connor, Lyneham, Mitchell, 12:30am Franklin, Palmerston, Crace, Gungahlin 2:00am Market Place, Nicholls, Ngunnawal, Casey 3:30am

1:15am 2:45am 4:15am

Gungahlin

Braddon, Ainslie, Dickson, Hackett, Downer, 12:45am Watson, Harrison, Gungahlin, Gungahlin 2:15am Market Place, Amaroo, Bonner, Forde 3:45am

1:30am 3:00am 4:30am

Belconnen

Aranda, Cook, Macquarie, Jamison, Hawker, 1:00am Weetangera, Scullin, Page, Holt, Kippax, 2:30am Higgins, Latham, Macgregor, Emu Ridge, 4:00am AIS, Bruce, Fern Hill, University of Canberra

1:45am 3.15am

Belconnen

Giralang, Kaleen, McKellar, Evatt, Melba, Spence, Flynn, Fraser, Florey, Dunlop, Charnwood, Emu Ridge, AIS, Bruce, Fern Hill, University of Canberra

1:15am 2:45am 4:15am

2:00am 3:30am

974

South Canberra Parkes, Barton, Kingston, Manuka, Griffith, Narrabundah, Red Hill, Forrest, Deakin, Yarralumla, Curtin, Hughes, Garran, Lyons, Phillip, Woden Town Centre

12:30am 2:00am 3:30am

1:15am 2:45am 4:15am

Weston/Woden All Weston Creek, Chifley, Pearce, Torrens, Mawson, Farrer, Issacs, O’Malley, Phillip, Woden Town Centre

12:45am 2:15am 3:45am

1:30am 3:00am 4:30am

Tuggeranong

Kambah, Wanniassa, Erindale Centre, Monash, Oxley, Isabella Plains, Bonython, Greenway, Tuggeranong Town Centre

1:00am 2:30am 4:00am

1:45am 3:15am

Tuggeranong

Fadden, Macarthur, Gowrie, Gilmore, Chisholm, Richardson, Calwell, Theodore, Conder, Banks, Gordon

1:15am 2:45am 4:15am

2:00am 3:30am

970 971 972 973

REGULAR TIMES

975

Platform 7 City

976 977

NYE EXTRA TIMES

7/8, 14/15, 21/22 DECEMBER & NEW YEAR’S EVE 2012 $5 CASH FARE www.transport.act.gov.au or call 13 17 10

Issue #18 december 2012

playcanberra.com.au

be finding the net for us regularly!” Washington was born in Mesquite, Texas and named the 2003 Dallas Area Freshman of the Year and made the All-Conference team in both 2003 and 2004. As a youth, Washington played for the Dallas Texans, captaining the team to the 2006 USYSA National Championship and was named an NSCAA Youth AllAmerican in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

She is a dynamic right-sided midfield player who has also been playing as a striker and we hope she will be finding the net for us regularly!” -Heather Reid

Image: GETTY

Goal on debut As Washington joins Canberra United Canberra United receive an early return for the signing of United States under-23 team member Nikki Washington as a replacement player. Washington, a speedy midfielder or wide forward, joins the Westfield W-League champions initially as cover for the injured Ashleigh Sykes for three matches with the option to extend her stint later. The native of Texas, USA, is highly regarded having represented Pali Blues, magicJack, Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, Saint Louis Athletica, Sky Blue FC and Los Angeles Sol in the top American Women’s League [WPS].

“We are delighted to welcome Nikki to Canberra United and are looking forward to seeing her wearing the green shirt,” Canberra United CEO Heather Reid commented. “Nikki comes highly recommended by her former college coach Anson Dorrance and other US Technical Staff. She is a dynamic right-sided midfield player who has also been playing as a striker and we hope she will

GAMES IN ]

DECEMBER

McKellar Park www.canberraunited.com.au 18

playcanberra.com.au

Having been drafted fifth overall in the WPS Draft, Washington signed for Los Angeles Sol before a cruciate ligament injury curtailed her season. When the Sol disbanded Washington was snapped up by Sky Blue FC before being traded to Saint Louis Athletica. Athletica soon went the way of Sol and that left Washington moving on to her fourth club in a year as she signed for the Chicago Red Stars, the club at which United goalkeeper Lydia Williams enjoyed a brief stint, going on to join the Boston Breakers in 2011, the home club of Taryn Hemmings who so impressed during a one-year spell with Canberra last season. At international level Washington was a member of the victorious United States team that won the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, playing 65 minutes of the final against North Korea and went on to play for the under-23 national team the following season. Washington landed in Canberra Thursday 29th November for training with the squad before debuing with United on 1st of Dec in the team’s crucial Westfield W-League clash away to Sydney FC. Canberra responded again though as substitute Washington made a dream start to life in green. The American import, who came on the field as a substitute, had been on the field for twenty minutes when she fortuitously levelled the scores. Collecting the ball out wide she looked up and attempted to send a cross towards Heyman at the back post. Fortunately for Canberra the flight of the ball deceived McLaren and dropped into the net. Unfortunately United lost the thiller in stopage time.

V PERTH GLORY Wednesday 5/12: 6pm

V MELBOURNE VICTORY Saturday 23/11: 2pm

V NEWCASTLE JETS Saturday 8/12: 4pm

Deakin Football Stadium

McKellar Park

Deakin Football Stadium Issue #18 December 2012

Canberra United’s Asian Adventure By Russ Gibbs

Canberra United may have come up short in their quest to claim the International Women’s Club Championship (IWCC) but their week-long visit to Japan should stand them in good stead for the remainder of the Westfield W-League campaign. The champions may have seen their record-breaking 18-match unbeaten run unceremoniously ended by Melbourne Victory days before their departure to Tokyo, and both matches during the Asian Adventure may have ended in defeat, but Head Coach Jitka Klimkova was in no doubt that the competition was of value to her club. “It was great to see first-hand the standard of the Nadeshiko League and to assess where Australian women’s football needs to be so we can be more competitive in this kind of international competition,” Klimkova said following the opening match of the tournament. “We came here to compete at our best and to learn from the experience and I know every Canberra player put everything into this match. To play against such world class players is a huge test for many of our younger players”. Klimkova experimented with a few changes to the line-

up including Catherine Brown at right back and Grace Gill (pictured right) as centre forward during the IWCC as she shuffled her pack due to injuries and the nature of playing two games in a short space of time. “We played as a team with everyone playing well but I have to say both these players [Brown and Gill] did really well and I was also really happy with Caitlin Cooper and Jennifer Bissett who had outstanding games. We can be proud of our green team.” Unite lost their semi-final match to INAC Kobe Leonessa 4-0, the Japanese side containing seven of the team that tasted FIFA World Cup glory in 2011. With Olympique Lyonnias of France defeated NTV Beleza (Japan) in the other semi-final, United was left with the prospect of a third/fourth place play off against the Japanese, and what a game that turned out to be. Three times United led and three times NTV Beleza pegged them back. Bisset turned in a ball from the edge of the area to put United ahead early on with her first official Canberra United strike and further goals followed from Michelle Heyman and a sensational solo effort from Queenslander Hayley Raso. But United could not shake off their determined opponents and,

with the match heading towards a penalty shoot-out, United was left heartbroken as they shipped a lastminute winner. The experience gathered though could prove invaluable as mixing at the highest level has enabled the Australian champions to sample World class football. They’ll undoubtedly want more and to do that they’ll need to retain the Westfield W-League crown. And that should sound an ominous warning to their title rivals.

TIME FOR A CHANGE? LOOKING FOR AN I.T. CONTRACT OR NEW PERMANENT JOB OPPORTUNITY? OR ARE YOU AN EMPLOYER LOOKING FOR OUTSTANDING STAFF?

Contracting & Recruitment

P: (02) 6163 1955 E: tenders@acumen.com.au www.oakton.com.au

Issue #18 december 2012

playcanberra.com.au

Nikki Flynn, Lachie Eveston and Peta Flynn

Will Sackett, Sam Williams and Emily Aberline

Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Dean Jones

Rod Cuddihy, Suzi Foley and Natalie Forrest

Dean Jones, Senator Kate Lundy with Claire and Jared Tallent

Benson Babu, Michael Bevan and Molson Chengalath

Above: Opening of Crace Recreation Park www.crace.com.au Below: 12th Annual ACT Sport Thanks Awards Evening at the Ann Harding Conference Centre at the University of Canberra

Pip Genge, Brendan Lynch and Sue Powell Margaret Lane and Tony Reilly

Ben Pollack, Daniel Josifovski and Brett White

Nina Johnson, Julie Stalker and Renee Steggall

playcanberra.com.au

Debbie Simms, David Graham, Bill Miller and Kieran Johnson

Rebecca Kelley and Jenny Priest

Issue #18 December 2012

Week 1: 3-9 December Wednesday5/12

CANBERRA UNITED V PERTH GLORY 6.00pm DEAKIN FOOTBALL STADIUM

Saturday 8/12

CANBERRA UNITED V NEWSCASTLE JETS 4.00pm DEAKIN FOOTBALL STADIUM ACT Cricket Match of the Round Eastlake V North Canberra Gungahlin 11.00am Kingston

Sunday 9/12

ACT Baseball Match of the Round Indians V Bandits 3.00pm Striling

Week 2: 10-16 December Tuesday 11/12

ACT Water Polo - Round 5 Vikings V Dragons 6.00pm Civic pool

Thursday 13/12

ACT Baseball Mid-Week Match of the Round Eagles V Vikings 7.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park

Saturday 15/12

CANBERRA UNITED V Melbourne victory 2.00pm McKELLAR PARK ACT Cricket Match of the Round Queanbeyan V ANU 11.00am Freebody No1

Sunday 16/12

ACT Baseball Match of the Round ACTAS V Bears 3.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park

Week 3: 17-23 December Tuesdy 18/12

ACT Baseball Mid-Week Match of the Round Indians V Bandits 7.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park ACT Water Polo - Round 6 Nordek V Dragons 6.00pm Civic pool

Thursday 20/12

CANBERRA CAVALRY V BRISBANE BANDITS 7.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park

Friday 21/12

Canberra METEORS V QLD FIRE - WT20 CRICKET 12.00pm Manuka Oval CANBERRA CAVALRY V BRISBANE BANDITS 7.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park CANBERRA Capitals V Townsville 7.00pm AIS Areana

Saturday 22/12

Canberra METEORS V QLD FIRE - WNCL CRICKET 10.00am Manuka Oval CANBERRA CAVALRY V BRISBANE BANDITS 6.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park

Sunday 23/12

CANBERRA CAVALRY V BRISBANE BANDITS 12.00pm Narrabundah Ball Park Canberra METEORS V QLD FIRE - WT20 CRICKET 12.00pm Manuka Oval

ActewAGL Retail ABN 46 221 314 841.

SEC1112/06

All details correct at time of printing.

Issue #18 december 2012

ACTEWAGL December EVENTS CALENDAR ActewAGL Athletes on the rise

Justin Trabinger. Tuggeranong Viking Water Polo player Justin Trabinger is currently in Perth representing Australia in the World FINA U18 Water polo Championships. Justin has had a great year, representing Australia in 3 teams. His achievements include: Captain of the ACT Schoolboys team which won a bronze medal at the Australian championships. Captain of the ACT U18 team which competed in the Australian U18 Championship. He was selected in the Australian Under 18 and Under 20 teams. Justin is also member of the ACT Senior Mens team which won the Gold medal at the Australian Country Championships. His perfornce at the championships earned him selection in the Australian Mens Country team which toured Hawaii. Justin was named Most Valuable player for this team - at only 17 years of age. THE ActewAGL Athlete on the Rise recognises and rewards the achievements of our rising sporting talent. The award caters for athletes at all levels of competition. It is not only results that count, but good sportsmanship as well. Do you know someone that qualifies as an ActewAGL Athlete on the Rise? Send all nominations to athlete@playcanberra.com.au

The energy behind local sport. ActewAGL gets behind Canberra’s sporting community from the grassroots through to our professional teams. From today’s champions to tomorrow’s future stars, ActewAGL is committed to energising local sports for you.

playcanberra.com.au

Australian sport, and her decision to sign with the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL for the next three seasons is a massive stamp of approval for not only the league, but the Caps themselves. Jackson has won a combined seven WNBA and WNBL Most Valuable Player awards, as well as multiple championships with her American team, the Seattle Storm. The Canberra Capitals have won seven of the last 12 WNBL championships and with Lauren Jackson recommitting to the franchise until the 2015/16 season, expect the Caps to be in contention for many years to come.

3. CANBERRA UNITED GO UNDEFEATED Unlike other states around the nation, Canberra has heavily embraced having its own female football team in Australia’s W-League.

Image: GETTY

Canberra’s top sporting moments of 2012 By Antony Perry & Todd Davey

It’s that time of year.

The masses have begun compiling their monotonous lists – Christmas presents, Christmas lunch groceries, ‘to do before December 31st’ and so on so forth. Here at PLAY, we’re no exception. Given 2012 is coming to an end, we thought it would be enjoyable to look back on Canberra’s most memorable sporting moments over the last 12 months. While we don’t apologise to other members of staff for our incessant whining throughout the voting process, we do apologise if our list is more appealing than any of yours. Without further deliberation, here’s our take on Canberra’s top sporting moments of 2012. 1. BRUMBIES SCORE BIG WITH POCOCK SIGNING Any news involving Wallabies star David Pocock is big news. After all, the man is a demigod. But for members of Canberra’s rugby circles, news of Pocock signing a three-year contract with the ACT Brumbies just about trumped all other media talk. Pocock brings to the capital talent and experience alike. The former Western Force openside flanker has 69 Super Rugby caps to his name, as well as 45 Test caps with the 22

playcanberra.com.au

Wallabies and has scored eight and four tries at those levels respectively. With such an influential figure in Jake White’s 2013 squad, is it too soon to be calling the Brumbies a title contender?

2. LAUREN JACKSON RE-SIGNS WITH THE CANBERRA CAPITALS

In 2012, Canberra United rewarded its fans for their support when the club completed an undefeated, title-winning campaign in the 2011-12 edition of the competition. United secured the elusive honour and affirmed itself at the competition’s summit with a 3-2 grand final victory over Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park back in January. With the top W-League club in Australia, who says Canberra needs an A-League side?

4. GWS BREAK ITS DUCK IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL What better place to have the AFL’s newest franchise to have its first victory than the Giants’ home away from home at Canberra’s Manuka Oval? Many football pundits said GWS would fail to secure a victory in its inaugural year. However, the Giants were not to be denied, kicking three goals in as many minutes to steal the lead back after an oscillating three quarters. Then, when ruckman Jonathan Giles snapped his third goal of the afternoon to put the margin beyond 20 points, one of 2012’s most famous victories was sealed. The victory now sets up a rivalry between the AFL’s 17th and 18th teams, as well as cementing Manuka Oval’s legacy in GWS folklore.

5. CANBERRA RIDES THE RAIDERS WAVE OF EUPHORIA The Raiders’ erratic form in the 2012 NRL season almost saw the Green Machine play itself out of contention. Boasting wins over the Titans, Eels and Tigers in the opening rounds, the Raiders looked to have what it takes to march into the finals.

When one of basketball’s most dominant players of alltime decides to ply her trade in Canberra, it’s a big deal.

However, two successive losses to South Sydney (18 points) and the West Tigers (40 points) meant Canberra was languishing towards the bottom end of the ladder.

Lauren Jackson is one of the biggest names in

But in true Green Machine fashion, the team was Issue #18 December 2012

somehow able to turn it around, storming home in the final rounds to secure an unlikely finals berth. The team would eventually go on to defeat the Cronulla Sharks at home in the elimination final before bowing out at the hands of South Sydney the following week.

6. ROGIC BECOMES A DUAL INTERNATIONAL Australia has produced a wealth of dual internationals in contact sports, but it wasn’t until November this year that an Australian footballer (soccer player) earned the coveted status. Last month, Canberra man Tom Rogic joined the list of Australian sportsmen and women to wear the honourable title. Having secured seven caps with the Futsalroos between 2010 and 2011, the former Tuggeranong United junior claimed the honour when he earned his first international cap with the Socceroos during a cameo off the bench in the side’s 2-1 win over South Korea last month. Given Rogic is just 19 years of age, it is, indeed, a commendable achievement.

7. NEW MANUKA OVAL LIGHTING ILLUMINATES THE CANBERRA SPORTING LANDSCAPE One of Canberra’s most iconic stadiums, Manuka Oval, was approved for a $5 million lighting upgrade in 2012.

Image: GETTY

• Australia v West Indies (cricket) • ACT Brumbies v British and Irish Lions (rugby union) • Australia v New Zealand (rugby league)

9. NEAFL CONTINUES TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The AFL’s bold decision to revamp the entire AFL NSW/ ACT system has paid handsome dividends, with the 2012 NEAFL Eastern Conference season one of the greatest seasons in recent memory.

Not too bad for the Canberra clubs considering they have to play against AFL-affiliated teams.

10. GRAMMAR BREAK TITLE DUCK The first time for anything is always the sweetest and Canberra Grammar can now attest to that after the school secured its first ACT Junior Rugby Union under18’s title in 2012. After a dominant season, Grammar’s first XV fittingly claimed the school’s maiden honour with a 35-33 victory over ACT rugby powerhouse St Edmund’s College.

The upgrades, which coincide with Canberra’s centenary celebrations in 2013, have given the popular stadium the ability to host national and international quality sport.

In its second year, the NEAFL has been widely applauded for its competitiveness, as well as allowing the teams in the Canberra market to have greater exposure.

A one day international between the West Indies and Australia has been locked in for February 6th, which will be the first time the Australian team has ever played in the nation’s capital.

The Ainslie Tricolours played in the 2011 Foxtel Cup, a nationally broadcasted competition, further underlining the growing strength of the competition.

Since the inception of schoolboy rugby in Canberra, Grammar, a school known more for its students’ academic achievements than their exploits on the rugby pitch, has played second fiddle to heavyweights St Edmund’s and Marist College, which have long revelled in the winner’s circle at Grammar’s expense.

Furthermore, the NEAFL Eastern Conference premiership stayed in the nation’s capital for a second consecutive year.

But this year’s feat elevates the Red Hill-based institution to the summit of schoolboy rugby in Canberra, sending its fierce and often superior rivals packing.

The upgrades also open the door for Canberra to host some World Cup Cricket matches if Australia’s 2015 bid is successful, and ACT Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr believes AFL at night is a distinct possibility.

8. CANBERRA UNVEILS ITS CENTENARY YEAR OF SPORT With sport and recreation being second nature to many Canberrans, it’s only fitting that next year’s Centenary of Canberra celebrations include what Canberrans love most – sport. Over the course of this year, plans were unveiled for how the milestone would be celebrated. And much to our delight, the year-long program is jam-packed with significant local, national and international sporting events. The announcements put an end to Canberra’s lack of international sporting events and as the old saying goes, good things come to those who wait. Here’s just a few of our most anticipated events: • ISPS Handa Australian Women’s Open (golf) Issue #18 december 2012

playcanberra.com.au

Tara and Brittany Broben

Amy Sommerville and Keely Rodrigo

Fiona Smyth and Ellie Cole

John and Nektaria Stauropoulos and Tazio Barclay

Patrick Hunt, Jim Ferguson and Reinhold Batschi

AIS Athlete of the Year The AIS Awards recognised the outstanding achievements of AIS athletes and coaches over the past 12 months. Congratulations to the following winners: Athlete of the Year Tom Slingsby (sailing) & Alicia Coutts (swimming) Junior Athlete of the Year Samuel Willoughby (BMX) Coach of the Year Australian Sailing Coaching Team Team of the Year Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s K4 1000-metre kayak crew Program of the Year Sailing

Simon Hollingsworth, Senator Kate Lundy and Caitlin Roy John Baker, Sarah Cook and Kynan Maley

Nicole Mee, Jessica Morrison, Louise Mitchell, Chloe Jamieson and Teigan Van Roosmalen

Stacey Baker with Matthew and Kellee Bender

playcanberra.com.au

Fiona and Meng Ngai with Victor Croker and Glen Grant

Damien Howson and Michelle Kranz

Issue #18 December 2012

Platform 7 City 7/8, 14/15, 21/22 DECEMBER & NEW YEAR’S EVE 2012 $5 CASH FARE TO: BELCONNEN GUNGAHLIN INNER-NORTH INNER-SOUTH WODEN TUGGERANONG MORE INFORMATION: www.transport.act.gov.au or call13 17 10

TIMETABLE DESTINATION

$5 CASH FARE SUBURBS COVERED: CITY TO ê

Gungahlin

Acton, Turner, O’Connor, Lyneham, Mitchell, 12:30am Franklin, Palmerston, Crace, Gungahlin 2:00am Market Place, Nicholls, Ngunnawal, Casey 3:30am

1:15am 2:45am 4:15am

Gungahlin

Braddon, Ainslie, Dickson, Hackett, Downer, 12:45am Watson, Harrison, Gungahlin, Gungahlin 2:15am Market Place, Amaroo, Bonner, Forde 3:45am

1:30am 3:00am 4:30am

Belconnen

Aranda, Cook, Macquarie, Jamison, Hawker, 1:00am Weetangera, Scullin, Page, Holt, Kippax, 2:30am Higgins, Latham, Macgregor, Emu Ridge, 4:00am AIS, Bruce, Fern Hill, University of Canberra

1:45am 3.15am

Belconnen

Giralang, Kaleen, McKellar, Evatt, Melba, Spence, Flynn, Fraser, Florey, Dunlop, Charnwood, Emu Ridge, AIS, Bruce, Fern Hill, University of Canberra

1:15am 2:45am 4:15am

2:00am 3:30am

South Canberra Parkes, Barton, Kingston, Manuka, Griffith, Narrabundah, Red Hill, Forrest, Deakin, Yarralumla, Curtin, Hughes, Garran, Lyons, Phillip, Woden Town Centre

974

12:30am 2:00am 3:30am

1:15am 2:45am 4:15am

Weston/Woden All Weston Creek, Chifley, Pearce, Torrens, Mawson, Farrer, Issacs, O’Malley, Phillip, Woden Town Centre

12:45am 2:15am 3:45am

1:30am 3:00am 4:30am

Tuggeranong

Kambah, Wanniassa, Erindale Centre, Monash, Oxley, Isabella Plains, Bonython, Greenway, Tuggeranong Town Centre

1:00am 2:30am 4:00am

1:45am 3:15am

Tuggeranong

Fadden, Macarthur, Gowrie, Gilmore, Chisholm, Richardson, Calwell, Theodore, Conder, Banks, Gordon

1:15am 2:45am 4:15am

2:00am 3:30am

970 971 972 973

975 976 977

Issue #18 december 2012

REGULAR TIMES

NYE EXTRA TIMES

playcanberra.com.au

Study options for 2013 Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) offers choice and Pathways. Having always been interested in human anatomy and how the body works, Bodine Ledden was keen to study physiotherapy. After hearing good things from graduates, he started looking into the massage courses at Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT). “I really liked the choice of course available and the pathways it offered to uni,” he says. To increase his employability, Bodine studied both fitness and massage. CIT offers the option to study the two areas together and graduate in the same amount of times as only studying one course. “Having both skillsets means you are more employable and can work in both areas,” he says. “It’s a great career path, because you can work for yourself, and enjoy flexible working hours and travel.” CIT has a number of industry partnerships, including strong links with the AFL, and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Canberra Raiders which are located close to the CIT Bruce campus. The AIS Soft Tissue Work Placement Program is offered to four people Australia-wide, and Bodine was selected for one of these places earlier in 2012. “I did a range of tutorials during the two weeks and was treating elite athletes,” he says.

“It was exciting as obviously you want to have some sort of effect on the athletes’ performance and get them into the best shape they can be leading up to the Olympics.” Following this, Vince Cosentini at the AIS saw Bodine got along well with the boxers and was confident in his treatment, and Bodine was offered the opportunity to help out with the boxing team leading up to the Oceania Titles. “I found the experience was great for my development.” CIT fitness students also get hands-on experience at CIT Fit & Well, CIT’s student-run gym open to the public, and the massage students treat real clients in the CIT student massage clinic. “I don’t think you could walk out of a course without that hands-on experience – you’d go out into the real world without knowing what to do,” he says. Straight out of study, Bodine is now working full time as a massage therapist in a busy clinic in Canberra. “While going to uni is always an option down the track, it’s not something I really have to do to have the career I want,” he says. “In the future, I would love to be working with elite sporting teams. From my studies at CIT and the

experiences it has exposed me to, I have a clear direction for my future and I know exactly where I want to be and how I will get there.”

Team up wiTh

promo concepTs

e No w ’s th e to im pe r fe ct tr n ex t o f o rde r o n se as

for your nexT uniform

Fys hw ic k by m s h o w ro ome nt t n app o i

CORP

This guide is stationery, c

02 6162 0670 I sales@promoconcepts.com.au I www.promoconcepts.com.au .COM.AU

playcanberra.com.au

Public relatio and sustainin is through re

A consistent Concepts as dynamic out

Issue #18 December 2012 Version 1.00

Calm, Assured, Focused Few have experienced such a swift progression in women’s road cycling as that of Canberra cyclist Gracie Elvin. Deciding to switch to the road after several years on the mountain bike, Elvin has enjoyed a breakthrough year to become one of the most sought after Aussie cyclists in the women’s road cycling scene. Riding originally on the road and track as a junior, Elvin had always planned on shifting her focus completely to road after mountain bike–revealing that it was the chance to ride at the AIS Road Selection Camp in late 2011 that opened the right window of opportunity. “I had always planned to return to the road scene but wasn’t sure when, so when the AIS selection camp came up it was a perfect time to switch,” Elvin explained. She did not wait long to impress, displaying not only significant raw talent and power, but crucially the strong mental aptitude often needed to handle the racing lifestyle in Europe. As one of the few women to last to the end of the rigorous camp, she then gained selection to the AIS Women’s squad for 2012. “…[The AIS Camp] was designed totally around life away from home. It definitely gave me the confidence to be a leader but also a team player, and that I could tough it out when all I wanted was a hot shower and a hug!” Elvin said. Gracie then opened her debut season as fully-fledged

road rider in style, finishing an impressive fifth place in the 2012 Australian National Championships in January. The result had offered her further confidence on the road, and in early March she would have a breakthrough performance becoming the Oceania Road Race Champion in Queenstown, New Zealand. Beating GreenEDGE rider Shara Gillow as well as other top-notch women from Australia and abroad, Elvin proved to have a well developed tactical prowess, and the controlled focus to perform on race-day. This talent and promise was further realised in Europe, where she finished runner-up in two UCI races: Omloop van Borsele in Belgium and a stage of Gracia Orlova in the Czech Repulic. Elvin was surprised by the results saying, “It [the first 2nd place] definitely gave me confidence to back myself against some of the better known riders and try to win rather than just finish. It totally changes your mentality and the way you race.” These strong early season performances did not go unnoticed with Elvin offered a guest rider spot for the rest of the season with professional outfit, Faren-Honda. Opting not to return to Australia and instead racing the women’s Giro d’Italia and other professional races for the second half of the year, offered her a beneficial ‘taste’ of the demands on professional riders in Europe.

Image: B&M photography

Gracie Elvin’s rapid rise to the top. By Adam Phelan

The choice, however, would pay off with Elvin gaining selection for the Australian team to compete at the World Championships in Limburg, Holland. Competing at the Elite World Championship was a rewarding accomplishment, and Elvin views it as one of her proudest moments on the bike. “Competing at the World Championships this year in Holland was by far the best experience. To wear the Aussie jersey in front of so many cycling fans in pretty special,” she said. With 2012 now coming to an end, and a new exciting season full of opportunity rapidly approaching, Elvin reflects on what assisted in her successes throughout 2012– including the people that helped make it happen– explaining to Play Canberra, “I’ve had a great amount of support this year, but more importantly I’ve had people show confidence in me. To be told “you can” is very powerful!” And yes, she most definitely can.

Jason Lancsar COERVER® Coaching Asia Pacific Director

COERVER Coaching Master Class Series.

We hope you enjoy our Coerver Coaching Play Magazine homework designed to improve your game but above all have fun while practicing. This month we look at one of Coerver Coaching’s Ball Mastery practices. In earlier editions we have looked at Toes Taps and Soles Taps separately this month we will combined these techniques used to improve ball feeling/control.

Topic: Toe Tap / Sole Tap combination

1. Keep the ball close, not too far out in front of you. 2. As you become more confident increase speed in the action and add in a hop with the sole taps. 3. Every couple of touches look up.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Start with the ball between your feet and body over the ball.

With the inside of each foot move the ball side to side with small passes.

Once the ball goes from one foot to the other and back stop the ball with sole of foot.

Once you have stopped the ball with the sole of your foot change to your opposite foot using your sole.

Once you have stopped the ball using the sole of your foot change back to toe taps using inside of foot and repeat the process.

See next issue for more tips from Coerver Coaching or for further information please visit our website www.coerver.com.au Issue #18 december 2012

playcanberra.com.au

Issue #18 December 2012

By Joshua Matic

@MaticJm

ACT Gridiron in conjunction with the Tuggeranong Tornadoes are working to establish Australia’s first permanent state-based female gridiron competition in 2013. The competition, which will likely feature a team based in the south of Canberra and one in the north, will be administered by the Tuggeranong Tornadoes club, and will aim to run a best of three game series every month. The proposed competition will be modelled on what the Queensland and Victorian Gridiron entities have trailed in the last three months with around four teams in those competitions. It is hoped that a state versus state competition will one day be established between the ACT, Queensland and Victoria. Tuggeranong Tornadoes junior coach Cody Field, who is taking a major role in establishing the women’s competition, said the popularity of gridiron in the ACT is on the rise. “It’s (gridiron) been on Fox Sports and normal TV a little bit, and we have seen a bit of an influx...but definitely in the last couple of years it has gotten a lot more popular,” he said.

moment, and it is hoped that at least 15 of the 25 potential female signings will give the sport a go. Field said that gridiron is a great sport for technical aspects of the game, and that women interested in playing should not feel threatened by hard contact and the need to be athletic in nature. Coordinator of women’s gridiron in the ACT Danielle Degroot said that gridiron has something for everyone. “You get lots of girls that think they can’t play sport because they’re too clumsy or they don’t have any coordination but the thing is we have positions for everyone here which is really nice,” she said. “If you want to play sport, come down and have a go, because we’ve got something for you.” Field and Degroot said that lack of funding due to gridiron being an “unheard of” sport in Australia had made establishing women’s competitions difficult in the past, but are confident of success in 2013.

The Tuggeranong Tornadoes held a sign up day for the proposed women’s competition at Garran Oval on Sunday 2nd of December, where 25 women were expected to try out some drills.

The Tuggeranong Tornadoes will look to host south side matches at the Erindale Vikings club, and north side matches in Bruce. Training sessions will be held in Yarralumla on Sundays at 11am and will likely start in February.

There are currently around 210 males enrolled under ACT Gridiron at the

The Tornadoes are hoping to start competition next June.

Issue #18 december 2012

C u @ the game this season wesfield w-league season 5

Saturday 15th December 2012 Canberra United v Melbourne Victory kick off 2pm Saturday 5th January 2013 Canberra United v Western Sydney Wanderers kick off 4pm

Tickets: $10 Adult $5 Concession Children under-12 Free

playcanberra.com.au

11-11328/211-11328/2

Women’s Gridiron

crossword Number 13 1

Across

Down

1 and 14 Down Winner of the Australian Open men’s tennis final in 2012 (5,8)

2 Overall speed at which a cricket team bowls (4,4)

8 Exactly even finish to a race (4,4)

3 See 21 Down

9 English soccer team which aped Real Madrid with their all-white strip (5)

4 1962 Olympic country (6)

10 ___ Sehwag, dashing Indian cricketer (7)

6 ___ Krieger, female East German shot putter who became a man due to steroids (5)

11 County town of Cornwall (5) 12 Common greeting for an 18 Ac (3)

16 Home city of NHL team the Senators (6) 10

11 13

17 18

25 26 27

playcanberra.com.au

12 Gymnast support (3)

18 Match official (3)

14 See 1 Across

23 Loosely tied bundle of wool (5)

15 Grand English hunt race (8)

24 Head club officials (8)

19 Number in a field hockey team (6)

25 Ieuan ___ of the British Lions (5)

20 Diving gear (5)

26 Fast bowler for the Sydney Sixers (5,3)

21 and 3 Down Lancashire fast bowler who debuted for England in 2003 (5,8)

27 Short oar (5)

7 Mitchell ___, NSW and Australian left-arm bowler (5)

17 Original nationality of rugby player Radike Samo (6)

C A L I B R E C R A W L

H R I S O P O R T A Y C R A K I F A R R Y A N E X T R A L N N R O A T I A H D A S T L E O M A L M E W I S

P O R S C H E P R I O R

R O A M L O O D E O D H E R Y L S O M A A R I S Y S N D I A E G O R K E

13 Cricket side? (3)

22 Nickname of former pro-wrestler Jim Bernard (5)

Crossword #12 solutions

5 Nicked (5)

“Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I’ll win a pennant every year.” — Ex-MLB manager Sparky Anderson

Issue #18 December 2012

Club Stadium is an exclusive social club lounge for business and pleasure. Situated at the Northern End of the Gregan-Larkham Stand, Club Stadium offers excellent service in a comfortable and relaxed private lounge with a maximum capacity of 150 members.

Club Select is a private, superior and all-inclusive event experience. Located at the Northern End of the Meninga Stand with an capacity of only 40 people. Club Select membership benefits include: ♦

Entry into the exclusive lounge for all scheduled Canberra Raiders and Brumbies home matches; VIP Parking; Complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks, tea and coffee; Premium catering service including buffet or sit down dinners, and half-time food; Guest speakers and lucky door prizes at selected matches; Branded balcony seating; Match day programs; Season corporate gift.

Club Stadium membership benefits include: ♦ Entry into the lounge for all scheduled Canberra Raiders and Brumbies home matches; ♦ VIP parking; ♦ Buffet meal on arrival and half-time snacks; ♦ Happy hour bar prices prior to the main game kick off; ♦ Branded balcony seating; ♦ Match day programs; ♦ Season corporate gift.

♦ ♦

From $3,140 per person (incl. GST)

From $4,802 per person (incl. GST)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

For more information please contact Joanest To on (02) 6256 6711 or email j.to@canberrastadium.com

www.canberrastadium.com.au

Issue #18 december 2012

playcanberra.com.au

For more information please contact Joanest To on

playcanberra.com.au

Issue #18 December 2012