Year 9 Football & St Joseph’s Football & Netball Club ____Page

Year 9 Football

Back Row: Jack Mullen, Jesse Clark, Ben Miller, Darcy Chirgwin, Oliver Poole, Brayden Maurer, Connor Fopiani, Hugh Nelson Middle Row: Finn Spence, Ryan Birthisel, Oscar Lane, Jordan Muhor, Riley Berg, Samuel Hazelman, William Farrow Front Row: Bradley Jepson, Jay Dahlhaus, Charlie Travers, Samuel Bourke, Charlie Harris, Thomas Courtney, Brad Edwards, Max Lindrea Absent: Darcy Crucitti, Matthew Keast, Thomas O’Brien-Henderson, Jackson Paatsch, Jake Powe, Charlie Walter Staff: Patrick Prendergast, Michael Wrigley

St Joseph’s Football & Netball Club

Another busy year in 2016. Record participants across the grades including our inaugural year of girls’ football. A big thankyou to Sue Cormack, our Br O’Neill Junior Club person of the year, as well as coach Chris Hickey. After a slow start the girls showed incredible improvement as the year progressed. This will be an important part of our club as the years progress. The year was a little quieter from a Premiership Trophy standpoint, but nonetheless was successful from a participation of players. Our two Colt teams had an outstanding year with A side making the Grand Final. Coaches, Matt McCartin and Todd Devine, focused on player development and did great work with their sides. There is no question that into the future senior players will continue to develop out of this 2016 Colts group. In our Netball division our head coach, Sandi Dimasi, is retiring. Sandi’s coaching team have moulded a very young group into an A grade team that is greatly respected and most certainly will continually compete in finals for many years. The remaining senior teams were competitive and will again be knocking on the door next year. Most importantly the girls are great supporters of all things Joey’s and their presence around the club is hugely positive. A big thanks to Fiona Threlfall for all her hard work as Netball Director. On-field we had almost 600 participates each week, which is a truly great testament of our club and the opportunities available to our young people.Off field, we wish to thank and recognise our major sponsors Signature Homes and Portelli Painting, and also our numerous other sponsors whose support is greatly appreciated. We acknowledge that, in many ways, it’s a love of the St Joseph’s community that keeps them involved. It is important that all club members and supporters look to use these businesses whenever possible. At Drew Reserve, it was great to see the football coach’s box and electronic scoreboard completed. We also have scheduled in the construction of the nets on the Finchhaven Road end of both Walker & Drew Reserves. These will be completed early in the New Year. It was disappointing and somewhat frustrating that were unable to complete our planned Wedge Project which would have provided change rooms for our Netballers and female footballers. We have lobbied hard for funding to have this addressed and committed to funding two thirds of the project independently from COGG. Unfortunately, this was not enough. We have left in place a sub-committee that will continue to jump whatever hurdles placed in front of them in this matter. On the social side, it was a revamped model this year with different volunteers helping to organise our social functions. Thank you to those who contributed to organisation from the season’s launch through to lady’s lunch, the Gala Ball, Major Raffle and Presentation night. Other social / fundraising gatherings for the year started way back in March, with a Season’s Launch again organised and hosted by the incredibly generous Old Collegian, Nick Maxwell. Held at the Westpac Centre with special guest Collingwood CEO, Gary Pert and Melbourne Storm Commercial Director, Ben Dunn, this event is now a significant fund raiser for our club and our sincere thanks must go to Nick for his organisation and support. It was also our 3rd year of the merged Gala Ball and the Carmody Foundation’s annual function. This year’s event was still a significant function both in terms of people attending and funds raised for both the Club and College Foundation. The night was a great social success, with the Casino theme being a huge hit. Thank you to St Joseph’s College and our Football & Netball Club communities for their support, we look forward to continuing to build this annual event. The Grand Final Eve Lunch was again held at The Pier on the Thursday afternoon before the AFL Grand Final. 610 people were in attendance this year. The day was a great success and a good time was had by all who attended. Special mention goes to Brett Bentley and John McKinnon for the organisation of this event, which must be regional Australia’s biggest Grand Final function. Brett, John and their helpers are to be commended. Thank you to all of our hard working committee, who contribute many volunteer hours to run this ever-increasing business, that is the St Joseph’s Football & Netball Club. To survive and prosper at this level, we continually have to become more professional. Having said that, I believe it is the sense of belonging and being valued that draws our volunteers who work so hard. I am always in awe of the good people at our club and know they are the foundation on which clubs like ours are built. To our supporter’s groups, the Club 32 and the On-Ballers thank-you for most generous support. I especially want to acknowledge the players who have been exemplary in their attendance and behaviour. To all of the football and medical department who put in an enormous amount of effort behind the scenes, your work is very much appreciated. To all teams who competed this year, congratulations on your efforts and the way you have conducted yourself on and off the field. I wish to thank all who have supported Joey’s over my 6 year tenure, especially present and past committee members. To Chris Humphrey, Jennie Marino and Brett Bentley who have been there through all this time I extend a massive thank you. I have enjoyed my time as President immensely and wish Todd and his new committee the best of luck. We look to the next year and beyond with excitement as we strive to continue to build on The Joey’s Way... Go Joey’s Vince Littore, President, St Joseph’s Football & Netball Club