PLAY Canberra Issue 32 February 2014 by Play Canberra

Issue #32 FEBRUARY 2014

@playcanberra

facebook.com/playcanberra

www.playcanberra.com.au

playcanberra

PLUS: RAIDERS, BRUMBIES, CAVALRY, CAPITALS, UNITED, BOXING & AIS LAUNCH NEW LOGO

discover more about

membership take a look at our website and discover everything that university of canberra brumbies memberships have to offer.

brumbies.com.au 8 Games From $145 3 Games From $60 supporter From $40

exclusive membership pack

ZOO 50149

EDITORIAL. Nathan Minerds - editor@playcanberra.com.au 0452 220 100. ADVERTISING advertise@playcanberra.com.au 0452 220 100. www.playcanberra.com.au. Cover Adam McGrath

Contents

From the Editor

February 2014

February - back to reality.

04 The State of PLAY - AFL The Breakout boys

The holidays are a distant memory and we’re actually expected to do something at work again.

05 Canberra Cavalry Eyeing of a Dynasty 06 The State of PLAY - Rugby League NRL Expansion Plans 07 Socials Cavalry End of Season 08 Feature Article Caroline Buchanan’s Next Gen 010 The State of PLAY - Football The Juan That Got Away 012 The State of PLAY - Cricket Puzzling Selections for South Africa 013 Cricket Comets Benefit From BBL Experience 015 AIS New Identity 018 Hockey Summer Success 019 Rugby League Raiders in full swing 2014

On the plus side, there’s another group of Canberrans back to fulltime work. The Brumbies and Raiders kick off their 2014 campaigns in February and March and training has been ramping up. Club membership It’s important that just as the players and coaching staff are doing all they can to ensure success that we too play our part. As supporters we should feel as much a part of the team as we can and the best way to do this is to take out a membership. Memberships not only offer great benefits (it’s worth checking out the club’s websites to see what each is offering) they are also a statement of support to the club that has given you so much joy (and yeah, a little heartache) over the years. Dante smart move It was announced that Canberra resident and AIS scholarship holder Dante Exum will forego college and nominate himself in the 2014 NBA draft. The move has created quite a stir in the US with many scouts having a very high opinion of the Aussie prodigy. Personally I think it’s a good move. Sure he had his pick of colleges, may have developed his game over the 4 years and earned a college degree, but with some scouts predicting he’ll be drafted in the top 10 he will be financially set up for life and doesn’t risk a (albeit unlikely) career ending injury before his career has even started. AIS logo

022 The State of PLAY - Rugby Union Is 2014 the Year of the Brumby 024 Boxing The Next Big Thing 026 Golf Next Generation

Early February saw the institute release it’s new identity. It was great to witness a new chapter open and I believe the new direction will provide a much needed boost to Australian Sport as we aim for a much improved showing at RIO 2016. We may have different opinions on many things, but when Australia is playing on the world stage, be it the World Cup, the Ashes or the Olympics, we are all united in our support. So get behind team Australia!! FEVER Footballathon

027 ACTEWAGL Calendar What’s on this Months CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Photographers:

Antony Perry Brett McKay Brendan Parnell Russ Gibbs Josh Matic Todd Davey Lyndall Parker

Ben Coughlan Ben Southall www.bensouthall.com.au Nudgepix Photography www.nudgepix.com.au Amandakelly.com.au Joseph Purdam

Claire Falls, an 11 year old with a passion for the world game was diagnosed with a vision impairment last year that changed the way she saw the world, but never changed her passion for Football. She was diagnosed with Strabismus and Amblyopia. The best way of describing the condition according to Claire is that her world is flat, where as ours is in 3D. Claire’s passion has seen her create the FEVER Footballathon initiative. FEVER is an annual event which will be held on Sunday 2nd March from 10am-3pm at Tuggeranong United Football Club. In the eyes of Claire, this event will help raise awareness of disability inclusion in football. For more information head to www.tufc.org.au

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.

www.playcanberra.com.au

Nathan Minerds Editor. PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

The State of Play - Aussie Rules.

THE BREAKOUT BOYS The three young stars set to destroy in 2014. ByTodd Davey - @ToddJDavey

nine games in a season, something he has not been able to complete in his four years at the AFL level. If the electric forward can tap his mercurial talent and turn it into something more sustainable, he may just align himself with the game’s best.

very year aging stars decline, rookies debut and young players emerge from the pack to be the next generation of dominant performers. The AFL is a cyclic competition – perhaps even ruthlessly so. Once an older, established player falls off the radar we are already to anoint the next precocious talent as the ‘next big thing’. Naturally, PLAY magazine is no different, deciding to keep the brutal cycle alive by selecting the three players to keep an eye on this coming season. JOE DANIHER (ESSENDON) The Daniher progeny played primarily as a forward in 2013, yet failed to make the impact in his debut season that most Essendon fans would have envisioned. The young Bomber’s form was indifferent last season, playing only five games for the season, failing to register a goal in four of those contests. What changes in 2014? Two reasons: the Bomber team will be bereft of options up forward to begin the season with Stewart Crameri departing to the Dogs and Tom Bellchambers out for at least two months after sustaining an ankle injury that required surgery. Daniher will play round 1 and will have every opportunity to excel as the Dons’ number one focal point up forward. Secondly, he’s added some serious bulk to his wiry frame, eliminating one of the inherent weaknesses of young players – lack of strength. Expectations Daniher’s sights should be set on playing over 15 games at AFL level this season, which will give him the realistic opportunity to kick over 30 goals in just his second season at the elite level.

PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

Gary Rohan

Image: Getty

DOM TYSON (MELBOURE)

GARY ROHAN (SYDNEY) The redheaded dynamo from Harbour town has given the his teammates plenty of highlights in his four years at the top level, but one thing the speedster has failed to do is leave a lasting impression. Rohan has failed to amass over 17 possessions in a game over the course of his 27 game career, and whilst a horrific leg break stifled his progress to an extent, the Swan has never averaged over 11 possessions in a season – a limited amount for a player aspiring to rotate through the midfield.

When it comes to up and coming midfielders, the GWS Giants have an overabundance of engine room talent. Consequently, Dom Tyson fell down the pecking order in the West of Sydney – playing only 13 games in two seasons. An eventful 2013 off-season saw the former number three draft pick traded to Melbourne. The Demons gave up pick two for the incredibly talented 20 year old, highlighting just how high Paul Roos and the Melbourne coaching staff rated him. What changes in 2014? Simply: game time. Paul Roos has already indicated he’ll give Tyson plenty of time in the heat of the action, saying his acquisition is ‘fantastic’ for the Demons whilst stating “I think he’s an absolute star in the making”. Tyson’s talents were never questioned, it was just a matter of squeezing all the young men into the 22 at GWS, and unfortunately he fell by the wayside.

What changes in 2014?

The Giants’ loss is the Demons’ gain.

The main contributing factor to Rohan’s upturn in productivity will come from a renewed confidence in his body. He averaged a goal a game in 2013 after his return, his best showing at AFL level, compounded by the fact he is now considered a member of the Swans’ best 22.

Expectations

Rohan will have his best chance in 2014 to make a lasting impact at AFL level. Expectations Rohan should be able to finally play over

Tyson should slot straight into the midfield rotation at the Demons, and should be able to lift his possession tallies (15 in 2012 and 13 in 2013) significantly. He won’t be the main architect of the Demons’ centerline either, meaning he should see tag-free games, which will allow him to showcase his talents fully in 2014. Dom Tyson will play more games in 2014 than he has thus far in his entire career. www.playcanberra.com.au

Canberra Cavalry Cavalry eyeing dynasty

The series was a nail biter with neither team willing to give an inch and every hit had a huge impact on the overall score.

Image: SMP

he Canberra Cavalry, driven by Rolfe Renault, may have lost the Championship Series to the Perth Heat but with a 2013 Asia Series Championship and a return trip to the ABLCS no one can deny Canberra is building a dynasty.

While they weren’t able to take the crown, Canberra has once again proven it’s a force to be reckoned with, says Cavalry general manager Thom Carter.

A huge part of the Cavalry’s success has been thanks to manager Michael “Tubby” Collins. But Tubby said that baseball is a team sport and he is only one piece in the overall picture.

“We’ve proven to the country that we’ve started something in Canberra,” Carter said. “The Cavalry will only continue to grow both on the field and in the community to further the sport of baseball in the Australian Capital Territory and across the country.”

“We have the chance to go out and play baseball everyday because we are given so much support by our community,” Tubby said. “The boys have so much thanks to give to each and every one of our fans who continually open their homes and their lives to us. We couldn’t

NEW ONLINE PLATFORM NOW LIVE! www.playcanberra.com.au

do it without you.” “These boys have had an amazing year,” Carter said. With an Asia Series Championship and a repeat appearance in the ABLCS it will be a tough season to top, but the fun of ABL play grows each year and next year’s season in Canberra promises even more fun, so make sure to secure your membership now. For more information call 6295 8379 and ensure you don’t miss a minute of the excitement.

BACK YOURSELF WITH NEW ONLINE BETTING

acttab.com.au visit

facebook.com/acttab Gamble Responsibly Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858

PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

The State of Play - Rugby League.

NRL expansion becomes hot topic once again Ryan O’Connell - @RyanOak

he news that Papua New Guinea will field a side in Queensland’s State Cup competition has been met with optimistic excitement from the rugby league community.

Should the bids of any new team meet the criteria required, the question is not ‘should the NRL expand?’, but rather ‘where to?’.

The PNG Hunters will compete in the Intrust Super Cup this season, while also placing teams in Queensland Rugby League’s Cyril Connell Cup (U16s) and the Mal Meninga Cup (U18s).

There are two differing strategies when it comes to expansion. Colloquially speaking they are “fish where the fish are” or “build it, and they will come”.

The move to include teams from PNG in local competitions signals a clear intention to help grow the code outside of Australia and New Zealand, which naturally brings up the topic of NRL expansion once again. Though no one is suggesting the next NRL license will be granted to a PNG team, expansion has long been identified as an area the NRL needs to consider strongly. Any addition of new teams needs to be thoroughly thought out and well planned, however the benefits of such a move cannot be denied. It is a clear indication of growth, and it increases the footprint of the game, providing it with greater exposure, thus opening it up to more potential fans. In all likelihood, it would also increase the value of TV rights and sponsorships, generating more overall revenue for the game. There is also the fact that when said new club launches, it affords the sport with free publicity in the form of extensive media coverage, while also providing the code with an overall perception of momentum.

That’s when things get a little complex.

The former is based on the notion that there is great merit in placing a team where rugby league is already popular, while the latter is based around gaining traction in geographic areas in which rugby league’s popularity under-indexes and therefore needs artificial stimulation. The counter argument to the first strategy is that you are ‘preaching to the converted’, and therefore not really growing the game at all. As such, there is a belief that the game would be better served trying to expand its footprint, growing incrementally, and taking rugby league to new frontiers. Though this sounds great in theory, it’s a strategy that also takes patience and a lot of money. It’s also not a foolproof plan; merely placing a team in a city does not guarantee the sport will take off in that area. Reinforcing and shoring up the game, or attempting to grow the game? The two objectives shouldn’t be mutually exclusive, but at a very basic level, that’s what expansion decisions come down to. However, there is also a third strategy when it comes to expansion, though it’s

one that is normally met with extreme reluctance. Relocation. It’s a dirty word in sport. Over the years, we’ve seen some real emotion surface when fans have felt their team may be taken away from them. Sadly, there has always been the belief that Sydney has too many NRL clubs, and relocating one – usually identified as the Cronulla Sharks might be what is best for Sydney, the NRL, the new city, and the club itself. The AFL have used all three expansion strategies well. Their decision to grant Port Adelaide entry into the league was an example of ‘fishing where the fish are’, as Port was one of the strongest Aussie Rules clubs in Australia even before its first AFL season in 1997. The Greater Western Sydney Giants, and to a lesser extent, the Gold Coast Suns, are both the products of the ‘build it, and they will come’ strategy. Lastly, the Swans move from South Melbourne to Sydney, and the Brisbane Bears/Fitzroy Lions move to Brisbane were relocations that achieved success for the AFL. Though the NRL would be loath to gives kudos to their biggest competitor, they would be wise to acknowledge that the AFL has achieved a significant part of their success and growth through expansion. Therefore, any decision on the NRL expanding should be an easy one. Deciding where will be a little trickier.

Darkies Sports Wear line.

Check out designs for rugby tops, netball gear, polos, sports singlets, and t-shirts. Design your own gear. Add your logos, text and change the colour schemes of the existing designs with one click to make great colour combinations.

www.darkiesdesigns.com.au 06

PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

www.playcanberra.com.au

Cavlary End of Season Woden Tradies Club

Susan Bibo, Sue Collins, Meg Clarke, Stuart Beard, Vicki Beard & Megan Collins

Angie Stiles & Nicole Meads

Caitlyn Chalmers, Nick O’Carroll & Fiona Nelson

Jason Sloan & Alana Franks

Mara Nagaki, Peter Gosch & Alissa Gosch

Nicole Delorenzo & Damian Highmore

Lindsey Wells & Kim Percy

Greg Thornton, Tony Perkins & Ada Perkins

Zoe Trungove, Ami Friend, Antonio Callaway & Charlotte Callaway

Registrations now open for Gift of Life’s DonateLife Walk 2014 Canberrans are urged to walk for an important cause on Wednesday 26 February at Gift of Life’s DonateLife Walk, now in its eighth year. Thousands of Canberrans are once again expected to show their support for organ and tissue donation by pulling on their walking shoes for a lap across the two bridges and around Lake Burley Griffin to promote greater awareness www.playcanberra.com.au

about organ and tissue donation. A shorter route around Commonwealth Park will be held simultaneously. President of Gift of Life David O’Leary says the public response to the walk each year has been outstanding and continues to grow. “Canberrans have really lent strong support to the walk in the past. Last year we saw just over 3,000 people participate and we’re

hoping to top that in 2014,” he said. Gift of Life’s DonateLife Walk 2014 will be held on Wednesday 26 February at Regatta Point with a 7am sharp start. Visit www.giftoflife.asn.au now to register. There is no fee for participation and the event will conclude with a free breakfast prepared by the Lions Club of Belconnen. PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

The Feature

Caroline Buchanan Breaking the mould. By Antony Perry @antonyperry. Images Adam McGrath Hcreations Photography

urtling through whoops, airing over tabletops and flying around berms at speeds of up to 60km/h with only one thing on your mind: staying upright and reaching the finish line before the seven other riders around you, all of whom are focusing on doing just that. It’s not for the fainthearted. It’s not everyone’s idea of fun – and certainly not something females traditionally flock to participate in. But for Caroline Buchanan, few things compare to the adrenaline rush she gets while preparing for the 45 second battle on the groomed, serpentine, dirt BMX race track that awaits her every time she sits at the start gate. “It’s definitely an adrenaline rush,” Buchanan says. “Once you get to the bottom of the start ramp it’s just a wall in front of you. It’s a real adrenaline rush and it’s an all or nothing feeling.” Buchanan is no stranger to that feeling. The Canberra-born rider has been racing BMX since she was five years of age. She trained with and competed for the Tuggeranong Vikings BMX Club during her formative years in the sport. In 2004, at age 14, she began racing professionally, fulfilling a life-long goal of hers. “I fell in love with two wheels at a young age and, admittedly, I was a bit of a tomboy when I was younger,” she says. “I had big goals as a young girl, big goals of becoming a professional BMX rider.” 10 years have passed since Buchanan leapt into the sport’s upper realm. The 23-year-old is galaxies away from the Tuggeranong track she learned to ply her trade on, the stomping ground at which she dared to dream big, but the course will always be the platform from which she has reached great heights – within the sport and outside of it, too. She is a five-time world champion, has become a dominant force in the discipline of mountain biking and she won three

PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

Facebook

www.facebook.com/ BUCHANANnextgenteam

Instagram

instagram.com/ buchanannextgen#

Campaign

www.sportaroo.com/ carolinebuchanan consecutive Australian elite female BMX cyclist of the year awards between 2010 and 2012. This year, she was named as the ACT’s 2014 Australia Day ambassador – such is the iconic status she possesses. Upon turning pro, nothing could have prepared Buchanan for what awaited her. She has pushed the sport to the limit, and

there’s no sign of her slowing down. She has her sights firmly set on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. There, she will aim to erase the pain of her failed bid to win gold at the London Games in 2012. The twists and turns and the ups and downs of the race track have taken her on a rather revelatory journey in a sport females are made to work considerably harder than their male counterparts. Men are deemed stronger, faster and more skilful athletes on the track, meaning they enjoy a warm relationship with commercialism and the role it plays in BMX. Due to this widely held belief, it is difficult for women to receive recognition for their efforts, with sponsors and marketing companies neglecting females, who they believe to not be as marketable as their male counterparts. Cue Buchanan and her vision for aspiring young female riders to have the support and assistance that many in the sport are without. Last month, she launched the www.playcanberra.com.au

Buchanan Next Gen program with the aim of building the future of BMX in Australia. Buchanan has long yearned to give back to the sport that has provided her with so much. Now it’s a reality. “I wanted to give back to the sport that has allowed me to go so far, the sport that’s allowed me to represent my nation and compete on the Olympic Games level,” Buchanan says. “BMX is dominated by males and the level of sponsorship and support behind women in the sport is well behind and it really needs to be increased. I want to support women in the sport. The next generation of girls coming through, they’re our Olympians of tomorrow.” Taking a realistic approach while the program is in its infancy, Buchanan has selected two riders to be part of the team in its inaugural year. Paige Harding, 10, from Castle Hill BMX Club (Sydney) and Mikayla Rose, 13, from Tuggeranong Vikings BMX Club. The pair have what it takes, according to Buchanan. “One thing you need to be a good BMX rider is a little bit of mongrel inside you, that stray dog, that fight and that little bit of extra something because our sport is very www.playcanberra.com.au

aggressive,” she says. “Mikayla and Paige both have that extra little something and possess skills way beyond their age. Both of the girls are full of potential.” The initiative has gained rapid momentum, with support and backing coming from the Aim For The Stars Foundation and Buchanan’s own sponsors. Buchanan says the first step is to help the two young talents, both of whom are already ranked in Australia and the world, attend key races around Australia and qualify for the BMX World Championships in Holland. The ultimate goal, though, is to aid Harding (2024) and Rose (2020) in reaching future Olympic events. She hopes the program will “break the mould” and lead to female riders receiving the financial backing and off-track support she has benefitted from throughout her own career. “They are our Olympians of the future and right now it’s unheard of for any girl or guy who’s not a pro to be even getting a free frame from the bike industry,” Buchanan says. “I really want to break that mould, give them that proper support and expose them to the people who have supported and mentored me.”

Throughout February, Buchanan is running a Sportaroo fundraising campaign, which will be the source of a majority of the financial assistance the girls will receive. Additionally, the pair will be mentored by former world champion surfer Layne Beachley and former world champion marathon runner Robert de Castella, both of whom are mentors of Buchanan. “Having mentors and people outside of the sport to help guide you through is just as important as having financial support,” Buchanan says. 2014 is only the beginning of the Next Gen program, with Buchanan saying she hopes to double the team each year and get additional sponsors involved. “My goal is to have a very successful and dominant female BMX team in Australia and have everyone wanting to ride for Buchanan Next Gen,” she says. As for her own riding this year, Buchanan is as hungry as ever. “Every year I’m pushing myself to be bigger and better and increase my level of success,” she says. “It will be difficult to top 2013, but launching the Next Gen team is already a huge success for me this year.” PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

The State of Play - Football.

The Juan that got away Antony Perry - @antonyperry

Unfortunately, though, intelligent individuals are capable of making vacuous decisions, and by selling Juan Mata, the attacking midfielder who was twice voted Chelsea’s player of the year, Mourinho is culpable of having done just that. Mata was sold to Manchester United for $71 million – a club-record fee – last month and it has since been heralded as the transfer of the January trading period. David Moyes, the United manager, landed quite the coup and ought to have taken a bow. Strangely, though, the United boss was not once embroiled in a battle with his opposite number for the star’s services. Since arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer and beginning his second spell in charge of the London club, Mourinho had deemed Mata, 25, as surplus to his requirements, relegating him in the pecking order to the point the Spaniard was rarely released from the margins. As is often the case with England’s biggest clubs, players of the highest calibre deemed to no longer be necessary are sold to overseas teams, where they go to play but are unable to thwart the domestic ambitions of their former club. But by selling Mata to United, a direct Premier League rival, Mourinho and Chelsea may soon be made to lament their decision – and United may soon find themselves rejoicing in the foolishness of their great rival. Both scenarios are

010 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

Juan Mata

wholly credible prospects. Arguably one of Chelsea’s most accomplished players during his time in west London, Mata was a favourite with the Stamford Bridge faithful. With his flair, quick feet and ability to score goals as well as create them, it won’t be long before the Stretford End is singing his name adoringly. And behind the scenes the atmosphere at the club has already changed; the effect Mata has had has not been unlike the impact Mesut Ozil has had at Arsenal since arriving earlier in the campaign. While life after Sir Alex Ferguson so far hasn’t gone as United would have hoped, with the side struggling to adjust to the contrasting styles of the old gaffer and Moyes, Mata’s arrival suggests they won’t be dormant for long. Inevitably, as every great team does, United will return as a potent title threat to those currently occupying the upper reaches of the Premier League. Mata’s acquisition has the club moving forward after failing in last summer’s

Image: Getty

ose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, is by no means an unintelligent individual. Such individuals don’t exist within the elite managerial realm of football, a circle in which Mourinho has a formidable presence. The Portuguese, since entering top-tier management in 2000, has won 20 trophies with six clubs. Very few of his counterparts are as accomplished on the touchline as he is.

transfer period. He won’t be the last highcalibre signing, either, with Moyes set to overhaul his squad during the coming summer. Mata will attract quality players because quality players enjoy playing with the best. It was impossible to think just a couple of months ago that Chelsea would contemplate selling one of their best players to the reigning champions and a direct rival, however wounded United has become since Ferguson’s departure. Yet last month we saw a rumour evolve into a done deal, with Chelsea ushering Mata out the exit and into the waiting arms of United, who will benefit significantly from a player yet to reach his peak. Chelsea fans can be heard grumbling and it won’t be long before Mourinho joins them. As turbulent as the beginning of Moyes’ tenure at Old Trafford has been, as hard as victories have been to come by for him and his side, the manager secured an outstanding result in capturing Juan Mata and you get the feeling there’s more of the same to come for United – on and off the pitch. www.playcanberra.com.au

Olympic Standard Shooting Range comes to Canberra

ustralia has a history of success in the Olympic sport of Clay Target Shooting. The Majura Park Gun Club hopes that the addition of an international standard trap range at their facility will help develop the next generation of Olympic champions. The Majura Park Gun Club was recently announced as one of 78 successful applications, sharing in $2.7m in support through the ACT Government’s Sport and Recreation Grants Program. The grant of more than $62,000 will support the installation of the only Olympic trap range in eastern Australia. Once complete, the Club expects to see a steady stream of elite shooters training at the facility. In addition, the upgraded venue will assist in attracting new participants to the sport, further enhancing the strong development programs undertaken at the range. “The upgrade is a huge boost to the club and something that many of our 200 members have been working toward for years since it became clear the current layout was no longer up to standard, “ club President, Joe Thaller said. “It will allow the development of local competitors and a future program for juniors aspiring to the elite level. We will now be able to host a range of competitions including National training camps and selection shoots, attracting even more visitors to Canberra.” The news of the installation of an Olympic Trap was well received by 1996 Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark OAM who supported the club’s initial funding application. “The upgrade of the facility at the Majura Park Gun Club will raise the standard of marksmanship at the club from a domestic to international level,” commented Russell Mark.

READY FOR ACTION. Ready. It’s a powerful word, and describes how Canberra feels right now. We are ready. Ready for our second century. Ready for the next stage in our growth as a city. Ready to abandon old stereotypes and march proudly into the future. We’ve nurtured the careers of some of Australia’s great athletes and the tenacious support of our local teams is always on show. With the youngest and most active community in Australia, we’re entering our second century with a bold and confident outlook on the future.

“The club has a host of current members that are at the highest level in domestic competition, but have not been given the chance to take the next step in their shooting careers.” “Installing an Olympic Trap range will not only give these shooters the chance to progress, but support the club to become a training base for many future Australian representatives,” Mark concluded. The Olympic Trap range will be installed this year. If you are interested in taking up Clay Target Shooting, Majura Park Gun Club runs an introductory program every Wednesday night at 5pm under the guidance of a qualified instructor. For more information find them on Facebook, go to www.majuraparkgunclub.com or call 6241 7314. www.playcanberra.com.au

PLAY CANBERRA February 2014 011

The State of Play - Cricket.

Puzzling selections for South Africa Brett McKay - @BMcSport

Though they couldn’t find reason to make any changes to the XI during the five Ashes Tests, at the first opportunity, the National Selection Panel, chaired by John Inverarity, found enough chinks in the armour of George Bailey’s game to decide that he wasn’t suited to facing the Proteas, comprising quite probably the best new ball bowling attack in the world. And that wasn’t altogether surprising; indeed, there was many a dissenting voice arguing Bailey should never have been selected in the first place, and more so that he shouldn’t have been retained after the Ashes had been sewn up in the Third Test in Perth. But there was still plenty of good-will towards Bailey’s Ashes contributions, even they were below expectations. On that measure, Bailey admitted he was disappointed himself. The ‘don’t change a winning team’ philosophy remains strong in Australian cricket discussions though, hence the train of thought that Bailey deserved to hold his place. For what it’s worth, I thought Bailey’s omission was harsh. To be feted as one of “The Unchangeables”, a champion XI that stayed together and took down the might of England, to a fortnight later not even being one of the best seven batsmen, and fifteen cricketers in the country, seemed a rash judgement. I thought the smart and logical thing would’ve been for Bailey to be given the tour game to prove that he was worthy of holding his place for the First Test at Centurion, starting February 12.

012 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

Image: Getty

espite a 5-0 Ashes Series whitewash of England, and a completely dominant display over the course of five Tests and six weeks, the Australian selectors raised many an eyebrow with their initial selections for the South African tour this month.

Mitchell Johnson

Proving there really sometimes is no sentiment in selections, though, Bailey was left out of the 15-man tour squad, with elegant Tasmanian batsmen Alex Doolan, and the consistently inconsistent Western Australia, Shaun Marsh, preferred on the basis of their ability to handle hostile fast bowling, and more aesthetically correct techniques. Doolan’s inclusion was expected. He’s been considered the ‘next in line’ for some time now, and was on standby for Shane Watson ahead of the Sydney Test. Marsh, on the other hand, was the genuine bolter selection. Since being dropped from the Test side after the India Test series at home two summers ago, and save for the odd highlight in coloured gear, Marsh had done precious little on the First Class scene to even so much as politely ring the buzzer, never mind beat down the door of the selectors. And this is before we bring Phillip Hughes in the debate, who despite noted failings in the Test arena - he was most recently dropped from the side during the Ashes Tour of England - he has once again gone back to Sheffield Shield cricket and dominated. At the time the South African squad was selected, Hughes’ Shield

season had netted 549 runs at 61, and with two hundreds and an unbeaten 204 to his name. It was astounding to think how such records could be so easily ignored, in favour of an overwhelmingly talented, yet underwhelming performer in Marsh. And here’s where it gets even more puzzling. Marsh picked up a calf injury during the ODI series against England, and remained in Perth for treatment for when the first touring party flew out for South Africa. In the end, he wasn’t able to get himself back to the necessary level of fitness in time, and was ruled out. His replacement? Phillip Joel Hughes. That’s right. So, on top of Michael Clarke declaring that he likely won’t be changing the batting order to drop Shane Watson down the order - despite the selectors giving him a squad that essentially dictates that take place, and despite Hughes being declared a “top order player” when the squad was announced, Hughes has now been brought into the squad as a top order player who will more than likely bat in the middle order. Makes sense, right? Nope, me neither... www.playcanberra.com.au

Cricket

BBL experience opens the eyes of Comets’ trio

n our December issue, we brought you the Big Bash League preparations of ACT Comets Captain and Queanbeyan batsman Jono Dean, and Western Districts/ UC Captain, left-arm quick, Ben Oakley, shortly before they joined the Adelaide Strikers. Between going to print and that issue hitting the stands, the Sydney Thunder added Queanbeyan allrounder Blake Dean to their squad, too. So while the Strikers pair were preparing months out, Blake Dean was literally introducing himself to the likes of Michael Hussey, and former Sri Lankan Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan only days before the season commenced. “It was a crazy experience,” Blake told me. Blake’s one game for the Thunder, against cross-town rivals, the Sydney Sixers, netted him 3 runs from 6 balls coming into bat in the 18th over, and snared the wicket of rising NSW batsman Nic Maddinson from two overs. “I probably was a bit overwhelmed, in a way, because it’s such a big atmosphere [at the SCG]. You can think about it from that way, it was probably better for me not to have had the time to prepare, and not have the time to be nervous.” “Learning from the best and seeing how they go about their business, and training, and doing the things they do behind the scenes” was the major lesson Blake took away, and it becomes a common tune, with Ben Oakley saying similar things of his time in Adelaide. “The experience of being involved within a professional cricket team and setup was a bit of an eye opener. The work that goes in behind the scenes, and the extent the grounds and opposition are analysed ahead of games was something I hadn’t really seen before. Getting to train at the Adelaide Oval and against the First Class and International players within the squad definitely helped to improve my game,” Oakley said. Oakley managed two games, with one of www.playcanberra.com.au

Jono Dean and Ben Oakley.

those the washed out season opener in Hobart where Adelaide didn’t bowl. He finished with 0/50 from four overs against the Perth Scorchers, and took two very good outfield catches in front of more than 26,000 people at the Adelaide Oval. 12th man in that washout in Hobart, Jono Dean played three further games as Adelaide pushed for a semi-final berth. In three outings, he managed 29 from 15 balls against the Scorchers in Perth, fell cheaply against Brisbane, and finished with 28 from 13 against the Melbourne Renegades in Adelaide. He featured heavily in the Strikers off-field activities, all part of a job that he “loved every second of”. He had his head shaved as part of a push to raise $20,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation ahead of the Strikers’ last home game, and even found himself miked up to the Channel Ten commentators in one match, something he described as “a cool experience”. His ball-striking caught attention, particularly putting Ashes hero Peter Siddle for six over the straightish cover boundary in Adelaide. His batting strikerate of 184.4 was only topped by Glenn Maxwell at the end of the home-and-away rounds, and earned him rave reviews from commentators. Former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting recalled Dean’s knock for the PMs XI against the West Indies last

summer while predicting a First Class contract in the very near future. Jono Dean’s not getting too far ahead of himself though, and even though he is hopeful of another BBL opportunity next summer, he’s typically forthright in his self-assessment. “There’s some positive stuff and some negative stuff that I can take out of my game,” he says. “I would have liked to have taken those opportunities a little bit further, especially against the Renegades and Perth, where I’d managed to get myself set, but then missed out. And obviously I missed out against the Heat, but I would have liked to have taken those starts further. That’s the nature of the game.” What’s clear to all three players is that the Canberra cricket scene, and particularly the ACT Comets program had them well-equipped skill-wise. It’s more the off-field and mental side of the game where the differences were noticed. Jono Dean and Oakley pointed to the Strikers’ management and program being a major benefit, while Blake Dean noticed that old-fashioned hard work was often the difference. The three of them have certainly put ACT cricket on the national map, and that can only help Canberra’s chances of having a Ryobi Cup team, or even a Big Bash League side down the track. PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014 013

Menslink believes EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

t’s very easy to get fixated on one definition of success or self-worth: a career, a relationship, winning a game or a series. Life though can often put a spanner in the works and if your personal motto is “only one thing is possible” then you can run into real trouble. Menslink CEO Martin Fisk talks about broadening your horizons to believe that “everything is possible” – the slogan Menslink uses for the young guys in their programs. Back at work after the Christmas break, I was walking down the street to get the first coffee for 2014 when a teenage girl stopped me and said my tshirt had a cool message. It obviously stuck a chord with her. Then at the café two young blokes said the same thing. I began to think about why the EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE message resonates with people. All our lives, we get told to work hard and focus if we want to be successful. If we’re good at something – say sport – then logically we should work hard and focus on that. We start to believe one thing is possible – becoming a world class swimmer, or a first grade footballer or wearing the baggy green. All too often, parents and other well-meaning people weigh in with high expectations and demands for ever-increasing successes. A world of possibility starts to narrow into a small window of success – a real win or lose situation. OK in a game but not really OK in life which always has ups and downs and can never be successful all the time – every day every year every decade.

For some young people – and we’re lucky enough to have heaps of successful athletes in Canberra – they can achieve the dream. But there are lots more people who might not achieve their one goal. They are often still very very successful, but just might not make the pinnacle of a particular sport – or their first career choice. Others still achieve their goal (making first grade for example) but then discover then inevitable fact that you can’t be successful forever. A hell of a lot of former successful athletes really struggle in their twenties or early thirties when they retire from their sporting careers. I’m reminded of the tragic suicides of a

014 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

up: corporate jobs, marketing jobs, blog writing etc etc. Everything was possible; she just needed to recognise it. My own experience has shown that everything is possible, as long as you believe it and keep your eyes open. Business failures, job losses, major illnesses and relationship breakdowns have all provided me (after a time!) with wonderful opportunities and life experiences. I would not be where I am today without the enormous setbacks and failures I’ve experienced in my life.

Menslink’s Martin Fisk

number of rugby league players last year, who found their league career cut short prematurely. Might these young men still be with us if they believed that their on-field success could equally be applied to something – anything – else. My view is that successful people, with the right belief and support networks around them, can be successful in a range of fields, not just one. Their real talents and skills (focus, discipline, teamwork etc etc) can be applied to pretty much any career or pursuit. It seems to me that laser-like focus and commitment are great, but that something more is needed so that you don’t close too many of life’s doors. Doors that could lead to fantastic opportunities. Something like a belief that everything is possible, not just one single thing is possible. I remember speaking to a budding journalist last year who was really struggling to get a job as a journo out of Uni. She believed that, having a passion and a degree for journalism, the only successful, meaningful career was working for a media company as a news reporter. Unfortunately there just aren’t enough journalist jobs for the number of graduates. I encouraged her to broaden her focus to reporting and writing (the essence of what she really liked anyway) and then naturally the job market opened

It’s a message we try to teach the young guys in our mentoring and counselling programs and more broadly through our Silence is Deadly campaign in schools. That sometimes no matter how hard life is, that even when the door you have been trying to reach your whole life slams in your face, everything is still possible. That sometimes you need to change your thinking from believing only one thing will make you happy or successful – that only one thing is possible. That bad things happen in life and good things come to an end but, as former Wallaby Joe Roff says, “you must believe your best is always in front of you.” Or as we say at Menslink, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Over the past ten years, Menslink has helped thousands of young men across Canberra and the region. Through free counselling, volunteer mentoring and friendship, we’re here to help troubled or socially isolated young guys turn their lives around and get through life’s hurdles. Our Silence is Deadly schools’ campaign encourages young guys to talk about hassles in their lives and not bottle things up. For more information on Menslink, visit www.menslink.org.au. Or come along to one of our Midweeker events, where we feature well-known Canberran men talking about their life journey, overcoming problems and role models in their lives. They are held every four weeks on a Wednesday from 5:30pm (Feb 5, Mar 5, Apr 2 etc) and are open to men and women of all ages. Entry is free and a list of upcoming speakers is at www. menslink.org.au/events. www.playcanberra.com.au

AIS logo launch

and will I hope, inspire many young Australian athletes.”

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) launched its new brand in Canberra this month to align more closely with its new strategic direction focused on innovation and bold performance targets.

Australia’s world champion BMX athlete Caroline Buchanan said she was very excited by what the new AIS brand meant for Australian sport.

Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Chair Mr John Wylie AM said the new brand represents a generational shift for high performance sport in Australia as we set our sights on international success over the next decade. “The AIS has had a proud history in Australian sport since 1981 and the previous logo signifies all that success during the last 33 years,” Wylie said “We want to ensure the AIS brand reflects how we operate in 2014 and into the future. “This new brand will be an important springboard for enhanced commercial partnerships and opportunities for the AIS, which in turn will benefit sports and athletes.” ASC CEO Simon Hollingsworth said the decision to adopt a new brand followed extensive research.

“The new brand is modern, innovative and bold and that’s how I like to approach my training and sport,” Buchanan said. “Research and consultation confirmed the AIS is very well known and highly respected as an institution for sporting excellence,’’ Hollingsworth said. “However, what the analysis did tell us was the current brand was not contemporary, and lacked relevance for our key stakeholders, including potential sponsors and commercial partners. “As an ex-AIS athlete, I value our history as much as anyone, and we should look to the past with great pride and harness our learnings for the future. ‘’This new brand takes us into a new age for Australian high performance sport. The new positioning will effectively support Australia’s Winning Edge

I want a place that has the biggest schnitty in town.

“Visually it reflects movement and an open approach with the gold colour reflecting our aspirations.” Co-founder of compression garments supplier 2XU Aidan Clarke said as a long-standing performance partner of the AIS, we are delighted with the striking new branding. “Its strength reiterates the AIS’ steadfast commitment to transform itself and remain relevant and captivating in a changing, always competitive industry. “For commercial partners like 2XU, the new brand offers a modern and highly recognisable platform from which to base collaborative ventures and campaigns in the shared pursuit of excellence.

I know a place.

What a difference...

Dickson 2 Badham St Woden Launceston St/Furzer St thetradies.com.au For the information of members and their invited guests.

www.playcanberra.com.au

ZOO 48097

Our legendary schnitzels aren’t for the fainthearted. They’re massive and come with a huge range of toppings. So what are you waiting for? Get down to The Tradies and see if you can get through it. Or, are you chicken?

PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014 015

Passion, Table Tennis and Glenys

imes change. People come and go. Particularly in a sporting organisation as new participants and administrators arrive, participate or contribute for a while and then move on to something else. Yet one local sport, table tennis, has maintained a central figure at its helm for the best part of 20 years. This figure is Glenys Joliffe. Glenys arrived in Canberra from Adelaide in 1973. This was the same year that more than 600 people jammed into the old City YMCA to witness Japan take on Australia in table tennis and one in which Glenys claimed the ACT resident women’s title. After more than 15 years as an active participant and a trailblazer in veterans participation, Glenys entered the world of ACT sports administration when elected Secretary of the ACT Table Tennis Association in 1991. Perhaps inspired by the forthcoming home Olympics or the ping-pong prowess of Forrest Gump, Table Tennis prospered in the ACT through the 1990’s as participation steadily increased to more than 300 and junior development blossomed. This growing participation base placed many strategic pressures on the Board and existing facilities, the Table Tennis Centre at Kingston starting to burst at the seams with the not uncommon sight of people waiting patiently for the next available table. In 1998 a new President was appointed to steer the ship as Glenys took the top job and embraced the many challenges that came with the role. While continuing to participate, including representing

central hub for so long, while using other larger facilities for major competition and events,” Glenys said. “However, as participation has increased over time we have been searching for new opportunities. “By virtue of Government’s investment in the Multi- Use Indoor Facility at Greenway (through the Tuggeranong Archery Club), I am pleased that we are now taking small steps to establish a southern home for our sport to give people more access to tables and coaching”. Glenys Joliffe and Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr

Australia in 2007, Glenys and her brightly coloured tracksuits quickly became a regular fixture on the ACT sporting landscape as a passionate advocate for her sport and physical activity more broadly. “Table Tennis is a sport that allows participation for people of all ages and abilities,” Glenys says. “It is a passion for participation that has driven my involvement with junior players, supporting disability inclusion and within the vets movement”. As President, Glenys has continued a longstanding pursuit within the local table tennis scene for more facilities, to meet current needs and make the sport more accessible to a city that was growing and spreading far beyond the inner suburbs. “We have been fortunate to have had the Kingston Table Tennis facility as a

Sharing her passion for table tennis is a continuing theme for Glenys. But times do change and like many others before her, the time is right for Glenys to move on. With an Australian Sports Medal (2000) and ACT Sports Volunteer “Thanks Award” (presented to her by Andrew Barr MLA in November 2013) on her top shelf, Glenys Joliffe will stand down as President of Table Tennis ACT at this month’s AGM. “Health issues have caught up with me and I came to the conclusion that it was my time to pass the racket on,” Glenys stated. “The sport locally is in a good place with some great opportunities before it and I know that there are some passionate volunteer administrators ready to take Canberra table tennis further forward”. For information on getting involved, including the new opportunities at Greenway, visit Table Tennis ACT at www.tabletennisact.org.au or pop into the ACT Table Tennis Centre off Canberra Avenue in Kingston.

Sport & Recreation Services Education & Training Calendar – February Course

Delivery Date

Location

Time

Governance & Compliance

Tuesday 25 February

220 Northbourne Ave Braddon

6pm- 9pm

A practical workshop where participants will learn to understand the obligation of volunteers under the relevant legislation, the importance of risk identification and management strategies and recognise the importance of insurance. MPIO (Member Information Protection Officer)

Thursday 27 February

220 Northbourne Ave Braddon

9am- 1pm

The MPIO is responsible for providing information about a person’s rights and responsibilities and options available to an individual making a complaint or raising a concern, particularly around harassment, discrimination and child protection issues. The MPIO course will assist anyone taking on the role of MPIO. Registration forms can be found at: http://www.economicdevelopment.act.gov.au/sport_and_recreation/learn Or by emailing sport_act@act.gov.au

016 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

www.playcanberra.com.au

Image: ASC

Winter Olympics

Australia’s biggest Winter Team ready for Sochi A record number of Australians have been selected onto the 2014 Australian Olympic Team heading to Sochi, Russia.

urpassing the past two Winter Olympic efforts where Australia was represented by 40 athletes 50 skiers, snowboarders, skaters and sliders have been selected for Sochi.

There will be Australians in 10 of the 15 sports in Sochi: Alpine Skiing, Bobsleigh, Cross Country, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Luge, Short Track, Skeleton, Snowboard and Speed Skating. The Freestyle Skiing section is the biggest with 21 athletes followed by the Snowboard squad with 11. The Team has a breathtaking spread of talent. Alongside Olympic gold medallists Dale Begg-Smith (Moguls),

See Laura take to the sky’s in the Aerial competition on February 14, 2014 on Channel TEN (see local TV guide for broadcast details). Torah Bright (Snowboard) and Lydia Lassila (Aerials), 70 per cent of the Team will make their Olympic debut. Canberra’s converted gymnast, Aerial Skier Laura Peel is set to take the Olympic stage for the first time.

Laura Peel has been a strong performer on the World Cup circuit since 2011. She won her first World Cup in Austria in 2012 and in 2013 she won silver at the Sochi Test Event/World Cup and the Deer Valley World Cup. The ACT skier joined Kirstie Marshall, Jacqui Cooper, Alisa Camplin and Lydia Lassila as the only Australians to have won a World Cup aerials event when she won in Kreischberg in 2012. Peel has a background in gymnastics and started aerial skiing because she loved to flip and ski.

The Role of a Team Chaperone Chaperones play a vital role in many sporting organisations and clubs. They take responsibility for the welfare and conduct of the athletes under their care and act as role models within their sport. Individuals must think carefully before taking on the job of a chaperone and ensure that they have what it takes to fulfil the role and understand what is involved. Such as; • the ability to deal with large groups, • confidence in communicating with the age group involved, www.playcanberra.com.au

• demonstrate appropriate behaviour at all times, • the ability to follow schedules and routines, and • have the skills and mindset to handle an emergency Visit the Play by the Rules website for more information on the role of a chaperone and to download the Play by the Rules Chaperone Policy Template. www.playbytherules.net.au PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014 017

Hockey

Summer providing opportunities for canberra Hockey stars

he summer months usually provide some respite for field hockey players, but this is not the case for Indoor loving hockey players. Indoor hockey has long been viewed as the poor cousin of field hockey. In more recent years, the game has expanded significantly, assisting athletes to improve their stick skills and fitness during the offseason of the field hockey season. Various rule changes, including a significant reduction of athletes in the field provide a fast-pace game and exciting game for spectators across the world. On the world stage, indoor hockey players are preparing for the next World Cup set to take place in January 2015 in Germany. Australia will be looking for improve in both the men and women from previous performances, with ACT boasting eleven athletes in the running for selection.

Australian women’s team featuring Shelley Watson, Jenna Cartwright and Kalindi Commerford

Championships, the ACT Open Men’s reached the finals and were denied the silverware suffering a 6-0 defeat.

Closer to home in Australia, January plays host of eighth Australian Indoor National Championships. This year the Open and Under 21 Men’s and Women’s Championships were held in Wollongong, followed by Under 15 and Under 18 Men’s and Women’s Championships held in Brisbane. ACT had mixed results across all National Championships, attending seven of the eight due to being unable to field an Under 21 men’s team.

Despite their finals defeat, ACT men impressed selectors with eight athletes gaining selection in the 2014 Australian squad. The ACT women also made an impression with three athletes gaining selection in the Australia squads, and standout Jenna Cartwright earning joint-Player of the Tournament. The ACT athletes include Garry Backhus, Malcolm Beer, Chris Hotchkis, Daniel Hotchkis, Matthew Hotchkis, Paul MacKinnon, Seyi Onitiri, and Andrew Tomadini all named in the men’s squad, and Shelley Watson, Jenna Cartwright and Kalindi Commerford named in the women’s squad.

ACT teams do well to compete at these National Championships, however this year both the Open Men and Under 21 Women almost claimed a title. The Open Men’s team, led by current Australian squad member Matthew Hotchkis have long been a dominant force in the Australian indoor community, and regularly feature in the grand final. Not since 2007 has the team claimed a Nationals title, suffering regularly at the hand of their neighbours New South Wales. Yet again, at the 2014

The talent of the ACT athletes continued into the Under 21 women’s National Championships, with the ACT women remaining undefeated throughout the round games of the tournament. A strong mix of experience and talent allowed the ladies to play with conviction throughout the tournament and booking a grand final appearance. Despite their confidence leading into the game, New South Wales were out for redemption having lost the final in the previous year, securing a convincing 3-1 win and dashing the fairy-

018 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

tale ending to an incredible tournament. In the junior age-groups ACT did not have the same success, finishing in fifth and sixth place across the four national championships. Despite the results, the National Championships were a good learning experience for all involved. With the outdoor winter season just around the corner, set to commence at the end of March, focus will shift to transferring the newly developed skills from Indoor hockey to the outdoor game. For those athletes selected in the Australian Squads, a strong focus will be the next ten months which includes preparation and development ahead of the 2015 National Championships and selection for the Indoor World Cup. The squad have already begun preparation with a tour to Asia last year, and a tour of Europe in January for both the men and women’s squads. Europe is considered the powerhouse of indoor hockey, providing the opportunity for our National teams to gain exposure and experience playing against the top teams in the world. Both the men and women’s teams gained mixed results, and saw considerable improvements matching it with the top teams in the world. www.playcanberra.com.au

Touch Footy

On the weekend of 1 – 2 March the United Community Touch Knockout Carnival will take place. The knockout has grown considerably over the past three years and this year will be held over 2 days at the Deakin playing fields after having outgrown its former home at Boomanulla Oval.

packed calendar to kick off 2014

he ACT Touch Football calendar is jam packed during February and March with a number of exciting competitions and carnivals taking place at the Deakin playing fields. The Touch Football ACT Junior Superleague kicks off on Tuesday 11th February and will bring together promising under 14 and under 16 players from across Canberra for a five week competition. The Junior Superleague was created as a junior development pathway and will also see Canberra’s newest club, The Gungahlin Cats competing for the first time at the junior level.

Players from the Touch Football ACT Superleague competition nominated in a draft system with players selected by the current Touch Football ACT Superleague coaches. Vikings Superleague and ACT All Stars coach Chris Tarlinton said “This is a concept that we have needed in Canberra for sometime and it’s great that our elite players are finally able to showcase their talents without having to travel interstate to play”.

Running in conjunction with the Junior Superleague will be the inaugural ACT All Stars Series which will showcase the best mens and womens touch football players in the ACT competing against each other over a three game series.

The ACT All Stars Series will provide an opportunity for many of the elite level players to compete against players from their own clubs and will no doubt see some of the best touch football ever witnessed in Canberra.

www.playcanberra.com.au

The carnival caters for both mens and mixed teams of all levels. Last years knockout saw teams from the South Coast, Wagga and Dubbo travel to Canberra, which also features, live entertainment, Aboriginal showcases and stalls over the weekend. March culminates with the National Touch League in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales where the ACT will be represented by 9 teams. The ACT was victorious in the Women’s 35’s and Mens 50’s divisions in 2013 and were placed 3rd overall in the tournament. Training squads for the 2015 Touch World Cup will be identified during the NTL with a number of ACT players in contention for selection. Visit Touch Football ACT at www.acttouch. com.au for more information.

PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014 019

But the day was a huge success for the lime green club, with hundreds of members turning out to enjoy a free breakfast and a chat with their heroes. Raiders captain Terry Campese said the amount of community work his team engages in is more than that of any NRL club, and that should help boost membership numbers as the season progresses.

Raiders call for more members

he Canberra Raiders have begun their journey from the bottom of the 2014 NRL membership table with a members breakfast and junior rugby league registration event at Northbourne Oval. Having suffered the most tumultuous season in the club’s history last year and consequently finishing 13th with a points differential of -190, Just 4,541 fans have registered as ticketed members so far for this season, which is 710 fewer than the same time last year.

“I guess when the numbers came out about the members it was disappointing to be at the bottom,” he said. “I’d take it as a challenge if I were a Raiders fan, just to sign up and try to catch up with the rest of the NRL.” “It’s important to the team that we have as many people turn up to the game as possible. In the tough situations they’re the ones that get us through.” Newly named Raiders Auckland Nines tournament skipper Jarrod Croker said holding community events such as the Members Breakfast is key to attracting more support from the community. “The best way we can boost

membership is doing stuff like this, and of course winning games, so hopefully we’ll get a good start to the season and the fans will get behind us,” he said. Ricky Stuart spoke to the crowd, answering questions from the fans. “We’ve all been working hard over the last 12 weeks, and we’re all as excited as you with the competition around the corner,” he said over a PA system. Stuart also spoke of his plan to keep his senior leadership group together in order to nullify any wrongdoing and instability this season. “If you look at the teams over the seasons that have had success, they’re always the teams that use around 25 players” he said. “If we can keep our main players and senior players on the field, and use a bit more manpower, you’re always going to be more competitive.” “Our trainers want to get our players fitter and stronger.” Stuart was also satisfied his current playing group would behave themselves off the field this season.

Croker receives first shot at captaincy.

“He’s almost played as many games as me,” he said tongue-in-cheek.

anberra Raiders lion-hearted centre Jarrod Croker has never quite received the promotions deserved with his ability and commitment to the team.

“He’s got a great level head, he’s definitely mature for his age and I think he’s definitely a captain for the club of the future.”

But after 116 NRL caps in just five years, the 23-year old has been called upon to captain a young Raiders squad bound for the Auckland Nines preseason tournament. It will be Croker’s first hit as a skipper in his professional career, with the accolade much deserved with support from teammates in addition to his 50 tries and 245 goals with a strike rate of almost 80 percent. “It’s a nice little honour I suppose, something to be proud of, it’s something I haven’t done before,” Croker said. “It’s pretty exciting, and hopefully it’s [Auckland Nines] a good weekend” Croker said there would be more leadership expected from him throughout the NRL season now, but he

020 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

By Joshua Matic @MaticJm

“It’s great to see him named in that position, and I think it’s well deserved.”

was prepared to accept that challenge. “I’m looking forward to a bit of a challenge, and I’m pretty excited about it,” he said. “It’s a little bit of leadership there that hopefully I can take into round one.” When asked if he had provided any advice to Croker, Raiders NRL captain Terry Campese said Croker did not need it.

Coach Ricky Stuart has opted to give his younger men a run in the Nines event, with only Croker, fullback Reece Robinsion, hooker Glen Buttris, and forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs the only experienced campaigners heading across the Tasman. Lagi Setu, Mitch Cronin, Mitch Cornish, Luke Bateman, Jack Ahearn, Andrew Heffernan will all be on debut for a Raiders first grade squad, with Bateman and Heffernan promoted from the Under 20’s. Croker indicated the Nines would be a good chance for younger players to get game time under their belts. www.playcanberra.com.au

ON SALE NOW LIMITED EDITION LEGACY JERSEY RELEASED SOON EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE BY CLUB MEMBERS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS THROUGH CLUB WEBSITE OR RAIDERS HQ

$250 UNSIGNED $300 SIGNED (2014 NRL COACH/CAPTAIN)

FOR MEMBERSHIP AND LEGACY JERSEY INFORMATION VISIT

FEATURES NAMES OF ALL PLAYERS TO HAVE PLAYED FOR THE RAIDERS AT FIRST-GRADE LEVEL SINCE 1982

21229 getgoosebumps.com.au

2014 MEMBERSHIPS

The State of Play - Rugby Union.

Could 2014 be the Year of the Brumby? Brett McKay - @BMcSport

pparently, 2014 is the Chinese Year of the Horse. After a rapid resurgence started by Jake White saw the Brumbies reach the Super Rugby Final in 2013, could this season see the premier provincial rugby title in the southern hemisphere return to the Nation’s Capital for a third time? After an off-season chock-full of surprise departures - White himself, followed by CEO Andrew Fagan departing the big chair early, followed by Captain Ben Mowen announcing his future involves lineout calls in French - and a complete relocation of the club into temporary accommodation at the AIS ahead of moving into flash new digs at the University of Canberra, it almost feels like talking about actual rugby is a welcome change. Though my summer has been consumed by all things cricket, a rapid reintroduction to the summer goings-on of the Brumbies tells me that there is much optimism in the camp. A number of Wallabies tourists came back to training early, such was their enthusiasm to pass on what they’d learned in the national environment, and the new coaching team of Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher have made a few tweaks of their own to the Jake White blueprint. The Super Rugby Final appearance last season came a full year ahead of expectations, but that just means the team is working even harder to ensure they get there again in 2014. After building the Brumbies defensive and breakdown foundations in years one and two, White was always intending to add the Brumbies attack in year three. Already, it’s apparent that the Brumbies do intend on playing more rugby in the opposition half. Whereas last season the Brumbies were

022 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

Henry Speight

still inclined to kick for the corners once in the opposition 40 metres, in the hope of pinning them down through an attacking lineout, now it does appear the ‘Larkham Brumbies’ will attempt to dictate the attacking terms with ball-in-hand, rather than set piece. That’s not to say that the set piece won’t still be used as an attacking weapon. Indeed, Fisher is still overseeing the best lineout in Australia, and an already impressive scrum looks even better for the return of David Pocock on the side. Out wider, a sparkling season in a Wallabies jersey has seen young flyhalf Matt Toomua’s stocks rise rapidly. There’s many an expectation in Australian rugby circles that the Brumbies should follow Ewen McKenzie’s lead and play Toomua at inside centre, but the Brumbies remain steadfast that Toomua is first and foremost a flyhalf, and that’s where he’ll play. That said, the Brumbies will continue with the method employed last year where Toomua and Christian Lealiifano

interchanged regularly between first and second receiver, depending on what happened in the preceding play, or what needs to happen in subsequent phases. And with Lealiifano out until ‘Tah Week’, in Round 5, the door is opened for a few players to make their mark in the number 12 jersey. One of them will obviously be former Wallabies centre Pat McCabe, who last year had another injury-plagued season. Already, it’s been noted that McCabe has spent a lot of time at 12 in pre-season drills, and that he’s has also been busy up-skilling to enable him to play that same passing and playmaking game that won Lealiifano an Australian call-up. The short of it, Brumbies fans, is that the optimism within the camp is well-placed. Super Rugby remains one of, if not the toughest competition in world rugby, so a lot of things have to go right for successes to flow. The Brumbies’ program has laid the foundations of past successes, and there’s no reason why the Year of the Horse can’t become real. www.playcanberra.com.au

Brumbies go for Gold in 2014

Early feedback from players and supporters has been very positive, and the club is obviously looking forward to that translating into healthy merchandise sales.

he Brumbies launched their 2014 playing kit at the University of Canberra last month, with the home and alternate strips a case of the traditional and the very new.

“Thanks to Classic our players will be wearing one of the most exciting kits in the 2014 competition. The new, gold away strip is sure to be popular with supporters, particularly our younger fans who will be able to pick up a youth jersey in either home or away,” Brumbies Sponsorship Manager Kirsty Norwood said at the launch.

It’s also a welcoming back into the Brumbies family for iconic Australian sporting apparel company, Classic, who were the Brumbies original supplier when they first came to be in the inaugural Super 12 competition way back in 1996. The traditional Brumbies strip remains true to that first strip in 1996, albeit that the old cotton jerseys are long gone, and the tighter fit is less forgiving for the more well-proportioned gents in the scrum. But the gold stripes across the chest, and the navy blue over the chest and shoulders remains a staple, as they have for all but a few of the Brumbies’ 18 seasons. What is very new, however, is the alternate strip. In a style that looks very

Launching the 2014 Jerseys

close to what was dubbed a one-off design for the Centenary of Canberra strip in 2013, the Brumbies will be running onto foreign grounds in a largely gold number, white shorts, and gold socks. Alternate Brumbies strips of the past tended to stick with the traditional colours of navy blue and white.

Like Mike

“It’s better, it suits my style better, it’s just the way I fight. It’s more aggressive which suits me. It’s just a fight” Ferreira said explaining the difference between the two styles of boxing and it’s an opinion trainer Garry Hamilton shares.

“I watch a lot of old-school boxing so that’s where I get my style from. Like Mike Tyson, even before I started boxing I looked up to Mike Tyson, I just like his style” Ferreira told PLAY Canberra in a recent interview.

With a 2-0 professional record, big things are expected of Ferreira in the boxing world, but it’s something Ferreira doesn’t spend much time contemplating. He’s happy to take each bout as it comes and remains confident no matter who his opponent may be. “I know what I’m gonna do in there, I know what I’m going in there for. It www.playcanberra.com.au

The new Brumbies playing kit is already available at the club’s online shop, www. brumbieshq.com.au, and it will also be available at the ground on match days, and in all good sports stores in Canberra and the broader Brumbies Rugby region.

Always the aggressor Ferreira has made the step from amateur (or Olympic style) to professional boxing with ease.

f you’re a fan of Mike Tyson’s boxing style, you’ll walk away from Road to Punishment a fan of Felipe Ferreira.

“I just get in and put the pace on. That’s my style of fighting, even when I’m fighting really good guys it doesn’t matter – I’m coming to fight.”

“It’s a tough ask to improve what is already an impressive playing kit but I think Classic have hit the mark. We’ve had plenty of positive feedback on all of the kit we are revealing today and I’m looking forward to seeing it scattered through the crowd at our first home game.”

Felipe Ferreira

doesn’t matter if he’s a good opponent or not I’m going in there to do the same thing and that’s fight. “I’m confident, I know it’s going to be tough and it’s normal to be scared. You have a fear, not of being hurt, but embarrassing yourself and losing. But once I walk in that ring I feel powerful, I feel like everything else turns off and I’m just in there and that’s the guy I’m gonna beat”.

“His style, the way he boxes is suited to professional, he likes to bob his head around and move around a bit, which is more of a professional style, in the Olympic system you tend to have your head upright and box a little more straighter. He can box, but he’s more of a fighter than a (traditional) boxer, he just likes to fight.” To see Ferreira in action get along to Road to Punishment on Friday March 7th at the Hellenic Club of Canberra. Tickets are available at Stockade Gym in Dickson or DHF Woden. Tables can be purchased directly from Promoter Nick Boutzos on 0403 147 999. PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014 023

Boxing

The Next big thing

“100% that where you learn your skills” replied nationally regarded boxing coach Garry Hamilton when asked about the importance of that amateur (now generally known as Olympic style) experience. “You learn your coordination and skill, that’s where you do your apprenticeship. All the world champions had good Olympic careers, boxers that go straight to professional tend to lack skills, they just tend to be tough and fight and take a lot of shots”. It’s an opinion Toussaint himself agrees with “Yeah defiantly the more experience you can have the better. My skill level is going to be right up there compared to a lot of the top 10 guys. A lot of them are just fit and tough. But they haven’t had as many fights, actually boxing. Whether it’s amateur or pro the techniques are similar, its more the tactical things that change. Looking for that punch and lining things up, working, breaking an opponent down over the fight”. And with a 2-0 professional record already it’s these Top 10 guys in Toussaint’s weight division (super middle weight) that he has in his sights. “Yeah probably, in the next couple of years I’ll be looking to get an Australian title, hopefully this year I’ll beat someone in

024 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

Image: Getty

At 22 years of age and with over 70 “amateur” bouts to his name Toussaint entered the professional ranks having served a long apprenticeship which will hold him in good stead as he aims to progress to national and then international success.

Image: amandakelly.com.au

s I’m waiting at the Stockade gym in Dickson a young boxer asks me who I’m there to talk to, “David Toussaint about the upcoming Road to Punishment fight night” I reply. “He’s good, really good” the young guy replies. It’s a common theme when talking to those-in-the-know about Toussaint, with many believing the sky is the limit for his Professional boxing career.

Madeleine Hunter, Rachel Hetherington and Hope Cohen.

the top 10 - that’s goal for this year. “I’ve seen a few boys from the amateurs that have turned pro and a few of them I’ve beaten and the other boys I know I can beat. It’s just a matter of time – I’m only 22 so I’ve got heaps of time, I don’t need to rush through.” And it’s exactly that calm demeanor that Hamilton sees working in Toussaint’s favor as he makes the transition from Olympic style to professional boxing “Yeah he’s handled it (the transition) very well, he has enough skills from the Olympic style but he’s probably a better professional than he was in the Olympic system, he tends to be stronger, he likes to hit them and likes to punch on.” Hamilton is one good judge that believes the sky is the limit for Toussaint’s career. “Well he’s beaten Zac Dunn twice, who’s got a title now. I would put him with Jake Carr, who is the current Aussie Champion right now, in a second, no problem at all. At his last Australian championships, which was the Olympic trials, he went through the current Aussie champion and the second favorite Aussie champ and beat them both. David should have gone to the Olympic games, he’s just been

unlucky. At that point and time in 2010 he was the best 75kg boxer in the country” Add to this 3 victories over Australian Boxing ‘s “next big thing” Damien Hooper only a few years ago and you begin to believe the praise and confidence is warranted. “We are just getting him used to fighting with no head guard and we’ll start shaping him up and looking to getting him in the Australian rankings”. And then international – is that a long term goal? “100% yes and that is a realistic goal for David” Hamilton was quick to answer. Promoter Nick Boutzos shares this high opinion of Toussaint’s abilities “I definitely think if Dave sticks at this sport and dedicates himself 100% to his goals we could have a future champion on our hands which would be great for Canberra. To see a real fighter in action Toussaint’s next professional bout is in front of the local crowd at Road to Punishment on Friday March 7th at the Hellenic Club of Canberra. Tickets are available at Stockade Gym in Dickson or DHF Woden. Tables can be purchased directly from Promoter Nick Boutzos on 0403 147 999. www.playcanberra.com.au

Golf

ActewAGL Next Generation Club Camp 2014

he inaugural ALPG Next Generation Club camp was held at the prestigious Royal Canberra Golf Club from 12 to 15 January 2014.   The Next Generation Club was launched to provide an opportunity to Australia’s talented young female players to not only be mentored by leading International ALPG members but to provide them with various opportunities throughout the year to foster their development in the game.    One of these opportunities is offering the Next Generation Club members access to an annual camp to be able to gain faceto-face contact with some of the ALPG’s leading international tour players. This year Rachel Hetherington was the Mentor for the camp.    Rachel is one of Australia’s most successful female professionals. She played on the LPGA for 14 years, won eight titles, posted 62 top 10 finishes and won over $5.7 million in prizemoney.     Rachel lead the practice sessions focusing on key areas including both long game and short game practice preparation both in and outside of tournament time. She also provided an insight into life on tour.    One of the objectives of the camp is for the girls to come away with a better understanding and knowledge of all areas of their game to make it to the highest level in our sport.    Part of the camp includes the girls playing in a corporate day with naming rights sponsor ActewAGL at Royal Canberra. This gives the girls valuable experience playing in the corporate world as well as showcasing their talents to our sponsor. The camp finishes at the Moss

Madeleine Hunter, Rachel Hetherington and Hope Cohen.

Vale Golf Club ALPG Pro Am where the girls get involved with the ALPG tour and gain real life experience in life on tour.    Local girls Hope Cohen and Madeleine Hunter were a couple of the national talent that participated over the 4 days.     ALPG Executive Director Karen Lunn said that the ActewAGL Next Generation Club is something that both the ALPG Board and herself are very proud of and passionate about. Lunn said “the Next Generation Club provides a unique opportunity to provide our stars of the future with advice and mentoring from ALPG members which compliments the coaching they get from their own golf coaches, and the various high performance programs they are involved in”. Lunn paid tribute to ActewAGL CEO Michael Costello for sharing the ALPG’s vision in supporting the ActewAGL Next Generation Club and Camp. “We

are extremely grateful to Michael and ActewAGL for their support. ActewAGL have a proven track record in supporting not only women’s sporting events and teams in the ACT but also providing sponsorship assistance to many charities, schools and community groups throughout the region. Through the support of ActewAGL we hope to provide young women who have a passion for golf with advice and pathways to a future involved in the game.”    ActewAGL CEO Michael Costello says he is proud to be involved with the Club,  “ActewAGL has a history of supporting local women’s sports teams like the Canberra Capitals and Canberra United. We have provided support to women’s golf through the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic and we see this as a new opportunity to help some of our young rising stars become our future champions.”

DFO Shop T102 I 337 Canberra Ave Fyshwick 2609 0403734739 I www.facebook.com/capzcanberra 026 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

www.playcanberra.com.au

ACTEWAGL FEBRUARY EVENTS CALENDAR CRIC

Queanbeyan v ANU 11.00am Freebody No 1 Eastlake v Weston Creek Molonglo 11.00am Kingston Oval Tuggeranong Valley v Ginninderra 11.00am Chisholm 1 Western District UC v Nth Can Gungahlin 11.00am Jamison

Super

Brumbies V Reds 7.40pm GIO Canberra Stadium

BASE

Bandits V Vikings 3pm Vikings Park Indians V Eagles 3pm Kambah oval Bears V Rebels 3pm North Curtin Oval

Week 1: 1-9 FEbruary Tuesday 4th

BASE

Eagles V Vikings 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Wednesday 5th

BASE

Rebels V ACTAS 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Thursday 6th

BASE

ACTAS V Bears 7pm Narrabundah Oval

CRIC

Ginninderra v ANU 11.00am Kippax 1 Eastlake v North Canberra Gungahlin 11.00am Kingston Tuggeranong Valley v Weston Creek Molonglo Chisholm Western District UC v Queanbeyan 11.00am Jamison Oval

BASE

Indians V Bandits 3pm Aranda Oval Bears V Vikings 3pm Viking Park Eagles V Rebels 3pm North Curtain Oval

WNBL

Canberra Capitals V Townsville Fire 1pm AIS Arena

Saturday 8th

Sunday 9th

Week 2: 10-16 FEbruary Tuesday 11th

BASE

Vikings V Rebels 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Wednesday 12th

BASE

ACTAS V Bandits 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Thursday 13th

BASE

Indians V Vikings 7pm Narrabundah Oval

WNBL

Canberra Capitals V West Coast Waves 7pm AIS Arena

Saturday 15th

CRIC

Ginninderra v ANU 11.00am Kippax 1 Eastlake v North Canberra Gungahlin 11.00am Kingston Tuggeranong Valley v Weston Creek Molonglo Chisholm Western District UC v Queanbeyan 11.00am Jamison Oval

Sunday 16th

BASE

Bandits V Bears 3pm Majura Oval Vikings V Eagles 3pm Kambah Oval Rebels V Indians 3pm Stirling Oval

Friday 14th

Saturday 22nd

Sunday 23rd

Week 4: 24-2 FEbruary/march Tuesday 25th

BASE

Rebels V Indians 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Wednesday 26th

BASE

Eagles V ACTAS 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Thursday 27th

BASE

Make-up Games 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Saturday 1st

CRIC

Sunday 2nd

BASE

Eagles V Bandits 3pm Aranda Oval Bears V Indians 3pm Stirling Oval Vikings V Rebels 3pm North Curtain Oval

All details correct at time of printing

Week 3: 17-23 FEbruary Tuesday 18th

BASE

Vikings V Bandits 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Wednesday 19th

BASE

Bears V ACTAS 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Thursday 20th

BASE

Eagles V Rebels 7pm Narrabundah Oval

S BRUMBIE V DS QLD RE 22/2/14 7.40pm GIO Canberra Stadium

ActewAGL Retail ABN 46 221 314 841.

More reasons to follow us.

www.playcanberra.com.au

As Principal Partner of the Centenary of Canberra, we will be able to offer access to upcoming major events. Keep up with what’s happening locally, win tickets and access exclusive events on our Facebook page.

facebook.com/actewagl

PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014 027

Tennis

Canberra serves it up

or years Canberra’s tennis prospects have been rising, but they were well and truly catapulted on to the world stage last month. In tennis terms, Canberra’s international reputation has grown thanks to impressive performances from 18-yearold Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open and Canberra Velocity in the Asia-Pacific Tennis League. Behind some huge serving and audacious hitting, Kyrgios turned heads with his gritty five-set, second round loss to Benoit Paire, ranked 28 in the world. He may have lost, but the 2013 Australian Open junior champion made the entire tennis world sit up and take notice.

Alison Bai

Kyrgios was forced to watch Canberra Velocity’s ATL finals campaign - held alongside the Open at Melbourne Park from the sidelines. Both the men and women finished equal fifth in the international competition.

Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka and Svetlana Kuznetsova, high profile coach Paul Annacone, and even Andy Murray’s mum Judy, who is also Great Britain’s Fed Cup coach, tweeted their approval.

The men were unable to continue their run of upsets, losing in the quarter-finals against the highly-fancied Kooyong Classics 2-4, while Velocity’s women also lost a hard-fought quarter-final against Korea 2-4.

Kyrgios, who is a product of the National Academy ACT, led by two sets to love before cramps set in and the stoic Frenchman prevailed to win 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

Before their match, the men’s team – Alex Bolt, Jake Eames, Alun Jones, James Frawley, Robert Howe, Jake Okines and Dimi Morogiannis – were dealt a blow with Bolt also a late withdrawal after reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open doubles with Andrew Whittington the day before.

“I finished the match and didn’t have to retire, so that’s confidence in itself as well,” Kyrgios said post-match. “Playing somebody in the top 30 and taking him to five sets is not a bad result either. “I thought he managed himself better throughout the match and that’s why he came out on top. It was a really fun night. It motivates me to get out there again and have another shot.”

The women - Alison Bai, Ashley Keir, Nicole Hoynaski and Tyra Calderwood were also forced to reshuffle their line-up at the last minute after Hoynaski was offered a university scholarship in the America.

In the meantime, the Watson teenager has loftier heights to scale - a Davis Cup meeting against France and a likely singles berth alongside Lleyton Hewitt.

Velocity’s men, in particular, were close to reaching the semi-finals however Eames and Jones were unable to convert three match points in the second set of their crucial doubles tie.

“I’ll do everything I can to get the win,” he said, “even if that means not playing, being on the sides. If I’m called up to play, I’ll do my best to get one for the team.”

Jones, the team manager, said he didn’t think they played the match points badly but their opponents “pulled off some great shots under pressure”.

In a bid to be 100 per cent fit for the tie,

“With this format, every tie seems to be

028 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

Jake Eames

close and the matches go down to the wire,” he said. With the women’s quarter-final level at two rubbers each after the singles, Velocity needed to win one of the doubles matches in straight sets to clinch the tie. However, Ashley Keir and Tyra Calderwood lost 2-4, 1-4, and South African wildcard Chanelle Scheepers (a replacement for Hoynaski) and Alison Bai went down in a third-set super-tiebreak 4-0, 2-4 (7-10). Velocity rebounded brilliantly in the playoffs for fifth place with the men leading from the outset against Pacific Oceania Dolphins, and the women coming from behind to beat New Zealand Tuis. Frawley and Okines secured the victory by taking the second set of their match against Cyril Jacobe and Nickolas N’Godrela 4-1 and Velocity’s women came from 1-3 down after the singles to claim a thrilling two-set victory and fifth spot. “It was a great result in the end for both teams,” Jones said. “We really played well when we needed to and took our opportunities.” He said the local focus within both teams was an important factor in the final result. “We’re pretty proud of the fact that everyone in this team is from Canberra or has some kind of Canberra connection,” he added. “We train together and play together; it’s a really good team environment. The ATL has been great for the development of our elite athletes.” www.playcanberra.com.au

Sport Psychology

of performance such confidence, concentration, communication, motivation and emotions is that we risk treading on the coaches’ toes. So what is the solution?

Sport Psychology in Australia

am jealous of dentists. When a dentist goes to a barbeque and is asked ‘what do you do for a living’ and replies ‘I’m a dentist’ not a great deal of further information is required. However when I go to a barbeque and am asked the same question and reply ‘I’m a sport psychologist’ the most common response is ‘oh, urm, that sounds interesting … what exactly does that involve’? So I thought I’d use this space for an update about the final frontier of sports science – sport and performance psychology.

Without a doubt the biggest misperception about what we do is that because we’re psychologists then we only work with people trying to overcome a mental illness. One of the reasons for this misunderstanding is due to the fact that all psychologists in Australia are trained to help with

mental illness and most are happy to help clients with both performance and non-performance challenges. This is all very noble but of course makes it very hard for the users of psychological services to have a very good idea about which psychologist or groups of psychologists might best be suited to helping with a particular type of challenge. At Condor Performance we pride ourselves in being specialists in the mental aspects of performance (both sporting and non-sporting) and prefer to leave the clinical work to those who specialise in just that. One of the consequences of us focusing on purely psychological aspects

Instead of insisting that all coaches complete a seven year higher education program and become sport psychologists themselves or firing all the coaches and replacing them with registered psychologists, a shift is required for a greater amount of our work to be in the role of supporting the coach and helping him / her to become an even better mental coach than they currently are. This shift needs to come from current and future Australian coaches from grassroots to high performance. Until this happens, and the perception of what ‘sport psychs’ do becomes clearer, I will continue to be highly envious of dentists. By Gareth J. Mole MPsych (S&E). Gareth is Chief Improvement Officer at Condor Performance. Head to www.condorperformance.com for more information on the services Condor Performance provides including the popular Mental Toughness Training Course (see advertisment below).

Mental Toughness Training for Sport and Performance

www.playcanberra.com.au

PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014 029

Sport Crossword No 26 1

22 23

“Sports creates a bond between contemporaries that lasts a lifetime. It also gives your life structure, discipline and a genuine, sincere, pure fulfillment that few other areas of endeavor provide.” - Bob Cousy.

Across 1 and 18 Ac St George- Illawarra coach (5,5) 4 and 17 Dn Australian short form cricketer (5,5) 7 Swiss football team (5) 9 Australian spinner, Fawad ___ (5) 10 Dribble and shoot (5) 11 The Hatters (5) 12 Sport played by the Diamonds (7) 13 Sailing vessel (5) 15 Bobby ___, who challenged and lost to Billie Jean King (5) 17 Be penalised with a loss (7) 18 See 1 Across (5) 20 Ms Comaneci (5) 22 Indian cricketer Suresh ___ (5) 23 Sydney basketball team (5) 24 Flush or full house (5) 25 Rowing number (5) Down 1 Ice hockey cup (7) 2 Ant-like creature (5)

COERVER Coaching Master Class Series.

3 Peter ___, snooker champion (5) 4 Top player (3-4) 5 Sugar ___ Leonard (3) 6 Mountain-dwelling Asia Zone FIFA team (5) 8 Australian all-rounder (5,6) 14 Major horse race (3,4) 16 Race driver Jackie ___ (7) 17 See 4 Across (5) 18 Boxing prize (5) 19 Hockey term, ___ the puck (5) 21 The ___, best cricketer ever (3) crossword No 25 R C O R O N A L D C R D S K I N S Y E S A Y R T B U M U H A M M R L P S N O O K E L N D J E S S E Y O

O K S E N O N E A D Y R C S O X

C E P A I N E S G A T T L E L A S E N N A D A L I I E A S T L E B S L O M O N N M

Jason Lancsar COERVER® Coaching Asia Pacific Director

Jason Lancsar COERVER® Coaching Asia Pacific Director We hope you enjoy our Coerver Coaching Play Magazine homework designed to improve your game but above all have fun while practicing. Coerver Coaching has been a global leader in 1v1, this month we look at the Outside Cut.

Topic: The Outside Cut

1. For the most effective outside cut, try to make sure the ball is well ahead of you. 2. Try to stay low and cut the ball with your ankle, rather than a stiff straight leg, so you have a soft and flexible touch and can accelerate out of the move strongly. 3. As soon as you complete the move, look up to see where your opponents and teammates are. 4. Use this move when going across your opponent’s goal and when your opponent is in front of you.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Push the ball forward out in front of you.

Then stretch to reach the ball.

Using the outside of your foot, stop the ball.

As you do this, turn with the ball and push the ball in the opposite direction, accelerate away from your opponent.

Now you have shielded the ball, you can go in another direction.

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

030 PLAY CANBERRA FEBRUARY 2014

www.playcanberra.com.au

TWO GREAT CLUBS www.canberrastadium.com.au TWO GREAT CLUBS TWO GREAT CLUBS www.canberrastadium.com.au www.canberrastadium.com.au