ISSUE #37 SEP/OCT 2014
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PATTY MILLS THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
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#37
FROM THE EDITOR
Spring is here! Not only does spring bring us warm days and a welcomed return of the sun, Spring also brings us new sports. The Brumbies, Raiders, Brave and Giants are having a well-earned rest and the summer sports come out to entertain us.
The Caps The University of Canberra Caps have had a busy off-season and will look forward to getting on the court for the 2014/15 WNBNL season. Off the court, the Caps are now under the ownership of the University of Canberra and have bought in experienced sports administrator Lachlan Searle into the General Manager role. The new leadership has also coincided with new/returning playing staff with the emphasis on experience. Kristen Veal will make her come back to the Capital and the much-missed Michelle Cosier will be on board after a season of due to family commitments. For tickets and information head to canberracapitals.com.au
Canberra United Canberra United have managed to re-sign the majority of last years minor premiership squad for season 2014/15. The only major out for United is Australian Goalkeeper and last years players player
EDITOR
Nathan Minerds CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGN
Anthony Nankervis
COVER & FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Rush Photography
Lydia Williams who reinjured her knee while playing overseas in the off-season and required surgery. Williams has been replaced by American import Chantel Jones. With coach Elisabeth Migchelsen back calling the shots in 14/15 and the U.S stars Lori Lindsey, Stephanie Ochs and Kendall Fletcher combining with our local talent expect united to push again for the W-League title. For tickets and information head to canberraunited.com.au
CONTENTS SEP/OCT 2014
Summer of Cricket
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Cricket fans will be spoiled for choice over the next few months with the Capital hosting its hottest Summer of Cricket on record.
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The Meteors and Comets kick off their season’s in mid October while the international cricket begins with a One Day International between Australia and South Africa on the 19th of November. The Nation’s focus returns the Canberra in January for the iconic PM’s XI on the 14th and the Twenty20 Big Bash Final on the 28th. Just when you think it can’t get any bigger along comes a little event called the Cricket World Cup! For details head to cricketact.com.au
Canberra Cavalry Pictured
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And last but not least, the new kids on the block, the Canberra Cavalry. Undoubtedly the success story of the 2013/14 summer season.
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The Cavalry exceeded everyone’s (but their own) expectations last season to win the Asia Cup. Taking out the tournament over the champion teams from Asian baseball including powerhouses, Korea and Japan. With super coach Michael Collins, the mustachioed crowd favorite Jack Murphy and young gun Robbie Perkins back again for season 2014/15 the Cavalry will be looking to go one better and reclaim the Claxton Shield that was taken from them by the Perth Heat in an exciting final series in February this year. Get out to The Fort this year and watch a game – I guarantee you’ll have a great night. For information head to canberracavalry.com.au
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Play hard until next month… NATHAN
WRITERS
Antony Perry Brett McKay Brendan Parnell Russ Gibbs Josh Matic Todd Davey Lyndall Parker
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ben Coughlan Ben Southall Nudgepix Photography Amandakelly.com.au Joseph Purdam Ben Houston
EDITORIAL | editor@playcanberra.com.au | 0452 220 100 ADVERTISING | advertise@playcanberra.com.au | 0452 220 100 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.
FROM THE SPORTS MINISTER NEAFL: Shining the spotlight on Ainslie AUSSIE RULES NEAFL’s loss is Canberra’s gain FOOTBALL Canberra United unveil squad FOOTBALL Cream of Asian Football heading to Canberra PLAY BY THE RULES Encouraging kids to be good sports RUGBY LEAGUE Break out season for local junior RUGBY LEAGUE NRL Draft: Bring it on! MENSLINK ‘Never Give Up’ An interview with cricketer Jono Dean ICE HOCKEY CBR Brave Poster
PATTY MILLS:
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY 26 BASKETBALL
Jess Bibby: 350 Not Out 28 RUGBY UNION State of Play: Injuries hit hard and regularly in a gallant Brumbies season 29 RUGBY UNION Australia’s National Rugby Championship 30 HORSE RACING Around the track
SPORT & RECREATION
from the sports minister
with shane rattenbury
AS A PRETTY BIG SPORTS FAN AND A COMPETITOR, I WAS EXCITED TO PICK UP THE SPORT AND RECREATION PORTFOLIO IN THE RECENT CABINET RESHUFFLE. MY PERSONAL PASSION LIES WITH TRIATHLON AND LONG DISTANCE RUNNING, AND YOU WILL ALWAYS CATCH ME IN THE STANDS WHEN THE GIANTS ARE AT HOME. BUT BEYOND MY OWN INTERESTS, I ALSO THINK SPORT AND RECREATION ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN KEEPING US HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND CONNECTED. It’s a big transition, to go from being a sports fan to being the Minister for sports, but it’s also a really great opportunity. As a Greens Minister I am keen to focus on building community sport and recreation opportunities for people of all ages and fitness levels. While many people aspire to playing in the premier leagues and national codes, representing Canberra and Australia; many others just love to play. In a country where sedentary lifestyles are becoming more common, participation in sport and recreation is a great way to stay healthy, and also a way for people to get active in the community. Whether you represent your local football club, or play ultimate frisbee with a bunch of mates down at the oval, being involved in sport and recreation is a great way to keep active and build skills and friends for life, not just on the sporting field.
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I think sport is an important avenue for young people to develop leadership skills, self confidence and learn how to work in teams. But as your grow older, sport is a great way to stay fit, challenge yourself, try new things and meet new people. Canberra has a strong culture of grassroots sport that extends through the community that we should be really proud of. I would like to talk to the community about how we can continue to build on this great sporting culture and encourage more Canberrans to get active and involved and enjoy some of the great facilities and recreational spaces we have in our region. I am keen to get out and meet as many of the sporting clubs as I can in the coming weeks and months, and talk about any issues or concerns. If you or your club have a sports and recreation issue you would like to raise with me, or if you would like me to drop by and say hello, please contact my office on 6205 0005 or rattenbury@act.gov.au
AUSSIE RULES
NEAFL’S LOSS IS
canberra’s gain THE LOCAL AFL COMPETITION WILL RECEIVE A BOOST IN STRENGTH WITH THE RETURN OF TWO CANBERRA AFL POWERHOUSES. The Belconnen Magpies and the Queanbeyan Tigers have opted out of continuing in the NEAFL competition and will head back into the local competition in 2015. The AFL announced several changes to the format of the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL), as part of the ongoing process to ensure long-term focus on increased competition standard and enhanced talent pathways remains the foremost priority of the league. There has been ongoing consultation
with all of the participating clubs to ensure the League’s continued development as a second-tier Australian Football competition in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the ACT. As a result of this consultation process, three clubs from NSW and the ACT – Queanbeyan, Belconnen and Sydney Hills Eagles – have opted not to continue as licence holders for the remainder of their three year agreement. All three clubs have cited the financial challenges involved in order to remain competitive within an increasingly improved standard of competition. AFL National Second Tier Manager Simon Laughton said the priority for the league was to maintain the high standards that were established prior to the 2014 season.
“When we re-structured the NEAFL competition in 2013 we wanted to ensure clubs would continue to reach high standards of performance both on and off-field,” Laughton said. “We are committed to this process, and will support clubs to strive to achieve the high standards befitting an elite second-tier competition.” AFL NSW/ACT General Manager Craig Bolton said that clubs would be supported through their transition period back to community football. “These three clubs have made a tremendous contribution to the NEAFL competition, and we would like to thank them for their efforts,” Bolton said. “Each of the clubs remains an important part of the community football landscape, and we will assist them wherever possible with this transition process. Queanbeyan Tigers AFC Chairman Bob Gibbs thanked the AFL for the opportunity to participate in the competition. “Based on the criteria that is required of clubs participating in the NEAFL, Queanbeyan will unfortunately no longer be able to take part in the competition moving forward,” said Gibbs. “We’re very grateful for the football experiences afforded to our club and in particular those players who have been fortunate enough to be a part of NEAFL.” Belconnen Magpies President Scott Reid said it was disappointing to leave the competition after being the most successful team over the last decade. “Our time in the NEAFL competition has given our players and officials the opportunity to match themselves against AFL clubs and the best teams on the eastern seaboard. The NEAFL has given us the opportunity to develop some strong young talent both on and off the field. “We look forward to continuing our long and successful association with AFL Canberra in providing a vibrant and competitive competition for the whole region to enjoy.”
FOOTBALL
canberra united
UNVEIL SQUAD CANBERRA UNITED WESTFIELD W-LEAGUE SEASON SEVEN SQUAD 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Chantel JONES Catherine BROWN Julia DE ANGELIS Kendall FLETCHER Grace FIELD Caitlin MUNOZ Ellie BRUSH Meg McLAUGHLIN Grace GILL Grace MAHER
11. 12. 13. 14. 16. 17. 18. 20. 22.
Michelle HEYMAN Sally ROJAHN Nicole BEGG Ashleigh SYKES Lori LINDSEY Holly HOUSTON Rebecca KITING Mellissa MAIZELS Stephanie OCHS
MANAGEMENT Head Coach: Elisabeth MIGCHELSEN Assistant Coach: Raeanne DOWER Goalkeeper Coach: Tim DAVIES
IN: Chantel JONES (Washington Spirit) Melissa MAIZELS (Melbourne Victory) Grace MAHER (ACTAS) Julia DE ANGELIS (ACTAS)
OUT: Lydia WILLIAMS (injured) Georgia YEOMAN-DALE (Newcastle Jets) Jennifer BISSET (injured) Trudy BURKE
STABILITY IS THE KEY WORD FOR CANBERRA UNITED AS THE CLUB UNVEILED THE SQUAD FOR WESTFIELD W-LEAGUE SEASON SEVEN WHICH SHOWS JUST FOUR CHANGES FROM THE TEAM THAT FINISHED TOP OF THE PILE AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON LAST YEAR. A pair of new goalkeepers, in US star Chantel Jones and Melissa Maizels are joined on the roster by a brace of local youngsters in Julia De Angelis and Grace Maher. Maher, at fifteen years old, becomes United’s youngest ever signing, edging out Kahlia Hogg by three months and could be the youngest player to take the field for the club should she be selected this season. The inclusion of De Angelis and Maher, both recruited from the ACT Academy of Sport team [ACTAS] that competes in the local Women’s Premier League under the tutelage of Assistant Coach Raeanne Dower, increase the number of locally based players in the squad to thirteen. US recruit Jones, joins fellow Americans Stephanie Ochs and Lori Lindsey in the squad with Kendall Fletcher arriving as a guest player later this season. Otherwise, it’s as you were for United with free-scoring Michelle Heyman leading the line and foundation players Caitlin Munoz, Ellie Brush, Grace Gill, Nicole Begg (formerly Sykes) and Ashleigh Sykes joined by Rebecca Kiting who was a late addition to the squad at the tail-end of Season Six. For more information visit canberraunited.com.au
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WE are
UNITED UP COMING GAMES Vs Melbourne Victory Sunday 28 September 3.00pm McKellar Park
VS Brisbane Roar Saturday 4 October 5.00pm McKellar Park
Tickets: Adults: $10. Concession: $5. Children under 12: Free.
FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT www.canberraunited.com.au
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FOOTBALL
CREAM OF ASIAN FOOTBALL
heading to canberra CANBERRA IS ABOUT TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN THE BIGGEST FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT EVER HELD IN AUSTRALIA – AFC ASIAN CUP AUSTRALIA 2015. The national capital will host seven matches and 10 countries when the top 16 teams in Asia arrive to contest the region’s premier football trophy from January 9–31. The tournament will be watched by an estimated 500,000 spectators and a staggering global TV audience of more than 500 million. Canberra’s schedule includes: • One quarter-final and six group matches • Two matches feature the mighty Korea Republic, World Cup finalists and twice former Asian Cup champions (against the dangerous Oman and Kuwait) • Canberra will also host China’s match against dark horse North Korea • Other matches feature past champions Iraq, fairytale winners of the 2007 tournament, playing the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup winners Palestine
Socceroos group matches are on sale from $49 per adult.
The AFC Asian Cup is Asia’s biggest football competition and was established in 1956.
Quarter-finals start at $29 per adult, semi-finals $49 per adult and the final itself from $79 per adult.
The 16 nations to qualify for AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 are Australia as hosts, defending champions Japan, Korea Republic and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners DPR Korea, along with Bahrain, China, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Palestine.
No ticket will cost more than $149 – and that’s for the best seats in the house when the Socceroos kick off Asia’s biggest football tournament against Kuwait in Melbourne on January 9, and for top seats at the final at Sydney’s Stadium Australia on January 31.
Individual tickets start at just $5 for kids and $15 for adults for a tournament which will feature four Brazil 2014 World Cup finalists – Australia, South Korea, Iran and Japan.
The most expensive Category One tickets offer tremendous value - $149 for the final, $149 for the opening match, $99 for other Socceroos group matches, $99 for a semi-final, $69 for a quarterfinal and $30 for a non-Socceroos group match.
“These attractive prices will make the Asian Cup the great family bargain of next summer’s school holidays,” said Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop.
Kids and concession holders can watch the final for just $39.50, semi-finals for $24.50, quarterfinals for $14.50 and non-Socceroos group matches for just $5.
“To think that a family of four can watch some of the best teams in Asia from $40 is incredible.”
Fans purchasing tickets will have the opportunity to donate to One Goal, a program set up by the AFC and World Vision to improve child nutrition across Asia.
“So fans should start planning for an unforgettable summer of football in their own backyard.” Socceroos striker Tim Cahill urged fans to come out to support not only the Socceroos but all of the games. “The Asian Cup in held in Australia is something to be proud of. Having teams from all over the Middle East and Asia and also the potential chance of hopefully lifting some silverware. Tickets for adults will be $15 and $5 for kids, so we want to see the stadiums full and hopefully share something special with our fans,” Cahill said.
“More than 200 million children across Asia are prevented from leading a healthy, active life because of poor nutrition,” said Michael Brown, CEO of the 2015 Asian Cup Local Organising Committee. “I encourage football fans across Australia to donate to One Goal when they purchase tickets so that every child can reach their full potential, whether that be in the football field or in any walk of life.”
They will take part in a 23-day festival of football in five cities which the Socceroos will kick off on January 9, 2015, in Melbourne, with the final set for Sydney’s Stadium Australia on January 31, 2015. The tournament is being financially supported by the Australian Government and the NSW, Victorian, Queensland and ACT Governments. Fox Sports will broadcast the AFC Asian Cup throughout Australia. For more information on AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 visit afcasiancup.com
tennis act serves up multi million dollar events program TENNIS
-
THE NEW-LOOK HOME OF TENNIS ACT IS SET TO CONTRIBUTE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THE TERRITORY, WITH AN EXCITING THREEYEAR EVENTS PROGRAM ANNOUNCED FOR THE VENUE. The all-new tennis hub is set to host an impressive line-up of major events when it opens its doors in January, and place Canberra in the box seat to bid for future Davis Cup and Fed Cup ties. Headlining the bill will be a $50,000 ATP Challenger event for men and a $50,000 ITF event for women, as well as Australian Money Tournaments and premier junior events. The ATP Challenger and ITF tournaments will be two of the country’s highest ranked professional tennis events outside the Australian Open and Australian Open Series, and link in with the Asian swing of the Australian Pro Tour circuit and the start of the domestic summer of tennis. Tennis ACT CEO Ross Triffitt said the redevelopment would change the face of tennis in the Territory. “We’re very grateful to the
ACT Government and Tennis Australia for supporting this project and look forward to seeing the new tennis centre continue to take shape over the coming months,” he said. “This redevelopment will position the centre as one of the premier tennis venues in the country, capable of hosting top-level events and helping to drive participation in the sport.” Triffitt was joined by Australian tennis legends Todd Woodbridge and Wally Masur, as well as Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Minister for Sport and Recreation Shane Rattenbury on a tour of the tennis facilities taking shape.
of local, state and national events. You never know, this might be where we discover the next Wally Masur or even the next Nick Kyrgios.” The new tennis facility is funded by the ACT Government, Tennis ACT and Tennis Australia, and will feature eight Plexipave hard courts, 12 clay courts, four synthetic grass courts, four ANZ Tennis Hot Shots courts and an indoor tennis centre with four Plexipave hard courts.
Mr Rattenbury said the redevelopment would provide a major boost to the community.
An additional $3 million in Stage 2 funding was announced in the recent ACT Government budget, which will fund vital aspects of the project and allow works to run alongside Stage 1 of the project, providing a significant windfall in construction costs and minimising disruption to the site.
“The new tennis facilities will add more courts, improve playing surfaces and lighting, and deliver a central amenities pavilion as well as a new fourcourt indoor facility as part of the $7.15 million redevelopment,” he said.
The former National Sports Club courts launched the career of Wimbledon quarterfinalist and world No.69 Nick Kyrgios (19, ACT), who continues to use the venue as his training base when at home in Canberra.
“This facility will be the hub of tennis in the ACT and provide some wonderful event opportunities for the region, particularly with the 12 refurbished clay courts.
The redevelopment forms part of the all-new Next Generation Canberra, which will house indoor and outdoor swimming pools, relaxation areas, squash courts, a cafe, bar, bistro and lounge, and a 1500 square metre gym and exercise studios. The complex is expected to open midway through next year.
“When completed, these tennis facilities will provide a state-of-the-art destination for the community to enjoy and a great venue for a range
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PLAY BY THE RULES
to be good sports ENCOURAGING KIDS
WHAT IS SPORTSMANSHIP? SPORTSMANSHIP IS ABOUT BEHAVING IN A RESPECTFUL AND FAIR MANNER AND MAINTAINING A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDE. IT INCLUDES PLAYING ACCORDING TO THE RULES AND SPIRIT OF THE GAME AND BEING GRACIOUS WHEN WINNING OR LOSING. KIDS LEARN SPORTSMANSHIP FROM THE ADULTS AROUND THEM – PARENTS, COACHES AND ROLE MODELS. HOW CAN YOU INSTIL A SENSE OF SPORTSMANSHIP IN YOUR CHILD? Be a role model – offer praise and encouragement to all players including your child’s opposition. Never berate, tease or demean any child, coach or athlete. Limit giving directions – this is the role of the coach. Make sure you get along with the parents from your child’s team and their opposition. Encourage your child to support teammates – make sure your child never yells or berates team mates for mistakes they make. Instead teach them to encourage by calling out positive statements such as “nice try; good shot.” Encourage respect and courtesy – make sure you child shakes hands with the opposition after the game and thanks the referee and their coach. Keep your ego in check – a child’s sport should not be driven by the desires of the parent to create the next sports star. Manage your expectations and allow your child to play and have fun. Set rules and expectations – be clear about what behaviour you expect of your child and deal quickly with any inappropriate or unsportsmanlike
behaviour. Use examples that you see on television or live sport as an opportunity to discuss sportsmanship. Don’t dwell on the result – keep perspective and encourage your child to as well. Teach them to handle winning and losing with grace and class. Deal with your child if they taunt an opponent that they beat. Celebrate with respect – we see many examples of professional athletes celebrating a goal or try but showboating should not be encouraged in junior sport. Encourage your child to celebrate moments of success in an appropriate way that is not disrespectful to the game or the opponent. Have fun – this applies to the kids and to the parents. It should be a joy to watch your child play sport. Even if your child is not the star think about the host of physical, emotional and social benefits your child is gaining playing sport. For more information on encouraging sportsmanship visit playbytherules.net.au
SPORT & RECREATION SERVICES EDUCATION & TRAINING CALENDAR: AUGUST–OCTOBER 2014 Course
Delivery Date
Location
Time
Presenter/Facilitator Training Program
Monday 18 August
220 Northbourne Ave Braddon
9am– 5pm
A one-day workshop to equip attendees with the skills to deliver quality and effective coaching and officiating programs. Assessor Training
Thursday 25 September
220 Northbourne Ave Braddon
9am– 5pm
This program is aimed at people who assess sports coaches and officials. It will improve their skills in assessing competence, developing assessment tools and reviewing and validating assessments. Mentor Training
Friday 17 October
220 Northbourne Ave Braddon
9am– 5pm
This program aims to develop and enhance the skills of mentors working with coaches and officials both in the community and in high performance sporting environments. Registration forms can be found at: http://www.economicdevelopment.act.gov.au/sport_and_recreation/learn Or by emailing sport_act@act.gov.au
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RUGBY LEAGUE
BREAK OUT SEASON
for local junior by jackson russell 2014 MAY GO DOWN AS A SEASON SOME RAIDERS FANS WOULD LIKE TO FORGET, HOWEVER ALL FANS WILL TAKE SOLACE IN A BRIGHT FUTURE LED BY “HULKING” FORWARD PAUL VAUGHAN. While results have not often fallen in the Raiders favour this season, 2014 has been Vaughan’s break out year coming along in leaps and bounds, fast becoming a fan favourite and a key player for the Raiders this season and beyond. Paul made his first grade debut in round seven of the 2013 season and has established himself as key member of the first grade squad ever since. He has quickly earned a reputation as a hard running attacker and a tireless defender. This reputation saw him selected in the Italian side for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. An experience that has helped shaped a young Vaughan’s blossoming career. “It was a great experience, something that I was very fortunate to be a part of, I took a lot away from it. I learnt a lot from the older guys in the
my game. If that comes along in the future I will be more than happy with taking on that role.” A Raiders junior Paul played his childhood Rugby League at the Gungahlin Bulls and attended Erindale College. Coming through the ranks as a junior and playing for the Canberra Raiders first grade side is something that he is extremely proud of. squad, the Minichello brothers and Aiden Guerra in particular” said Vaughan. Hot off the back of the World Cup, Vaughan started the 2014 season in dominant fashion. This form did not go unnoticed as he earned selection into the Country side for the annual City v Country match in April. “That was a proud moment for me. Obviously my first rep jersey in Australia so it was very special.” Explained Vaughan. What is refreshing for Raiders fans is that Vaughan sees his future lying in Canberra. He has recently brought a house and hopes to be a future leader of the club. “Its not something I’m thinking of at the moment (future leadership), I’m just focusing on improving
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“It is an honor coming through the grades into the NRL. There’s not many of us local juniors at the club so it is something I am proud of. “Growing up I always wanted to play for the Raiders so to have that opportunity now is a great feeling.” The Canberra Raiders look at Vaughan as an integral part of the clubs future. This was perhaps best shown when he was choosen to be the face of Canberra’s Marvel Comic’s Hulk jersey along side four other NRL stars at their respective clubs. “It was a bit of fun.” Laughed Vaughan. “I copped a fair bit off the boys about it but its all good fun. The jersey sold really well which was good and everyone got behind it. It was just a shame that we couldn’t get the result on the day (defeated by Warriors 54–18).”
RUGBY LEAGUE
TOUCH FOOTBALL READY TO TAP OFF THE 2014 TOUCH FOOTBALL ACT SUPER LEAGUE COMPETITION OFFICIALLY TAPS OFF ON THURSDAY 2 OCTOBER WITH THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION SHAPING UP AS ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE IN RECENT YEARS. The South East Tigers are looking to build on their Men’s Super League debut in 2013, with the club’s inaugural Women’s side entered into this year’s competition. South East Tigers Women’s coach, Damian Prendergast said the Women’s side have formed some very good combinations throughout the Premier league competition and confidence amongst the group is high leading into their very first Super League. Current ACT All Stars players Cass Fisher and Jess O’Rourke have continued to develop and the Tigers have also been able to lure a number of former representative level players back to touch football during the off season. Tuggeranong Vikings appear to be the side to beat again in 2014 as they look to complete a hat trick of Super League titles while Canberra City are looking to re-establish themselves after narrowly missing out on last year’s grand final. The South East Tigers Men’s side are looking to build from their semi finals appearance in 2013 and have recruited a mix of up and coming juniors and a number of experienced players.
While 2014 has held many highlights for Vaughan. There is one moment that stands out above the rest for him. THAT try against the Melbourne storm in round seven to seal a come from behind win for the Raiders on a Sunday afternoon at GIO Stadium. “Yeah, that was a big moment, you know something you dream about. Melbourne are one of the leaders of the comp and to get a win like that over them at home was great. We rallied well as a team that day and I was lucky enough to be the one who came up with the try.” The coming 2015 season looks to be one of change for the Canberra Raiders, however one thing Raiders players and fans alike can expect is that Paul Vaughan will continue to grow and ensure his sides future will be brighter.
Men’s coach Geoff Perrin told PLAY “We’re feeling quite confident going into this season. 2013 was about establishing ourselves as a club and we believe we have the ability, the talent and the desire to have a chance at winning the competition in 2014”. Men’s player Luke Cookson added “There were no expectations on us in our first season but this year we know we can do much better. We’re confident that we can match it with any other team and we’ve been lucky to bring in a few experienced players who have played this level of touch before. We’re putting some pressure on ourselves but this year we need to believe we can win going into each game”. 2013 champions, Northern Phoenix will be looking to go back to back while 2012 winners Woden Eagles appear to have recruited well and could again challenge for the title. With the Touch Football World Cup just around the corner, the Super League will provide the last opportunity for a number of ACT players to push their claims for Australian selection. Visit acttouch.com.au for more information on the 2014 Touch Football ACT Super League.
RUGBY LEAGUE
NRL DRAFT BRING IT ON! THE NRL HAS COMMENCED NEGOTIATIONS TO BRING IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES IN ITS 106-YEAR HISTORY – A ROOKIE DRAFT.
“A draft is a mechanism to ensure the competition remains even in the future,” Smith said.
The system, as used by basically all American professional sport as well as the AFL here in Australia, is seen by many to be a great leveler within the competitions and a way for clubs to improve their situation “naturally” rather than forking out the big bucks to buy a premiership.
“We would want its design to reward those clubs which develop juniors, rather than having them taken away by big spending clubs which do little to foster junior talent.” Smith assured clubs with a strong junior base.
It is understood that the NRL have been researching the concept for six months and I personally believe it is an idea with much merit. Call me a sport nerd, but I love the spectacle of a draft, the anticipation of who will go number 1 and even who will be a top 10 pick. It gives die-hard fans something to contemplate (and talk about) in the offseason and also helps keep the sport itself on the front pages over the summer months. chief executive Dave Smith is a huge supporter LEFTNRL HAND PAGE ADD of the idea and confirmed the game’s governing body was exploring a number of different rookie draft models.
RIGHT HAND PAGE ADD
The most common argument against the Draft system is that it disadvantages clubs who concentrate heavier on developing local juniors. This concern is clearly understood by the NRL hierarchy.
One proposal currently on the board would allow these clubs, such as Penrith, Canberra, North Queensland and New Zealand the option of hand-picking their top five juniors. These players would be exempt from the draft, guaranteeing clubs with a history of producing strong talent get first crack at maintaining their best juniors. The other main argument against the draft is the perceived concern of teenagers having to move interstate and away from their families. Call me naïve but I, like many young Australians, moved interstate for study when I was 18 and managed to survive even without the benefit
of a six-figure salary and the support systems all clubs have in place to make the young players life as comfortable as possible. If you want to continue in a lucrative career you have to go where the work is. Once you’re established then you can then trade your way to your preferred city. The idea isn’t a new one. In 1991 the NRL implemented a draft system but it was overthrown as a restraint of trade when Terry Hill successfully challenged his move to the Roosters in the High Court. For the NRL to be successful with the draft system, they would need the full support of the Rugby League Players Association to cut a deal under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This might be the biggest hurdle to over come with player managers having unprecedented power over their clients and hence over the game itself. The move is guaranteed to divide some of the NRL’s most powerful figures, with clubs like South Sydney, Canberra, Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra all believed to be in favour of the move with Ricky Stuart recently saying “If the NRL is serious in wanting to help the team at the bottom in regards to an even spread of talent, they have to look at other measures than just the salary cap, because the salary cap doesn’t spread talent.’’
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“NEVER GIVE UP”
an interview with cricketer JONO DEAN
NEVER GIVE UP: IT’S THE MOTTO HIS DAD TAUGHT HIM AND IS TATTOOED ON HIS WRIST. IT’S ALSO A LESSON THAT JONO KEEPS CLOSE TO HEART, AS HIS CRICKETING CAREER GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH. HOWEVER, IT WASN’T ALWAYS THAT WAY. JONO HAS HAD HIS FAIR SHARE OF SETBACKS. HE SPEAKS TO MENSLINK CEO MARTIN FISK ABOUT HIS JOURNEY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CLOSE SUPPORT NETWORKS. Jono has played cricket pretty much all his life – it’s taken hard work and discipline on top of the obvious natural talent he has. His dad provided a great role model for him, teaching him those immortal words of “never give up” from an early age. What Jono had to learn by himself though, was that you need people around you – people you can rely on through tough times. Without those people, those support networks, it’s pretty easy to falter and give up. To show the level of commitment he had to the game and his career, you need to go back more than ten years to when Jono was a youngster studying for his HSC at Bathurst High. He not only studied hard, but also played 2nd grade for St George (a four hour drive away) and pulled down a part time job to pay for petrol. A typical week saw him study Mon-Thu at school. Friday would start at 2am at the local bakery then drive to Sydney for training at 10am. He’d play in the local comp on weekends, staying on the lounge room floor of teammates, before driving back on Sunday night to do it all again. After school finished, Jono moved to Sydney playing first grade. Everything seemed set for a glittering pathway to cricket stardom. Except
as Jono realises now, he didn’t realise how hard it would be without his support networks – his dad, family and close mates. After pushing himself so hard for so many years, the pressure and the isolation started to mount up. With nobody really close around him to talk to, his cricket started to falter. Life got tough and eventually Jono got to the point where he decided to chuck in cricket altogether. At first, the freedom was great – no early morning training sessions, no forced discipline. But after a while, the lack of purpose got to him. Cricket – and his family and friends – were what gave his life meaning. Without them, it became pretty empty, despite the freedom, and Jono started to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Luckily for him, the lessons of his dad never left him and he realised he couldn’t get out of the depression by himself. He turned back to his dad for advice, who encouraged him to go and see a counsellor. The counsellor helped show him the importance of goals but most importantly how he needed to keep his support networks around – a key factor in him moving to Canberra where his close childhood mates had now moved to.
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Of course the rest is history: An opening fifty in 2013’s PMXI game, an unbeaten 300 against Ginninderra the very next week and now firmly entrenched in the Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming season. He’s also now happily married with a great kid of his own. His message to young guys is to “give everything you’ve got into what you want to achieve. But make sure you’ve got good people around you – don’t ever think you can just get through life alone. Bottling things up just makes life, and sport, that much harder.” That’s certainly a message we believe in at Menslink.
Menslink has been supporting young guys for over ten years through our free counselling, volunteer mentoring and schools’ programs. In that time we’ve helped thousands of young men get through tough or lonely times and develop into responsible, productive and contributing adults. More info at menslink.org.au
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“WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT?” THE TEXT MESSAGE ON HER PHONE FINISHED WITH THREE WORDS THAT SENT REBECCA KELLEY WANDERING OFF DOWN A MEMORY TRAIL THAT DATED BACK TO THE YEAR 2000. As assistant coach of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Under 14 boys team in that year, she had been part of the team’s season that culminated with a trip to Townsville in far north Queensland for the Australian Club Championships. And it was her mum Di, having been that team’s manager, who was now texting the question that had to be asked, as the baby of that long forgotten team, Patty Mills, prepared to return home with the NBA Championship trophy. In all the wonderful hoopla that accompanied Patty’s return to Canberra, including the awarding of the Keys to the City, the story behind the story and the lessons it may hold still lie in wait to be absorbed by the next generation of youngsters and their parents. Kelley, now a deputy director in Canberra’s governmental machine and a mum to her own growing family, remembers a tiny youngster who was already moving to a different beat. “He was the first kid I’d ever seen wearing headphones as he wandered around and naturally I had to ask him just what he was listening to. He gave me a listen and I have to say that the rap I heard really wasn’t my thing and in fact wasn’t really something that most kids in Canberra were even aware existed at that time,” she explained. Despite being the youngest and smallest and not having much of playing role at that national tournament, Patty was the central team motivator and energy creator for the group, revealing for the first time possibly the origins of his world famous towel waving antics years later in San Antonio for the Spurs. “On the team bus he’d be standing up, singing and more often than not would have the whole team standing up rapping and dancing along. Here was the baby of the team who wasn’t playing much and yet he had a unique rapport with all the kids, on the bench he was constantly animated and vocal and at training he was going the whole time. “You wouldn’t have thought back then he was a kid going places. He was good but he wasn’t outstanding, but who knew what was ahead?” Kelley’s last honest reflection is part of a larger question that has produced an incalculable
amount of literature and theorising about just what is talent, whether it’s mostly down to nature or nurture and what exactly are the things we should be looking for that might indicate a tiny 11 year-old might one day scale the basketball world? By the next year Patty had started to blossom on the court and at a junior tournament hosted by key regional rivals the Illawarra Hawks, he began a rivalry with their star forward Daniel Jackson that would track all the way to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Australian Junior teams. Brad Luhrs who has a been a seemingly constant figure over the past fifteen years in Canberra junior basketball was Patty’s coach at that event for the first time. “You could tell he was a clear standout at that level then,” Luhrs said, “as was Jackson for Illawarra, though he way taller and bigger. “Patty was quick and he had great ball handling skills but if you’d asked me then, I would have thought the other kids would eventually catch up or that he’d slow down.” Within a couple of years Patty was the point guard general for the ACT Under 16 team and had begun to draw the interest of national talent identification coaches who were part of the now disbanded Intensive Training Centre (ITC) across the country. Naturally Patty had also attracted the attention of other sports, and as well as setting and still holding almost every junior record at suburban Woden’s Little Athletics club, he dabbled in Australian Rules football alongside his basketball. Jason Denley was Patty’s coach for the ACT team that contested the Under 16 National Championships in 2003, Patty still being 14 and a year younger than most of the players at the event at the time.
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“He was small, incredibly fast and utterly fearless and for a kid with such athletic talent and I was most surprised by his lack of ego,” Denley said. “He never complained to referees and somehow he seemed to be someone that his teammates and opponents both admired for the endless energy and passion he brought to every play.” ESPN’s Sports columnist Bill Simmons has long held a view that every successful franchise needs a team “Chemist” to keep everyone happy and connected and along those exact lines Patty was continuing to expand his role as the supreme on and off court motivator. “There was a group in our large boys and girls ITC training sessions that Patty used to be one of the leaders of, and in the warm up stretching they would launch into singing that they had obviously choreographed some time before,” Luhrs remembered. “Amazingly James Taylor’s ‘How sweet it is to be loved by you’ is the one that sticks in my head and to hear 14 and 15 year old boys harmonising and chiming in at coordinated spots at the top of their voices might have been something other coaches wouldn’t have tolerated. Somehow though that sort of comfortability as a group and self-confidence was their calling card and at the end of the day how can you not want that?” An invitation to his first Australian Junior Camp followed soon after 2003’s Nationals and as that camp stretched across an age range from 14 to 17 Patty was once more the smallest and youngest fish in a pond that was becoming increasingly concentrated. At the camp Patty was one of the two standouts guard prospects along with Victoria’s Scott Pendlebury, who would famously eventually choose Australian rules football over basketball thus clearing the way for Patty to start on scholarship at the AIS.
PATTY MILLS: THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
with his basketball career was like a grain of sand on the beach, he’s always remembered me and is always quick with the ‘G’day Rebecca!’ and a chat. I guess it’s part of his personality, he’s a nice guy and he’s not just going to be a great athlete, he’s going to be a leader in his own way like the Cathy Freeman of this generation.”
Brain Goorjian was at that time the new Australian Boomers Head Coach following on from the team’s disastrous qualifying loss to New Zealand that had scuttled 2002’s World Championship plans and he was front and centre at that camp to see what the next generation had in store for the program. “Within the first half hour of Goorjian arriving on the floor there was one kid that he used exclusively to demonstrate every defensive and offensive drill,” Denley recalled.
Gorris has been in regular touch with Patty since he first left for St Mary’s College in 2007 and commented how much he hasn’t changed despite the time away and the constant spotlight.
“Paaaatty get out here, delivered in a rolling Californian twang, was pretty much the chorus for the camp and despite being so young, Patty was clearly already some sort of leader by the dint of his sheer energy and joy for each task and endless clapping and hollering for anyone and anything he or the group came across.”
“He’s matured and grown up a little bit from worldly experience but deep down it’s still, the same Pat, still very much about the family, still very much about everyone else.” he said.
Whatever Goorjian identified in the tiny youngster turned out to be prescient, as Patty eventually became part of his national team plans and found his way to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Shortly after that camp Patty moved from his temporary pathway home at the ACT Academy of Sport to the AIS on a full time basis but still maintained his role as the spiritual leader of the ACT junior teams he continued to play for at National championships. “My overriding memory is of his infectious energy, the talk and support that just never waned,” Luhrs recalled from his later time as ACT Under 18s Head Coach. “And this was with him as the star of the team and it was obvious this wasn’t just something he discovered when he was sitting on the bench. It was part of him.” At the AIS Patty bought all his familiar calling cards into play as then Men’s Assistant Coach Paul Gorris confirmed. “You’d watch him play and he was super quick and talented but when you think back then about the idea of the NBA you never could have imagined it,” he said. “I was lucky enough to also be coaching the ACT Under 20 team back then and the thing that sticks with me is just how humble he was around the group. He was our big ticket item, with everything run around him and all his team mates knew that, yet he was always mindful of involving them. He was playing with his mates he’d been with since they were 11 or 12 and they were quite happy to defer to him as needed, but somehow he was able to keep things so that it was never about him.”
Patty image caption goes here The all singing and dancing Patty was still very much in evidence in those team and Gorris’ favourite memory of those teams inevitably gravitates back to the off-court feel of the group Patty inspired. “Back the there was an unwritten rule that I’d drive the 12-seater van to the stadium for each game and everyone would sing along to whatever sort of weird music the team had selected to prepare with. Naturally it was Patty and his cousin, Luke Currie-Richardson, (now not surprisingly a dancer with the world famous Bangarra Indigenous company) who would be leading the chorus up the front of the van. Coming into Ballarat stadium with the whole bus rocking along in full voice is something I never grow tired of remembering.” For an outsider looking in, the overriding question would have be to just how did this diminutive youngster with electric speed, a solid skill package, a still developing shooting stroke and seemingly unquenchable faith in the power of positive encouragement eventually make it in arguably the world’s single most challenging athletic league? Rebecca Kelley recalled running into Patty on occasions around the AIS years after her involvement with the Under 14s. “He was always one of those people you have touch points with and though my involvement
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In the back end of 2011 during the NBA lockout Patty played nine games for the Melbourne Tigers before a forgettable stint in China and his rescue by the Spurs early in 2012. He was four or five in line on San Antonio’s guard depth rotation then, yet something about him and his approach to that situation or challenge separated him. To watch Greg Popovich’s (San Antonio’s Head Coach) grizzly visage turn sunny side up every time Patty and his side line support antics were mentioned in interviews during ensuing years, is in itself truly amazing. Is it possible that the natural talent of selflessness and never-ending positive energy is actually way more powerful and valuable than any analyst can put a finger on? Are the tendencies Patty displayed way back in 2000 as a 12 year-old in Townsville the sort of things talent identifiers should be more heavily factoring in? Are team “Chemists” as Simmons like to call them, a species all to themselves that someone should be tracking or nurturing? Fittingly Daniel Jackson, Patty’s regional rival from those heady junior days has now migrated to Canberra as one of the centre-pieces of the city’s semi-professional team, and trying to size up exactly how Patty has been able to do what he’s done thus far is maybe best left to him. “I’ve known him since he was 12 and never heard anyone say anything but what a great guy he is… not that he’s a nice enough guy or a good guy, but a great guy.” he offered, “and when that’s the case there’s no doubt it’s easier to succeed as everyone in your team is in your corner and pulling for you to be good.”
ACTEWAGL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER EVENTS CALENDAR Week 1: 11-17 AUGUST NPL
Tuggeranong United V Woden Valley. Kambah 2. 3pm Monaro V FFA. Riverside Stadium. 3pm
NEAFL
Belconnen V Southport. Kippax Oval. 10.45am QBN Tigers V Ainslie. Dairy Farmers Park. 2pm
WPL
ACTAS V Weston Molonglo. Kaleen. 2pm Tuggeranong United V Canberra Olympic. Kambah 2. 2pm Belconnen United V ANU. McKellar Park. 2pm Monaro Panthers V Canberra FC. Riverside Stadium. 2pm
Saturday 16/08
Sunday 17/08
NPL
Cooma V Belconnen United. Nijong Oval. 3pm Canberra Olympic V Canberra City. O’Connor 1. 3pm
Week 4: 1 -7 SEPTEMBER
Saturday 6/09
GRID
Tornadoes V Firebirds. Griffith Oval. 10am Spears V Wildcats. Griffith Oval. 12.45pm Gladiators V Centurions. Griffith Oval. 3.30pm
NRC
UC Vikings V Queensland Country. Viking Park. 2.30pm
Week 5: 8 -14 SEPTEMBER Saturday 13/09
GRID
Week 6: 15-21 SEPTEMBER
Week 2: 18-24 AUGUST Tuesday 19/08
WPL
Tuggeranong United V Canberra FC. Deakin Stadium. 7pm
Wednesday 20/08
WPL
ANU V ACTAS. Hawker Football Centre. 8pm
Friday 22/08
GRID
Centurions V Wildcats. UC Ovals. 6.30pm
NEAFL
Ainslie V Belconnen. Alan Ray Oval. 2pm QBN Tigers V Eastlake. Dairy Farmers Park. 2pm
NRC
UC Vikings V Perth Spirit. Viking Park. 2.30pm
Saturday 23/08
GRID
Firebirds V Gladiators. Griffith Oval. 10am Spears V Tornadoes. Griffith Oval. 12.30pm
WPL
Weston Molonglo V Monaro Panthers. ANU 2. 2pm Canberra Olympic V Belconnen United. O’Connor. 2pm
Sunday 24/08 NPL
FFA V Tuggeranong. AIS Grass Fields. 3pm Canberra FC V Canberra Olympic. Deakin Stadium. 3pm Canberra City V Cooma. Gungahlin Enclosed. 3pm Belconnen United V Monaro. McKellar Park. 3pm
Week 3: 25-31 AUGUST
SEC0414/04
ActewAGL Retail ABN 46 221 314 841.
Saturday 30/08
GRID
Centurions V Spears. Griffith Oval. 10am Gladiators V Tornadoes. Griffith Oval. 12.45pm Firebirds V Wildcats. Griffith Oval. 3.30pm
Wildcats V Gladiators. Griffith Oval. 10am Tornadoes V Centurions. Griffith Oval. 12.45pm Spears V Firebirds. Griffith Oval. 3.30pm
Thursday 18/09
CYC
National Capital Tour Team Presentation National Convention Centre. 5pm
Friday 19/09
CYC
National Capital Tour Individual Time Trial Women: 10am. Men:12pm
GRID
Gladiators V Spears. Griffith Oval. 10am Firebirds V Centurions. Griffith Oval. 12.45pm Wildcats V Tornadoes. Griffith Oval. 3.30pm
CYC
National Capital Tour Road Race Women: 7.30am. Men 1.30pm
CYC
National Capital Tour Lake Burley Griffin Road Race Women: 7.30am. Men 1.30pm
CYC
National Capital Tour 104.7 Criterium Women: 1.50pm. Men 3pm
Saturday 20/09
Sunday 21/09
All details correct at time of printing NEAFL: North East Australian Football League NPL: National Premier League / WPL: Womens Premier League GRID: Gridiron / NRC: National Rugby Competition CYC: Cycling
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BASKETBALL
NOT OUT by carly wilson
HER STORY READS LIKE A TYPICAL HOLLYWOOD SCRIPT. WE’VE ALL SEEN THE MOVIE – A BUDDING STAR ATHLETE IS STRUCK DOWN WITH A DEBILITATING INJURY, TRAGICALLY BRINGING A PROMISING SPORTING CAREER TO AN ABRUPT END. IT’S A FAMILIAR TALE, BUT EVEN HOLLYWOOD MIGHT FIND JESSICA BIBBY’S STORY A LITTLE FAR FETCHED. This year’s Women’s National Basketball League season opener sees the UC Capitals take on the Melbourne Boomers in Bibby’s 350th game. While it’s an outstanding achievement, only when you have heard her story can you truly appreciate the magnitude of the milestone. Watching Bibby play, you are instantly struck by her energy. As a teammate I am constantly amazed by her relentless work ethic and her ability to lift those around her. Had I not seen it with my own eyes I’m not sure I would believe her story was true.
burning sensation, sought physio treatment and thought nothing more of it. The tweak was far more serious than she realised. After some pain and stiffness, Bibby began waking in the night with shooting pains down her legs. “It was reasonably horrific,” Bibby recalls. “It resulted in an ambulance being called to Madison Square Garden during a training session.” Scans revealed 2 herniated discs and severe nerve damage. Team Doctors advised she might require surgery.
As a junior basketballer in Melbourne, I knew the name Jess Bibby from a very young age. At 13 I joined an intensive training program of which Bibby was a member of. She was 16 and already playing in the WNBL for the Dandenong Rangers. I couldn’t have been more in awe of her. She was fast, dynamic and a prolific scorer with talent I could only dream of.
She pushed on, returning to Australia to be a pivotal part of Dandenong’s 2000/2001 season. After the season though, she then went back to the WNBA in what she describes as “a ridiculous amount of pain.”
Bibby received the WNBL Rookie of the Year award in 1996 and was selected in the Australian Opals squad soon after. In 2000 she was drafted to the New York Liberty to play in the worlds best basketball league the WNBA.
In the first session she dove on the floor to get a loose ball and couldn’t get up.
She was 20 years old and had already achieved what many basketballers only imagine. Just like in the movies, things were too good to be true. Just prior to leaving for the USA, Bibby tweaked her back during a weights session. She felt a
“I was nervous because I knew I was in strife. I could hardly walk let alone get through a 5 hour a day training camp.
“I knew immediately I was in trouble. I remember thinking it’s going to be a while before I can move again.” Her prediction was correct; it would be years before she could properly move again. For the next 18 months, Bibby underwent 2 hours of treatment every day with renowned Physiotherapist Amanda Bernsten. “My Grandpa would drive me an hour and a half
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to my appointment and an hour and a half home while I lay on the backseat,” Bibby says. “I couldn’t sit, I couldn’t cough or sneeze, I couldn’t even tie my shoelace.” Bibby was initially told she was too young for surgery but after 2 years of conservative treatment and constant pain, it was the only option left. She was to undergo a Spinal Fusion, an operation that as the name suggests, fused her 2 internally ruptured discs together. Before this could occur, Doctors performed a Discogram, an arthroscopic-type procedure to test the discs responsible for the pain. The results showed even more damage than expected. To get any relief she needed 3 discs to be fused, but doing so would mean she would no longer be able to walk. “It was my 23rd birthday when they told me the only thing that could help me was an operation that would leave me in a wheel chair,” she says. With surgery no longer an option, Doctors recommended she spend the next 12 months in a pain management clinic where she could be taught how to live with the pain. “I cried for a long time. We had tried everything we could and we had run out of options. I kept thinking how am I supposed to live my life?” Bernsten however was not taking no for an answer. “Mandy told me straight away ‘we’re not giving up, we’ll figure out what to do next.’ She was amazing,” Bibby says. Bernsten set about doing just that. She investigated every alternative while still treating Bibby daily. They explored a possible Discectomy to relieve the pressure on Bibby’s spinal cord but her discs were too damaged for this to be effective. She tried medication, swimming, dry needling anything to manage the incapacitating injury. Finally in 2003, Bernsten found a Doctor who was performing experimental spinal surgery in Sydney. She secured an appointment and Bibby was on the next flight.
BASKETBALL
“IT WAS MY 23RD BIRTHDAY WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE ONLY THING THAT COULD HELP ME WAS AN OPERATION THAT WOULD LEAVE ME IN A WHEEL CHAIR” “He examined me and asked if it was ok if he brought half a dozen medical students in to have a look at me. He was confident and I knew right then and there everything was going to be ok.’ The surgery was not without it’s downsides. The experimental procedure, called an Intradiscal Electrothermal Annuloplasty, would cost $35,000. It was everything she had saved from her time in the WNBA, but Bibby didn’t hesitate. “I flew up [to Sydney] and caught the train to my hotel next door to the hospital. I flew home the morning after the surgery in a hip to chest brace.” She spent the best part of the next 5 months lying on her back but was able to stand with the support of the brace. Sitting was out of the question. When the brace was removed 6 months post surgery she essentially had to retrain herself to walk again. “I didn’t feel like I could walk without it, I couldn’t remember how to. My first goal was to be able to walk 1 lap around an oval.” Miraculously, just 1 year after surgery Bibby was back training. She even returned to play some of the 2003/2004 WNBL season, winning the Championship with Dandenong. “I was playing again and it was great but my back was still bad. I remember thinking am I ever going to feel connected again?’ she says.
Once again she battled through. Despite missing some games the following season her body was improving. She started to play like the Bibby of old, scoring 47 points in a single game and breaking the WNBL record. She won the back-to-back Championship with Dandenong and was again selected in the Australian squad. “My back was feeling good. I was playing well, I was back in the Opals, things were back on track,” Bibby recalls. She had achieved the unthinkable. She faced the hardest of set backs and fought her way back to the top. It was the perfect ending to the story. But the story wasn’t over. At Opals camp in 2006 Bibby found herself back at square one. “All I did was bend over to pick up a ball and my back went. I couldn’t move. It was devastating,” she says. A fracture in Bibby’s neck lead to a diagnosis of the arthritic condition Ankylosing Spondylitis. Bibby tried everything to relieve her pain. She endured bouts of chemotherapy and began taking anti-depressants to dull her nervous system. “It got so bad I couldn’t remember what it was like not to hurt.” Doctors advised she would once again require spinal surgery. She underwent a Nuclear Plasty,
an operation that removed the nucleus from her damaged discs. It was a long 3-month recovery where Bibby struggled to function normally. “Everyone said I was a fool to consider playing again, they told me to just get my life back,” she says. Against their advice, she managed to play the last few games of the 2005/2006 WNBL season. The comeback took its toll and she decided it was time to consider pulling the pin and finally giving her body a break. However, a call from Canberra Capitals coach Carrie Graf sparked Bibby’s interest. “I went to Canberra to check out the program and had signed my contract by the end of the day. I decided I would get through 1 final year of playing then return to Melbourne for life after basketball.” 1 year turned in to 2, and 2 in to 3. This season will be Bibby’s 9th with the club and she has already signed on to play her 10th. “Every year I feel fitter and stronger. I owe a lot to Graff y, she never questioned my body, never had any reservation on what I could do,” she says. “Canberra gave me the opportunity to escape being the back victim. I needed a new start and I found that here.” Now, after 2 surgeries and numerous seasons on the sidelines, Bibby will become one of the elite few to play 350 WNBL games. “I was on 111 games when I first got injured and for a long time I didn’t think I would reach 112. Through it all, basketball was the light at the end of the tunnel, the pot of gold driving me to keep going and to get better.” Signing a 2-year deal puts the record for the all-time most WNBL games played in her sights. The record is a staggering 377 games but I can’t see it standing for long. If Bibby puts her mind to beating it, there is nothing that can stop her. Now that you know her story I am sure you will agree.
RUGBY UNION
STATE OF PLAY:
injuries hit hard and regularly in a gallant brumbies season by brett mckay France, of which the reconstruction will likely keep him out of rugby until the early rounds of Super Rugby in 2015. On Test debut in the same match, lock Sam Carter picked up an ankle injury early and played for another 70-odd minutes in a player’s player performance that earned him instant respect within the Wallabies environment. The France series also knocked Matt Toomua and McCabe around, with both missing the first Super Rugby game on the resumption, in which the Brumbies were forced to take on their Waratah arch-rivals while missing more than ten regulars. That loss, 39-8 at Homebush, would be the one that essentially ended the Brumbies’ chances of topping the Australian conference. Instead, the ‘Tahs took top spot in the conference and overall, and milked the home crowd support until the Super Rugby cup was in their hands. But despite the injuries, 2014 and particularly the latter part of 2014 will go down as the point in time where the Brumbies evolved from the Jake White gameplan that had brought such a dramatic turnaround in the club’s fortunes in just two years.
THE PAIN OF THE SEMI-FINAL LOSS IN SYDNEY WILL STILL BE RAW FOR SOME TIME, AND THE FACT THEY WERE BEATEN BY THE EVENTUAL SUPER RUGBY CHAMPIONS MAY OFFER LITTLE CONSOLATION, BUT THE BRUMBIES SHOULD STILL MARK SEASON 2014 DOWN AS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
Though they averaged slightly less than three tires per game all year, the Brumbies scored 13 tries in their last three outings, with a rediscovery of their attacking intent that had fans daring to dream of the glory years at numerous times during the season, most noticeably wins over the Blues and Chiefs, and the Waratahs in the early rounds, and the Western Force, both in Perth and in Canberra.
Unfortunately, injuries form the major part of the season post-mortems. It’s debateable if the Brumbies ever saw their genuinely first-choice team take the field this year, and when all the injuries are listed, it’s a wonder they got anywhere near the Finals Series.
Toomua still has that brutal (but legal) Butch James defence that White added to his game, but now he has the Stephen Larkham attacking polish, too. The sight of the Brumbies No.10 jersey ghosting through gaps that weren’t really there was one of the highlights of the season, just as it was a decade ago.
First it was the heartbreak of David Pocock suffering a repeat of the serious knee injury that killed off most of 2013. Having played only three games last season, Pocock was struck down in just the second game of 2014, against the Western Force in Perth. Worse than that, Pat McCabe was taken to hospital in a neck brace in the same game with what was feared to be yet another recurrence of the neck injury that had twice previously kept him out of rugby. At the time, there were genuine fears if McCabe would – or should – play again.
That he was back playing only a month or so later still beggars belief now, even more so when you consider he went on to hit a vein of arguably career-best form which saw him return for the Wallabies in the June series against France. Tragically though, McCabe fractured his spine against the All Blacks in Auckland, and has since called time on his career. Henry Speight (broken jaw), Stephen Moore (minor knee), and Joe Tomane (cheekbone) were the next to be hit by the evident curse that was sweeping the side, with the three of them out for between one and eight weeks. Then, more heartbreak. Just minutes into his first game as the Wallabies new and potentially long-term captain, Moore went down with a serious knee injury in the First Test against
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Perhaps most importantly, and even despite all the injuries, the best news out of 2014 was that so many of the young stars who have become Wallabies have elected to stay in Canberra for the immediate future. Under salary cap concerns, there was a real worry that wouldn’t be possible, but sure enough, the first couple re-signed, and they all fell in behind. It’s like they know they’re onto something special in the Capital, and they all want to see it through. And that’s wonderful news for Brumbies fans.
RUGBY UNION
a u s t r a l i a’s n a t i o n a l r u g b y
CHAMPIONSHIP SET TO BRIDGE THE LONG-NEGLECTED GAP
BACK IN THE APRIL ISSUE, WE BROUGHT YOU THE NEWS OF THE AUSTRALIA RUGBY UNION’S SECOND ATTEMPT AT ESTABLISHING THE LONGOVERDUE PROFESSIONAL THIRD TIER OF THE GAME, WITH THE NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TO COMPLETE THE MISSING PIECE IN THE PATHWAY FROM CLUB TO SUPER RUGBY, AND ONTO THE WALLABIES.
REMAINING 2014 HOME GAMES
NSW Country Eagles: Coached by well-travelled club coach Darren Coleman, and in partnership with the Country Rugby Union and Sydney clubs Eastern Suburbs and Randwick. The Eagles will play their four games at Coogee Oval in Sydney, then head to Lismore, Orange, and Dubbo. Squad includes 15 players with Super Rugby experience, including Brumbies hooker Josh Mann-Rea, and winning Waratahs Kane Douglas, Stephen Hoiles, and Mitchell Chapman. Wallabies include Adam Ashley-Cooper, Sekope Kepu, and Brumbies 9–10 combo Nic White and Matt Toomua.
The NRC will be played over 11 weeks, running from August 21 through to the first weekend in November. Nine teams – including the UC Vikings have been confirmed, playing four home and four away games plus a bye, with the top four teams progressing to a Finals series. Essentially, Super Rugby players – minus those on Wallabies duty, with The Rugby Championship running at the same time – will be joined throughout the nine clubs by the best of the club ranks around the country, with the NRC filling that ever-increasing gap between the tiers of rugby in Australia. Here’s a quick run through the nine NRC teams: University of Canberra Vikings: Coached by highly regarded Brumbies assistant coach Dan McKellar. Fotu Auelua will lead the University of Canberra Vikings as Captain in 2014, flanked by Vice-Captains Jarrad Butler and Robbie Coleman. The leadership group also extends to Wallaby Jesse Mogg and MacDougall Medallist, Tim Cree. The UC Vikings will play out of Viking Park in Erindale. Brisbane City: Coached by Queensland Reds forwards coach Nick Stiles, and captained by former Australia Under-20s Captain, and current Reds flanker, Curtis Browning. Will play out of Ballymore Oval in Brisbane, and have Will Genia and James Horwill as their allocated Wallabies. Includes upwards of a dozen Reds players, including Quade Cooper, Jake Schatz, Ben Tapuai and Lachie Turner.
Greater Sydney Rams: Coached by long-term Sydney club mentor, former Waratahs assistant and Western Sydney Rams coach in 2007, Brian Melrose. The Rams will play out of Parramatta Stadium, and have five allocated Wallabies: Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Tatafu-Polota- Nau, and Brumbies Ben Alexander and Tevita Kuridrani. 33-man squad includes current Waratahs Ben Volavola, and giant winger Taqele Naiyaravoro. Melbourne Rising: Coached by Melbourne Rebels assistant Sean Hedger, and playing out of AAMI Park in Melbourne. Scott Higginbotham and Luke Jones are their allocated Wallabies, and the Rebels-based squad includes 15 players selected from the Dewar Shield competition in Melbourne. North Harbour Rays: Coached by current Gordon coach, Geoff Townsend, and playing out of Brookvale Oval on Sydney’s northern beaches. Squad includes 25 players from the dominant Manly and Warringah clubs, plus seven more from Gordon and Northern Suburbs. Allocated Wallabies include Manly players Wycliff Palu current Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper, plus ex-Warringah and current Brumbies flanker, Scott Fardy.
Perth Spirit: Western Force assistants Kevin Foote and Dave Wessels have been named as joint coaches of the Spirit, who will play three games around Perth, and one in Adelaide as the Australian Rugby Union looks to promote the game in South Australia. 20 non-Force contracted players were included in an initial squad of 40, which is great for the local game in Western Australia. Allocated Wallabies include Nathan Charles, Matt Hodgson, Pek Cowan, and Ben McCalman. Queensland Country: Coached by Queensland attack coach Steve Meehan, and captained by former Brumby, Anthony Fainga’a. Will play out of the Gold Coast and one game in Townsville, and have Rob Simmons and James Slipper as their allocated Wallabies. 17 players within the squad where either born or brought up in Country Queensland or have passed through the Queensland Country pathways, and they have a dozen Reds-contracted players, including Greg Holmes, Beau Robinson and Saia Fainga’a. Sydney Stars: Coached by Sydney University mentor Chris Malone, and with Waratahs flanker Pat McCutcheon leading the side, the Stars will play out of Leichhardt Oval in Sydney. The Stars have named a squad with Israel Folau, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, and Will Skelton as their allocated Wallabies, and upwards of a dozen current Super Rugby players.
HORSE RACING
AROUND THE TRACK NEW PRIZE MONEY AND A TURF TRACK RENOVATION SETS UP RACING FOR A GREAT SPRING THIS YEAR AT THOROUGHBRED PARK. The dedication and hard work of the team for the upkeep of the Course Proper at Thoroughbred Park, allowed for racing to continue through the exceptionally wet winter months. Following an extensive renovation this will pay off in the next few months when the warmer weather returns with new growth not only on the track but in the prize money offered to winning owners, which Chief Executive Peter Stubbs hopes will see strong line-ups and quality racing over the new 2014/2015 season. “The prize money increase will be distributed over the races that are currently paid at $15,000 or below. Mr Stubbs said. “The break up for $16,000 races is: 1st $10,000; 2nd $3,200; 3rd $1,600; 4th $800; 5th $400. The increase provides for the payment of $400 for fifth place, at the previous prize money levels prize money was only paid to fourth place. The increase is consistent with the Canberra Racing Club’s commitment of improving returns to race horse owners and improving the overall racing product”.
Kicking off their spring campaigns are the likes of Matt Dale’s Jacinta, who will be targeted at black type races including the Mona Lisa stakes in Wyong Friday 5 September. The now 5yo won at Randwick last preparation. Nick Olive will start his 3rd attempt for three consecutive Premiership wins with the return of Rose of Falvelon. The impressive mares’ win in the Barlens Camarena 1000m on Black Opal Stakes Day and wins in Canberra in her last preparation show she is a very progressive horse from a limited amount of starts with over $145,000 in prize money won so far. Nick has won the Trainers Premiership 6 times throughout his training career at Canberra. Just a Blur trained by the Joseph Jones Racing stables will resume at their annual race day on 12 September. The 4 year old mare won the Wagga Guineas and an incredible 4th in the Scone Guineas and she will be heading to Melbourne to target the Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington. The new Canberra Racing Club webpage has been developed with the punter top of mind. Well known ex-jockey and tipster extraordinaire John Scorse will give the inside scoop on each race at Canberra along with details on runners and best bets. The website is also supported by a facebook page with real time information on race days.
Upcoming meetings at the Club include the 8th annual ACTTAB Tony Campbell Memorial Cup Race Day on Friday 26 September – a fantastic day of racing with the $30,000 ACTTAB Tony Campbell Memorial Cup and the inclusion of the Premiership Awards held in the official luncheon. The luncheon itself is a bevy of business types and is one of the must attend networking events on the calendar. The YouthCare Canberra Race Day, incorporating the Students Race Day on Friday 10 October. This day is well attended by Canberra’s University students and includes the Westfield Fashions on the field competition and live music. You can also book into the official luncheon to raise money for Charity. Exciting times ahead for Spring Racing at Thoroughbred Park and for the racing industry in the Capital. The traditional ACTTAB Melbourne Cup Race day corporate packages are now on offer online and memberships to the Club are also available with fantastic savings and benefits that far outweigh the small membership fee. For more information visit thoroughbredpark.com.au
FITNESS
MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN STARTING OUT: PART 1
THE OVERNIGHT OVERHAUL by alan romero • advancedperformancecoaching.com.au
SO IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU QUIT THE LOCAL LEAGUE, AND YOU’VE BEEN GETTING A LITTLE SOFT AROUND THE MIDDLE, ONE DAY YOU ALMOST HAVE A SEVERE CARDIAC EVENT WALKING UP THE STAIRS AT WORK AND YOU DECIDE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. TODAY IS THE DAY YOU TURN IT ALL AROUND! (NO… MONDAY. MONDAY IS THE DAY YOU TURN IT ALL AROUND!) So what do you do? You throw out all the junk food in the cupboard, you go out and buy a new $300 pair of runners, and fill the fridge full of chicken breast and fresh veggies. Monday morning you hit the ground running (pun intended). You wake up bright and early to start your new exercise regimen, you take a packed lunch to work, you are full of energy and motivation, you feel great, you should have done this years ago! Tuesday rolls around, and things take a turn for the worse. You snoozed your alarm 9 times, now you don’t have time to get that exercise in, you also don’t have any food prepared for the day so you grab a sausage roll from the servo on your way to work. You buy something from the café for lunch and by the afternoon you feel lethargic and defeated. Wednesday morning comes and you wonder who you were kidding to think you could turn it all
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around overnight, you are disappointed in yourself for not sticking to the plan and you think maybe this whole thing isn’t for you. This sordid tale is all too common in the industry, trying to completely overhaul your lifestyle over the course of a few days is not likely to stick. The changes are too many and too drastic, and when something inevitably doesn’t go to plan (life gets in the way) it’s very easy to feel like you have bitten off more than you can chew. Instead, take a gradual approach and focus on creating a solid habit before moving on to the next goal. Instead of going from zero activity to trying to run 5k every day, try committing to going for a walk 3–4 times a week, if you can manage that for 3 weeks, you can upgrade that goal or move on to a different area.
Instead of telling yourself that “this is the last Big Mac meal ever” try just being 100% on point with your food on the weekdays, and have a few treats on the weekend (note: a FEW treats does not mean a heist at the Krispy Kreme factory.) Wrapping up: Gradual changes are much more likely to become permanent; they also signal that you are committing to a long term lifestyle change and not some quick fix to get that ‘beach body’ by next weekend. An average nutrition and exercise plan executed for 6 months will yield far better results than a fantastic plan executed for only 2 weeks. The bottom line is that the most important thing when it comes to achieving your health and fitness goals, is consistency. Until next time…
GOOD SPORTS
GOOD SPORTS SEES SUPPORT FROM ACT SPORTS AUSTRALIA HAS A LONG AND ENTRENCHED RELATIONSHIP WITH ALCOHOL. TRADITIONALLY, ALCOHOL HAS BEEN DRUNK IN SPORTS CLUBS TO CELEBRATE WINS, COMMISERATE LOSSES AND AS THE DRINK OF CHOICE FOR SPECTATORS CHEERING ON THEIR TEAM. But let’s not forget the harm that alcohol causes. According to new research, alcohol causes 15 deaths and hospitalises 430 Australians every day. The Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program works in communities to make sports clubs safe and healthy through the responsible management of alcohol – and the program is now gaining significant support from ACT sporting bodies wanting to shift the focus off drinking and back onto sport. Capital Football Business Manager Sam Irvine says that Good Sports is helping clubs ensure excessive drinking doesn’t play a role in sport. “Capital Football has found the Good Sports program to be of great value to our local clubs. Through educating clubs on different fundraising opportunities that don’t involve alcohol, as well as identifying the benefits of further establishing themselves as community based clubs, this program has helped to strengthen a number of clubs.” With ACT one of the few places in Australia not to yet ban smoking around sporting grounds, Good Sports also helps clubs manage smoke-free environments. Two of Capital Football’s clubs reaping the benefits are the Monaro Panthers and Yass Football Clubs. Monaro President Simon France said that having a nationally consistent approach to alcohol in sport is vital. “It’s important to develop a culture across our whole community that ensures alcohol and
sport are not an immediate association. Our range of ages also provides a great opportunity for our older players to be modelling responsible practices.” Drew Gallagher, President of Yass Football Club agrees “the program is of particular importance for our younger players as they strive to achieve their dreams and be just like our top sports people. Without good role models this would not be possible.” Debbie Simms, Good Sports Regional Manager for the ACT, said breaking the link between alcohol and sport is important. “We’d like to thank all of the ACT sporting associations endorsing the program including AFL NSW/ACT, Baseball Canberra, Basketball ACT, Brumbies Rugby, Canberra Region Rugby League, Capital Football, Hockey ACT, Softball ACT and Volleyball ACT.” Good Sports is supported by the ACT Government under the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program. For more information visit goodsports.com.au
> TAILORED PERFORMANCE COACHING > STRENGTH & CONDITIONING PROGRAMS > HOLISTIC NUTRITION & TRAINING REGIMESS www.advancedperformancecoaching.com.au
MOUNTAIN BIKE WEEKENDS
LAKE CRACKENBACK RESORT & SPA LOCATED ON THE BORDER OF THE KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK, LAKE CRACKENBACK RESORT & SPA IS A NATURAL PLAYGROUND NESTLED IN THE THREDBO VALLEY SURROUNDED BY THE SPECTACULAR SNOWY MOUNTAINS. This summer, Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa will be hosting Supported Mountain Bike Weekends to showcase the great mountain biking trails that can be found in the Snowy Mountains. The dates for the mountain bike weekends are 5 – 7 December 2014 & 27 – 29 March 2015. The snowy mountains region is renowned for its quality and variety of mountain bike trails. You will get the most out of your stay in the mountains with the expert local knowledge of your experienced and qualified local guides who will ride with the group throughout the weekends. You will enjoy the advantage of local knowledge in exploring the best of the best trails in and around Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa as well as in the Kosciuszko National Park, the Thredbo area and the surrounds of Lake Jindabyne.
As the name suggests, the weekends are filled with kilometre after kilometre of single track fun and thrills with the routes tailored to suit all participants. Whilst the weekend isn’t specifically a skills training event, our guides will be there to give plenty of quality advice to help you improve your riding so you get the most out of this weekend and your riding in the future. Spaces are limited for these weekends. To book phone Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa on 6451 3000 or email reservations@lakecrackenback.com.au
CROSSWORD
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ACROSS 1 Big tennis or golf tournament (5) 4 Winners of the soccer world cup in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 (5) 7 Chelsea and Brazil footballer (5) 9 Mike ____, ear-biting boxer (5) 10 Spirit measure instrument (5) 11 English boxer Sir ____ Cooper (5) 12 Break in play (4, 3) 13 English rugby league side (5) 15 Edges (5) 17 Where Maccabi and Hapoel play their soccer (3, 4) 20 Swiss soccer club (5) 22 ‘Blocker’ ____ (5) 23 Former England cricketer, now commentator, ‘Bumble’ ____ (5) 24 See 1 Down (5) 25 Kiwi squash great, ____ Devoy (5)
DOWN 1 and 24 Across Former All Black and Manly league fullback (7, 5) 2 Golfer ____ Day (5) 3 Deliverance actor ____ Cox (5)
“I DON’T WANT ANYBODY TO FEEL SORRY FOR ME, OR PITY ME. I LIVED MY DREAM. A LOT OF PEOPLE ONLY GET TO DREAM THEIR DREAM. I LIVED THAT DREAM. NOW I HAVE A CHANCE TO DREAM ANOTHER DREAM AND LIVE THAT, TOO.”
4 Endurance athlete (7) 5 Back of the boat (3) 6 Sailing vessel (5) 8 Spanish football side (5, 2, 4) 14 Brothers Phil and Gary of Man Utd (7) 16 Mike ____, respected Aussie Rules writer (7) 17 Brian ____, former test wicketkeeper (5) 18 The home of cricket (5) 19 Players farmed out to other clubs (5) 21 One of Bradman’s Invincibles, ____ Barnes (3)
CROSSWORD #30 I G B E V E R T O O A B G R E E N Y M R D E N E P G S O U T H A M H T S P R I N T O R A S M I T H S Y
N S S C R H A P M P Y S T S W O
V A T E R R Y R S H O L E S N N L A T A U L T O N N C A S C O T I A E D I S H E T
D AV I D WILSON
23 YEAR OLD NEW YORK GIANTS RUNNING BACK, WHO WAS FORCED INTO RETIREMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH DUE TO THE NECK CONDITION DIFFUSE CERVICAL STENOSIS.
are you looking to Play CriCket in Canberra? Do you want to join a fast-growing social club and meet new people?
Come and Play for the yabbies CriCket Club! We play in the Canberra City and Suburban Competition and are always looking for new recruits of all skills and ages. To enquire about joining, please email: yabbiescc@gmail.com