Canada Bay Cannons 2019 Year Book: Young Guns

CANADA BAY CANNONS’

Young Guns 2019

Canada 2018: Season Bay Cannons: The Year Young the Cannons Guns 2019 Fired Up

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

Contents 4 Cannons Club Report 6 Milestones 8 Under 10 & Under 12 Youth Girls 10 Under 12 Division 3 Orange 12 Under 12 Division 2 Teal 14 Under 12 Division 1

Cover photos: Michelle Hauschild

16 ​Under 13 Division 3 Orange 18 Under 13 Division 3 Teal 20 Under 13 Division 1 22 Under 14 Division 3 24 Under 14 Division 2 26 Under 14 Division 2 Teal Youth Girls 28 Under 14 Division 1 Orange Youth Girls 30 Under 15 Division 2 32 ​Under 16 Division 1 Youth Girls 34 Under 17 Division 2 38 Under 18 Youth Girls

Acknowledgements: This year book does not come together easily and without the help of a team. Thank you again to Tony Gillies for your facilitation of the year book. Thank you to the coaches and managers who contributed articles on behalf of their teams.

Year book Editors: Michelle Hauschild.

Photography: Thank you to the army of photographers who contribute to the Canada Bay Cannons social media. Many of their photographs appear in these pages. Particular thanks to Josef Baukes, Sonia Righi, Kylie Gillies, Natalie Haddad, Mark Vincent and Alan Nunez for going above and beyond.

Loving the online year books?

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

CANADA BAY CANNONS BOARD REPORT 2019

This was Season 2019 On the numbers, this was Season 2019 for the Canada Bay Cannons: 15 teams 5 all-girls teams from U12 through to U18 4 teams through to the Grand Final. (A shout-out to U13 Div 3 Teal, U14 Div 2 and U14 Div 1 Youth Girls.)

1 Premiership. Congratulations to U12 Division 1 on securing a flag in your first year as Cannons.

While the number of pennants is down on past seasons, a successful season is not measured on flags alone. Credit should go to all our Cannons teams, no matter where they ended on the ladder.

They played and represented our Club in the best possible manner.

Saluting our volunteers The club runs on a great number of volunteers: 24 coaches 20 managers 11 regular Club based volunteers 6 board members 3 age group coordinators.

There were also countless team and clubbased volunteers who put their hands up to run water, stand in the goal, turn sausages on the BBQ, ground manage, provide first aid, send emails, organise events and take photographs.

While all our volunteers deserve a call out, we would like to particularly thank Susan Evans for coordinating the canteen and Natalie Haddad for her outstanding efforts with the off-field merchandise.

On the Board, I was joined by Mauro Vianello, Michelle Hauschild, Andrew

Smith, Jamie Reeves and Simon Osborne.

Graeme Durrant, Chris Gibbs, Jeremy Stanwix and Mark Watmore also deserve special thanks for an outstanding year.

This year we formally recognised four volunteers for long-standing service to the Cannons.

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GWS MEDAL Gabby Ferreira

SWANS MEDAL Tony Gillies

SPECIAL CLUB AWARD Dean Lee

CBC CLUB PERSON Mike Andrews

This was a transition year for the U18 Youth Girls, who previously played in the colours of our junior club, Drummoyne Power.

That the transition was so smooth is down to the efforts of Gabby, their coach.

Tony has been a long-time volunteer. As a team manager, he has mentored many players.

His generosity is legendary, and he is a master of creating successful team culture. He is also instrumental in putting this year book together.

One of the founding Presidents of the Canada Bay Cannons, Dean remains a force in the Club. Without fanfare, he sets up St Lukes on the weekend and can be relied upon in every situation to help out. People like Dean just make game days work.

Mike coordinated the GWS Giants ‘Coach the Coaches’ sessions, was Age Coordinator for the U14s and an integral part of this year’s Presentation Day. Mike is continually thinking about how to make the Club better for players and parents.

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

...countless team and club-based volunteers‌ put their hands up to run water, stand in the goal, turn sausages on the BBQ, ground manage, provide first aid, send emails, organise events and take photographs.

Sponsors We wish to thank our fantastic sponsors, who once again ensured we were able to operate from a stable financial position.

Platinum sponsor Leichhardt Volkswagen, Gold sponsors Cobden & Hayson, Horizon Homes and JR Fitness Coaching and Silver sponsors Five Dock Physio and Sundaraj & Ker. Thank you.

Player pathways As a Club, we have worked hard to create player pathways through to senior AFL. It was exciting this year to see two former Cannons on AFL playing lists: Congratulations to Bailey Lambert, who is on Richmond’s roster and playing in the VFL, and Fraser Phillips, who was selected by Carlton in the 2019 Rookie Draft.

To those players leaving us in 2019, we hope you continue to play AFL and wish you all the best in your senior footy careers. We hope one day to see former Cannons hold up the trophy on that final Saturday in September; or that Saturday in March for the AFLW!

We would also like to take this opportunity to issue a general invitation to any former players who would like to come back and coach.

Bring on Season 2020 Looking forward to 2020, we hope to increase our team numbers and once again continue to provide an enjoyable AFL experience for our players and families.

We do expect some challenges in 2020. Drummoyne Oval will be unavailable for all but a few home games next year. We are fortunate to have access to Five Dock Park and St Lukes.

We will keep the Club up to date on oval developments through our newsletters and social media channels.

See you in 2020!

MILAN SEROVICH On behalf of the Cannons Board (Milan Serovich, Jamie Reeves, Simon Osborne, Andrew Smith, Mauro Vianello, Michelle Hauschild)

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

2019 Milestones

350

Joshua Lee

200

Blake McKenzie

GAMES

GAMES

150 GAMES

100 GAMES

Milestones achieved in Season 2019. Junior career milestones include games with junior clubs – most often, Drummoyne Power and Concord Giants / Concord Cats.

100 GAMES

for Canada Bay Cannons

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Lucas Blythe Joel Ditcham Finlay MacDonald Justin Ryan Nathan Wrigley Dallas Arndell Alexander Au-Yeung Nicholas Champion Thomas Charles Patrick Chrystie Alexander Colreavy Lochlan Demark Harrison Eckert Laura Gibbons Archie Gillies Gus Gillies Joshua Hauschild Jack Hauschild William Gibbs

Zachary Izzard Maxwell Kantor Hugo Moulton Paddy Mulvey Ethan Nandlal Zachary Nandlal Denver Pelly Leon Schouten Harry Serovich Taj Thorne Zachariah Thorne Jasper Vincent

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

KIERAN JACK AWARDS The following players were recognised across their division by AFL Sydney Juniors.

Best & Fairest Gabriella Stanwix U16 Div 1 Youth Girls Zac Morgan U13 Div 3 Red Runner up Best & Fairest Joshua Lee U17 Div 2 Zac Nandlal U13 Div 1

Congratulations to:

U14YG Grace Fisher Serina Baukes U17 Joshua Lee Patrick Braithwaite Coach Lachlan Bennetts

CLUB AWARDS U16YG Sasha Castillo Emily Dunne U18YG Alex Latham Sophia Hadwen Zara Holben

These Cannons were selected as All Stars as a result of their performances in the AFL Sydney Juniors representative carnival earlier this year.

Life membership is the highest award given to volunteers. It is an honour bestowed by our junior clubs Drummoyne Power and Concord Giants. This year Milan Serovich and Simon Osborne, both active Cannons volunteers, were awarded life membership of Drummoyne Power.

Play AFL 9s with Hunters and Villains Why should the kids have all the fun? The Hunters & Villains AFL 9s team is made up of parents from Canada Bay Cannons, Drummoyne Power and Concord Giants.

They’re always looking for new players – men and women – no experience required.

Photo credit: Jason O’Brien

Contact Mike 0428 645 347 or Stephen 0412 600 592.

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

YOUTH GIRLS CANNONS

UNDER

12 YOUTH GIRLS

COACH Rob Blunden MANAGER Susan O’Donovan

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Little Battlers with Giant Hearts THIS little squad of six Under 10s started the pre-season hoping to bring in some new girls and try to be competitive during the season. It quickly became apparent that numbers for both U10 and U12 were going to be tight and as consequence combined to form U10/12 youth girls.

A more desperate and committed group you wouldn’t find anywhere. And despite being outnumbered and outsized by older girls each week they battled hard.

Some great recruiting during the year bolstered the numbers such that by the final game we had 16 on the field.

Most girls were pretty new or complete footy novices, but without question gave it their all week in week out without caring about the infliction of the mercy rule almost every game.

With the exception of seeing the girls develop and enjoying pretty much every

minute, the season highlight was our solitary win against a powerful Newtown side. The spirit of the game was on display as Newtown filled the numbers for us with up to six players and gave everything playing in a Cannons jumper. A win by a couple of points was surprisingly satisfying for both clubs on a cold and early Sunday morning.

■ Charli Huskin was a late comer mid-season and a superb addition to the team, a true athlete and showed incredible desperation.

■ Ivy Eastwood was a second season veteran, always running and tackling.

She gives everything she has each week.

■ Grace Edwards was an U10 playing against the older girls but was never daunted. Injury kept her out for a few weeks but she never lost her desire.

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

YOUTH GIRLS CANNONS

... DESPITE BEING OUTNUMBERED AND OUTSIZED BY OLDER GIRLS EACH WEEK THEY BATTLED HARD. ■

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Elodie Hopkin was the smallest U10 on the field, but what a champ! Silky skills and determination. She had a great season.

Willa Bouwman joined us mid-season as a new U12. She’s a great runner and so enthusiastic. Keep it up Willa!

Mila Burdett played only a few games.

She probably doubted herself but was so fast and picked up where the ball was going to be superbly.

Abbie Elzinga was a new starter and a great communicator. A tower of strength playing in the ruck. Come back next year.

Juliana Elzinga was U8 but “wanted” to be out there with her big sis. I’m sure she loved it.

Molly Robinson was a new U12 with a hockey background. Super athletic, tackling and running machine. Will be a rep player if she keeps at it.

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Amy O’Donovan made the rep squad and battled through a couple of injuries.

You need a few players like Amy across the ground. Her long kicking was a season highlight.

Sofia Chuproff was towered over by the opposition each week but never gave up. She tackles like a machine.

Livia Chuproff has a great spirit and always played with a smile on her face.

Unstoppable when she sets her mind to it.

Kate played hard all year. Great running and tackling meant she was a real asset to the team.

Jada Grieco was another U10 who showed great spirit all year. It was tough for her as a new player against the bigger girls but she never gave up.

Winter Pearce was a mid-season starter with a great kick. Give her a bit more experience and she will shine.

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Ivy Poole-Blunden is another small U10 and I’m sure it’s as tough being the coach’s kid as it is coaching. Ivy never missed a game nor training all year.

Skills have improved and never held back against the bigger girls.

– Coach Rob

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

CANNONS

UNDER

12

DIVISION 3 ORANGE

COACHES Martin Fuller Colin Hunt ASSISTANT COACH Eugene Morozoff TRAINING ASSISTANT Peter Robinson MANAGER Laura Ronan

Minors Premiers in a Season of Firsts IT was with much excitement that the squad assembled for our first training session with a number of players (and coaches) facing their first ever season of AFL. Lucky for us the support offered by the club was fantastic and we hit the ground running with a win from game one. From there until an untimely form slump in the finals, the team never looked back and were deserved Minor Premiers.

The team was blessed with a number of very skilful players and others determined to give it their all week in, week out. As the weeks went by the combinations began to gel and the team took on and defeated every team before them.

Special thanks to Peter and Eugene, who were also instrumental in the success of the team.

Each boy made a significant contribution to the team and can be very proud of their efforts.

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Alex Au-Yeung was a dominant key positional player. When he was not scoring goals himself he was often setting up attacking raids and laying the ball up for the forwards.

Dom Bertuccio had a great season demonstrating his versatility by playing up and down the ground. A reliable kick and creative player often responsible for working the team out of trouble.

Dylan Celegon had a solid season lurking in the forward line and kicking goals when the opportunity arose. A good strong kick who worked hard in getting the Cannons to a winning score each week.

Noah Chabo was one of our midfield magicians. Gifted with good hands, speed and vision, Noah had a great season getting the ball out of the middle each week.

THE TEAM WAS BLESSED WITH A NUMBER OF VERY SKILFUL PLAYERS AND OTHERS DETERMINED TO GIVE IT THEIR ALL WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

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Charlie Fuller was a strong wingman who combined well with his midfielders and back men. He had the endurance and skill to beat most of his opponents each week and kick a few goals in the process.

Ben Chase was a versatile utility who played his best football in close and combined well with his midfields in getting the ball deep into attack.

Albert Cho came on in leaps and bounds during the year. He epitomised the team spirit of having a go and never shirked the hard stuff when asked.

Mason Daly was a slick user of the ball who played his best football in the mids often drifting forward with great vision to punish the opposition with his accurate kicking.

Tom Huber was an exciting player with natural speed and endurance. He combined well with the other on-ballers to feed off the ruck and set up his key

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positional players down the ground.

Tyeson Hunt was a fierce rebounding defender who took no prisoners down back. Tyeson was instrumental with his fellow defenders in closing down most of the opposition’s attempts on goal.

Zac Mastrogiannis had a great season covering a number of positions throughout the year. With a good kick and steady hands, Zac combined well with his team mates in both attack and defence.

Kane McKenzie was a brave defender who demonstrated tremendous courage down back, often relying on a good turn of pace to outwit and outrun his opponent.

Lincoln Milson was the anchor in attack. Great hands and a long accurate kick saw Lincoln regularly hit the scoreboard to punish the opposition.

Matthew Morozoff was an exciting small forward who loved scoring goals.

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CANNONS

Deceptively quick over a short distance and a determined tackler Matthew often conjured up goals out of nothing.

Ben Ronan has scintillating speed and endurance. He thrilled the crowds with his daring runs into attack and long penetrating kicks.

Rhys Seuberlich was the wall in defence and marshalled the backs from his key position as fullback. Possessing arguably the team’s longest kick, he often got us out of trouble down back.

Zach Thorne was a hard-tacking defender and wingman whose trademarks were great skills and determination on the ball. Key team player in building pressure on opposition.

Ashton Toemoe was an outstanding ruckman who was instrumental in the overall success of the team, often playing through pain and demonstrating great courage.

– Coach Colin 11

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

CANNONS

UNDER

12

DIVISION 2 TEAL

COACHES Sean Baskett ASSISTANT COACH Tony Johnston RUNNER Patrick Matthews MANAGER Neville James

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Rising to the Challenge WE commenced the season in Division 3, welcomed new players and the boys quickly gelled as a team. The first game as Cannons saw us travel to the Shire to play Miranda where we lit the fuse to shoot off the Cannon. What an amazing start!

We conceded only three points in the first three games, including a memorable afternoon at Glebe, where some of the boys delighted in avenging last year’s Under 11 grand final loss.

After this dominating start, the AFL decided to re-grade Teal promoting us to Division 2. We were unsure of what to expect but collectively decided this was an exciting challenge for our boys.

It started well when we beat Ramsgate by 51 pts. We then lost to Bangor by only three points in an early game that started in mist so heavy we couldn’t see across the ground. Next was a really hard-fought game at Wests where we celebrated a five point win.

Unfortunately that would prove to be our last win of the season but we played competitively throughout and with a bit more luck could have won a few close ones and made the finals. We had the unforgettable game against Newtown where we got drenched and there was a sad farewell to Ethan Dunne at Ramsgate.

In our repeat battle with Moore Park, our boys threw everything at the game, earning high praise from the Tigers coach.

Then, finally, our first trip to Oaks Park to play Penshurst, where we really took it up to the ladder leaders and only lost by three goals to end the season.

■ Luca Arciuli: A dynamic first year player who developed rapidly through the season ending with a best on ground performance against the Minor Premiers.

■ Declan Baskett: A fierce tackling utility who provided bursts in the midfield and delighted the crowd and his team mates

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

CANNONS

THE FIRST GAME AS CANNONS SAW US TRAVEL TO THE SHIRE TO PLAY MIRANDA WHERE WE LIT THE FUSE TO SHOOT OFF THE CANNON.

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with his hard hitting and goal saving tackles.

Callum Campbell: Shouldered the ruck responsibilities admirably through the season providing many dynamic highlights with his high marking and goal kicking celebrations.

Thomas Cody: Showed silky foot skills, equally adept at playing as a half forward or back flanker and a noted contributor of team one percenters.

Sampson Curtis: A versatile team player contributing across the ground taking clutch marks and winning important possessions.

Jack Dinham: A strong, fleet footed midfielder who worked tirelessly each game providing many memorable bone crunching tackles.

Ethan Dunne: Had a stand out season with his play at centre half back repelling countless opposition attacks. Teal’s loss is Western Australia’s gain with his move to Perth mid-season.

Rory Flanagan: A talented contributor with strong marking and deft ball skills and movement, delivering many strong performances.

Austin Hall: A composed, highly skilled footballer who saved many a goal with his strong marking and raking long kicks.

Joshua Hauschild: A great team player who is a reliable, disciplined defender

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who also proved damaging when moved forward on occasions.

Samuel James: Enthusiastic, strong marking key forward who delivered some memorable Ben Brown like goals through the season.

Matthew Johnston: An energetic, hard running midfielder who had a fantastic season, never afraid to take it up to the opposition.

Rafferty Kitching: Kicked so many fabulous, team lifting goals as a creative small forward and also provided great efforts when playing in the midfield.

Stephen Kombos: Regular threat around goals with his marking and ability to turn and kick long through the big sticks.

Hugo Matthews: A smart thinking, hard-working midfielder who developed as an on field leader during the season.

Samuel Millott: Great first year player who was a goal sneak when playing forward and a committed defender when playing down back.

Hugo Moulton: Creative, sure shooting forward who punished Cannons’ opponents with some big bags of goals.

Winston Parry: A real team player who found his calling as a tight, disciplined defender making it very difficult for opponents, wearing them like a glove.

Fidel Sweeney: Played a few games in the first half of the season developing his AFL skills and game sense.

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Ethan Westlake: Was a revelation this year picking up possessions at ease and some of his enigmatic play as Hulk-like in the way he shrugged off opponents.

Scott Wrigley: An excitement machine taking on the game in the last line of defence, then a goal kicking threat whenever he was thrown forward.

A huge thanks to Tony for taking on the role as an accredited Assistant Coach and to Paddy, our runner. Their commitment each week to keeping training fun and to developing the boys was appreciated. To Neville, our manager, for all his smooth coordination and communications, to our first aid officer Nick, and to all those parents who took on ground management, canteen and sideline duties – thank you.

– Coach Sean

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

CANNONS

UNDER

12

DIVISION 1

HEAD COACH Anthony Grant ASSISTANT COACHES Paul Charles Shannon AltorjayArnoul Matt Zeremes MANAGER Danielle Williams

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A Premiership Season to Remember WHAT a year! What a season! On 1 September, the Cannons U12-1 boys were crowned Premiers following a sensational 21-point defeat of the highly fancied Easts club in the Grand Final.

It’s been a season to remember… the first half was marked by a start of seven straight wins and a position atop the ladder. Then came the mid-season test of character, which saw the team lose three straight matches by less than a goal. Shortly after, a demoralising loss to Easts positioned the team at a crossroads. Narrowly holding on to a top four ladder position, the boys, to their immense credit, responded to the challenge by staying true to their values

(respect, effort, teamwork, focus, fun) and embracing a more aggressive game plan.

With a crucial win against Willoughby securing a finals position, the resilience and discipline the boys had developed positioned them for a memorable finals campaign that saw them defeat Manly, Maroubra and Easts to claim the title. The boys are becoming men!

A huge thank you to Paul ‘Charlzee’ Charles, Shannon ‘Shannon’ AltorjayArnoul and Matt ‘Zeemer’ Zeremes for making up three quarters of the coaching team and providing bucket loads of wisdom, experience and laughs.

Our Manager extraordinaire Danielle Williams is tireless and uber-detailed in her comms and is the glue that holds the parents-players collective together. You rock, Dan. This incredible season belongs to the players, so here’s our Under 12, Div 1 Premiers for 2019: ■ Jack Altorjay‑Arnoul: Jack is an absolute terrier and wins so much hard ball for the team. His positional play and read of a game is a standout.

■ Curtis Bowhill‑Hayes: Curtis is a heart and soul contributor to our forward line and his courage under pressure is inspirational.

■ Nicholas Callanan: Nick is a dynamic forward for us and his trusty left foot has landed some match winners. Super handy in the fullback role too.

■ Nicholas Champion: Nick is a superstar midfielder who is a genuine ball magnet.

His toughness and use of the ball are highlights of his play.

■ Thomas Charles: Tom’s overhead marking ability and goal scoring

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

CANNONS

CANNONS U12-1 BOYS WERE CROWNED PREMIERS FOLLOWING A SENSATIONAL 21-POINT DEFEAT OF THE HIGHLY FANCIED EASTS.

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prowess make him a valuable team member. His humour is great for team spirit.

Lachlan Clancy: Lachlan’s work across half-back has been incredible.

His fearless attack on the footy and long clearing kicks are features of his play.

Albie Duffy: Albie has been incredibly versatile for us, and his toughness and quick use of the ball are big assets for the team.

Samuel Eastwood: Samuel has a fantastic ability to be in the right place at the right time and has scored many important goals for us this season.

Jacob Grant: Jacob’s ruckwork is first class and he has a big heart. He’s a powerhouse across the field and his use of the ball is pinpoint.

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Ben Hannah: Ben’s performance in our backline has been superb. His one-onone defence is outstanding and teamfirst approach is inspirational.

Joshua Malone: Josh has been a revelation in his first year and has been a brick wall as our last line of defence.

He’s brilliant under pressure.

Harry Mayne: Harry’s speed across the ground and his versatility has seen him play in forwards, mids and backs, and all with great effect.

Yoshi Miller: Yoshi’s toughness and intelligent play under pressure position him as an outstanding backline contributor with a trusty left foot.

Ethan Nandlal: Ethan’s read of the play is fantastic and his work ethic and toughness across half back has seen many opposition raids shut down.

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Callum Robinson: Callum is a speedster and his kicking skills are elite. He is a valued member of our midfield brigade and great in open play.

Leon Schouten: Leon is an absolute gun. His run, positional play and ball use are high quality and he is often involved in our highlight goals.

Lachlan​ Williams: Lachlan is an inspirational leader and has added a toughness to his elite ball use and goal scoring ability. Dynamic half forward.

Marlowe Zeremes: Marlowe has been incredibly versatile for us across midfield and the forward line. His kicking for goal under pressure is superb.

– Coach ‘Stretch’

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

CANNONS

UNDER

13

DIVISION 3 ORANGE

COACH Anthony Lawrence ASSISTANT COACH Damian Wrigley MANAGER Joe Pippia

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Resilience, Tenacity, Sportsmanship AFTER a premiership win in 2018, U13 Orange struggled to find form this season after several player rotations and injuries impacted the team dynamic. On the positive side, this created the opportunity for each player to step up and improve their individual game, as well as build a new core and leadership group.

Our coaches Anthony and Damian worked hard with the boys and were a source of constant encouragement and inspiration. Looking back, the boys can walk tall and be encouraged by the growth and incredible team spirit they displayed throughout the season. They all stepped up to the task. We were pleased to see Damian Lawrence, Felix Sharp, Ethan Stefas, Denver Pelly and Bailey Wrigley showing excellent leadership on the field. Our engine room, Mikhail Dragun, Siam Pongphaew, Russell Pedley, Alexander Pippia, and our gun recruit Will Fuller, worked hard all season. Our master

motivators Cooper Hansen and Alex Hewitt always had plenty to say during the breaks and gave plenty on the field.

Likewise, Aiden Palmer, Jasper Connor and Kaelan Skues pushed themselves and played some of the best footy we have seen from them. We were also lucky enough to get Jackson Wybrow back after missing most of the season with injury.

It was a welcome morale boost and he wasted no time bagging a few goals.

There were many memorable moments this season. One Sunday, while walking off after getting thumped, our boys noticed the U14-1 Cannon girls had turned up to play but had no opposition.

‘Did someone say we can play the girls?’

The excitement was palpable, and their (over)confidence and boyish bravado left me in no doubt they would soon be eating their words….and that’s exactly what happened! They got a whopping! In the end, we had coaches playing, and a

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HOW THIS TEAM CONDUCTED THEMSELVES...

SHOWING RESILIENCE, TENACITY AND SPORTSMANSHIP. fantastic mixed game that goes down as one of the Club culture highlights of the year. The boys could hardly stand after the game, but we could not stop them smiling (at the girls).

We had the opportunity to play U13 Teal twice on a Friday night under lights at St Lukes. These were great Club games, and enjoyable social evenings. With a Maccas feeding frenzy on the line, our boys needed three goals against Teal in the last game of the season. They got the third goal with two minutes to go. High fives and hugs all round to celebrate, it was a positive way to end the season.

We would like to acknowledge the following: Congratulations to Damien, Alexander P, Toby, Russell and Cooper on reaching

their 100 game milestones during the season.

Two of our players, Toby Dolph and Ethan, sustained season ending injuries early in the season. We missed you and we want you back next year.

With a reasonable injury list, it was challenging to get enough players each week. Ben Hannah (U12) was always ready to help, as were many other U12 boys. Our ‘brothers 3’: Charlie Fuller, Toby Hansen and Leo Sharp doubled up every week to help their older brothers and ensure we could field a team. They all played a very high standard of football and are highly valued team members.

A big thank you for your assistance this season.

A special thanks to the team parents,

CANNONS

and siblings who were always charitable with their time and willing to assist with various duties and words of encouragement after each game.

It was a hard season with not a lot of love on the scoreboard. Team sport at this age teaches valuable life lessons - it may not always be easy and you must have that intestinal fortitude to overcome obstacles along the way. In true Cannons’ spirit, this group of young men showed a tremendous amount of guts to front up each week against stronger teams.

We are very proud of how this team conducted themselves on and off the field this season showing resilience, tenacity and sportsmanship. They demonstrated a mental toughness and grit well beyond their years and learnt a lot about themselves along the way.

– Manager Joe

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

CANNONS

UNDER

13

DIVISION 3 TEAL

COACHES Dion Shaw Andrew Lamond MANAGER Pat Colreavy TRAINER Leanne Bromley

Oh, So Close!

THE season began with us losing a handful of players from last year. In their place came seven boys who hadn’t played Australian Rules before. The boys also had a new coach, Dion, who came with big credentials and, it turns out, a big heart.

Dion introduced some new drills and the boys were hanging in there through the first few rounds. However, the wake-up call came in Round 8 against the Balgowlah Suns. We were out-played by a polished team who it seemed had every right to their top of the ladder status. The boys weren’t deterred though.

They continued to work hard at training and, two weeks later on a chilly Friday night in St Ives, they made their mark on the competition. Playing the only team to have beaten the Suns, we held them scoreless – for the entire game.

It was a season defining game. From there, Cannons U13 Teal rolled each opponent until the penultimate home and away round – against the Suns. With a stubborn defence and accurate goal kicking we found ourselves ahead in the last quarter by two goals, but let it slip for a draw. It reminded us though that our best footy is good enough to beat anyone. After 15 rounds we were sitting

second on the ladder and assured of a place in the finals.

The first final gave us another crack at the Suns. Another close contest and another final quarter two goal lead. And yet another final term fade out. A close loss and the tears flowed but fortunately, we had earned another chance. The following week against Manly saw a different and determined group and a different result. No need for tears this time. Instead a rousing rendition of the club song and a promise to push for the same result against our old foe the following week in the Big Dance.

In the Grand Final, the Suns came to play but it took us two quarters to hit our straps. Ultimately, we left our run a little too late and fell short by just a few goals.

Not quite the way we wanted to finish, but what a season! Well done, boys. So many highs, so much to be proud of. Let’s go one step further next year.

■ Alex Colreavy: Skilful and always there in the key moments to take a crucial mark, hit a teammate up in space or kick a clutch goal or two.

■ Ben Timpany: Ben flies under the radar. When not at the bottom of the pack near the ball, he’s taking intercept

AFTER 15 ROUNDS WE WERE SITTING SECOND ON THE LADDER AND ASSURED OF A PLACE IN THE FINALS.

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marks on the half back line.

Edward (Ted) Newton: A quiet ballwinner who is another quiet achiever.

Added ‘goal sneak’ to his CV towards the back end of the season.

Fergus Lamond: On-field leader and usually found in the forward line, Fergus’ safe hands and attack on the ball are a headache for most opponents.

Finnbar McElligott: Big physical presence around the ground. Almost always gets a kick away, even when double or triple tagged.

Harrison Day: ‘D’ has one of the best kicks in the team and is always ‘on the move’. Part of the important ‘mosquito fleet’ up forward.

Harrison Eckert: ‘E’ brings a love for getting stuck in which sees him win more than his fair share of the ball and admirers along the way.

Harry Serovich: No one enjoys a contest more than Harry. His enthusiasm for tackling and getting in his opponent’s face is an inspiration to all.

Jasper Scott: First year player who’s made a big impact, Scottie’s meticulous preparation and natural ability have been a great asset.

Jasper Vincent: Handy utility who can play forward or back. Uses size and height to good effect both in the air and on the ground.

Lochlan Demark: The on field general.

Leadership and skills are a great asset to the team, on and off the field. Great communicator and organiser.

Luke Costello: Elite runner with plucky Irish streak. Brings unique tenacity to every game, every contest. Potent force

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with ball in hand.

Moran Abou-Antoun: A popular teammate. Returned to AFL after a few years away and hasn’t skipped a beat.

Safe hands and innate sense for the game.

Nick Debelja: New to the game and member of the ‘mosquito fleet’. His pace and agility have worried every opposition around all parts of the ground.

Owen Lenord: Owen’s run and carry is a headache for all opponents. Rarely tackled or chased down. Also pops up for a handy goal every now and then.

Taj Thorne: Taj calls the shots in the backline. Great defender who leads by example. Also pinch hits in the ruck to great effect.

Tom Huynh: Tom plays above his size and level of experience. Usually found

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in the midfield winning the ball on the ground or crunching a pack.

Zac Morgan: Hard to imagine a firstyear player with greater impact. Huge influence all over the ground and on the scoreboard. Outstanding season, which was recognised by being awarded the AFL Sydney Juniors ‘Best and Fairest’ Medal for the entire U13-3 Red competition!

– Coach Andrew

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DIVISION 1

COACH Brad Kantor ASSISTANT COACH John Nandlal MANAGER Damon Jones GAME DAY ASSISTANCE Peter Turner Mark Tkozc

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Getting the Best Out of Themselves IN 2019, U13 Division 1 completed the home and away rounds with nine wins from 14 games and one washout to finish fourth. This was a terrific effort as each year the Sydney Harbour league becomes more competitive, forcing our boys to get the best out of themselves.

The boys have a good understanding of the game and each other’s abilities. They also now have a level of maturity and discipline to work on game style, set plays and ball movement: “Play the way that we want to play” in the words of Coach Brad.

There was a strong emphasis on each boy playing his assigned role for the benefit of the team.

During the season we averaged eight goals a game and gave away six to finish with a percentage of 141. Our game is in reasonable shape and our skills are good, but we have more work to do and it’s

tough to compete against bigger, faster teams.

Our best performance was in Round 7 where we pushed Willoughby on their home turf to come within striking distance in the last quarter. While Willoughby rallied, we won both respect and confidence that day.

We played Glebe in the first semi-final.

On this day Glebe was the better team, ending our finals campaign, and so our minds turn to next season.

■ Bailey Leighton is one of the best runners in the team, has a great kick, some height, a great attitude and can take a grab. He has all the tools he needs to become an outstanding footballer.

■ Cameron O’Brien is very consistent and works hard at improving his skills.

A good listener, an avid learner and

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THERE WAS A STRONG EMPHASIS ON EACH BOY PLAYING HIS ASSIGNED ROLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TEAM.

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very respectful, he will become a fine footballer.

Darcy Woodley. During the season we came to understand how good and how versatile Darcy can be. We played him forward, back and in the mids. He is a great runner who really attacks the ball.

Harry Cameron had another great season. He has speed and high-quality skills on both sides of his body. He worked hard on the wing and also contributed on the score board.

Hugo Van Hal is a smart player – he knows when to attack the ball and when to mark his man. He had a stint up forward, which he enjoyed, however he’s most valuable down back.

Julian Rutkis is one of the toughest boys in the team. He has an in-built ‘never say die’ attitude that means he consistently gets the best out of himself. An asset in the midfield.

Justin Ryan. Mr Reliable is not fazed by much. He’s the ultimate defender who can read the play and attack the ball when he’s confident he has his man covered. Highly regarded by the team.

Lachlan Winn. Lachlan’s tall, lanky frame takes a pounding in those ruck contests. He is a natural competitor and had an outstanding season.

Lucas Blythe. A natural leader. He is uncompromising and his actions on the field earn the respect of his teammates and the opposition. Lucas sees very little time on the bench due to his onfield value.

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Lucas Jones had a solid year. He played in the back line and forward. He has a real ‘team first’ mindset and always turns up with a positive attitude.

Lucca Bombonato’s run and carry is a stand-out. It took him some time to settle, but he worked on his skills and is the most improved kick in the team.

He has the markings of a very good footballer.

Luke Tkocz is a tough footballer who puts his body in, earning the respect of his teammates. He’s still learning about his game so there’s improvement potential there.

Luke Haddad broke his finger early in the season. It was a shame as Luke was super fit and his ball handling had really improved. He kicked four goals on his return, reminding us how good he can be.

Max Kantor took control of the backline and was our primary kick-in.

He switched forward late in the season where his marking proved useful and his raking kick could be put to best effect.

Milo Davine is a bull! He charges in, gets under packs, gets his hands dirty and really has a crack. He is also a strong mark. He has a great attitude which inspires his teammates.

Sean Turner is versatile utility player who had a great year and continues to develop his skills. He’s a real team player who competes and does whatever task he’s assigned.

Sebastian Chartres had a good development year. He’s courageous and determined. Towards season’s end we played Bas in the midfield where he was effective, and it was clear that he loved it.

■ Zac Izzard. Once the umpire throws up the ball, Zac switches into game mode and commits to football. We switched him from centre half forward to centre half back and he always gave his all.

■ Zac Nandlal is a good leader and had a consistent year. He strives to be a well-rounded player and has really improved his left foot in particular. He was rewarded by coming second in the league Best & Fairest.

Thank you to the boys who filled in as needed: Nic Callanan, Nic Debelja, Denver Pelly, Dylan Blythe, Ethan Nandlal, Felix Sharp and Leon Schouten. Thanks also to a committed parent group.

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– Coach Brad

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DIVISION 3

COACH Andrew Baxter ASSISTANT COACH John Ryan MANAGER Niall Fahy

Playing for their Mates THE U14s season started in a similar fashion to previous seasons but finished polling only two wins. The boys always fought hard until the dying minutes of each game, rewarding them with a camaraderie won only from sharing a common experience.

My highlight was during Round 14 where the playing group spontaneously encouraged each other. “Phoenix, great mark” “Ravi, good effort staying on No.18”, “keep it up boys, we may not win this one but we can get some more goals this quarter” and so on. Witnessing that was worth more than a win that day or any other day.

■ Harrison Baxter has clean hands and a straight kick. When Harry wins the ball, it’s a sure conversion to goal. Harry has game sense and anticipates play before allowing him to position himself to score.

■ Jacob Braithwaite, our not-so-gentle

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giant found a new freedom in the ruck.

His quiet disposition should never be under-estimated – he makes a statement wherever he plays.

Lucian DeFrancesco’s desire to lay some nice tackles was fruitful but the best were when he won the ball and then disposed it. His is a clean, precise, graceful technique that always lands where intended.

Kareem Elbeb was new to us this season but was teachable and practised constantly. He soon mastered long, 45m clearances but also impressed with fast chases and hard tackles.

Roan Fahy is another key forward and skilful goal kicker. Roan’s laconic style often saw the coach in a panic but careful placement of ball to foot saw some magnificent goals throughout the season.

Daniel Gierek, Key to Dan’s success this year was his coach constantly screaming admonishments, techniques, corrections and instructions. His biggest improvement was his tackling.

Chris Hogan arguably had the most difficult job of the game – movement of the ball out of the centre. He played persistently and consistently until he could play no more.

Phoenix Moloney gave us another cracking year from a dedicated footballer. With improvements everywhere from centre field work, to wing, to front line goal kicking forward, there is very little Phoenix cannot master.

Jamie McGrow continued to dominate our tackle count. His second and third efforts were his trademark as he tackled, smothered, won the ball and then kicked forward to the applause of the adoring crowd.

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THE BOYS ALWAYS FOUGHT HARD UNTIL THE DYING MINUTES OF EACH GAME...

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Ravi Oosterwijk. With blinding speed and a hunger for a good tackle, Ravi’s game matured this season. He began to understand his role as the season played out and answered the call of the coach to great effect.

Viren Parikh is one of the formidable back line members, Viren works so hard in intercepting the ball and ensuring opposition team forwards are thwarted.

Excellent kicks in and a smart player to boot.

Oliver Richards is another player who is unable to stop running and tackling.

Oliver applied consistent pressure throughout the season. He’s a down and under player making significant impacts every game.

Patrick Ryan. A threat deep, a threat long, a threat looming. Don’t stand in

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the way of the smiling assassin or you will be ‘Mummified’.

Fraser Salmon is a hard runner and an intuitive gamer, his long left footers often found their way into the forward line for readymade conversions.

Nirvan Sherpa quickly found his feet – and his sweet spot – after a late start.

Hard tackles, defensive mindset and long, strong kicks.

Jack Scott is Mr Everywhere. Ruck, on baller, runner, goal kicker, defender, nothing is too difficult for Jack. Every effort was faultless from the team’s most humble member.

Luca Searl. Lightening fast decisions, lightning fast run, decisive tackles and accurate forward movement of the ball.

So good to have you back!

Oliver Sun is formidable in the back

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line, a force in the centres and a good guy to boot. Speaking of boots… one of our longest kickers and runners due, in part, to strong fend offs.

Daniel Vianello is one of our most versatile players, answering the call to be a centre, forward or defender. He knows his role and happily plays it out with skill and accuracy.

Rameez Vu is an outstanding runner, tackler, pressuriser and agitator. Would chase down and tackle to win the ball.

We enjoyed your return after a long injury.

– Coach Andrew

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DIVISION 2

COACH Brian Kent ASSISTANT COACHES Stephen Grech Luke Donald MANAGERS Judy & Andrew Michael Huskin

Minor Premiers and Grand Finalists ALL in all, it was a great year for a team of boys who not only grew as young footballers, but also as a close knit group of teammates and friends.

It was a year that saw us finish with 11 wins, one washout, and two losses, to finish on top of the ladder after the home and away season; we were extremely excited and keen to get into the finals.

This team of boys fought out every game with more commitment and endeavour than any of the coaches could ask.

Our first final against Western Suburbs was a come from behind ‘classic’ win, when the boys kicked three goals to one against the wind in the last quarter to complete a memorable win, and gain access straight into the Grand Final.

Our Grand Final was, again, against Western Suburbs, who seemed ready to take on the mighty Cannons.

In a game that was truly a test of our strength, determination and physicality, we were going goal for goal for two and

a half quarters before we saw Western Suburbs pull away late in the third quarter.

Even though we didn’t win on the scoreboard, we won in many other areas, and for the majority of this group, 2019 was their third year as Cannons, and their third consecutive Grand Final appearance. The boys continue to grow and develop as footballers, and to finish as Minor Premiers is a fantastic achievement.

There were plenty of highlights during the year, including the undermanned performance against Miranda, and the gutsy come from behind win against the wind in the final quarter against Wests.

The boys have developed their own chant before taking the field “Who are we? CANNONS!” – and this is who those Cannons are: ■ James Andrews was sensational this year. JA is a true leader who knows how to win the ball and turn defence into attack.

THIS TEAM OF BOYS FOUGHT OUT EVERY GAME WITH...

COMMITMENT AND ENDEAVOUR...

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Dallas Arndell.​ “Texas” has lightning pace. His quick hands featured during the year as did his consistency and support of his teammates.

Matthew Broadbent. “Broady” worked extremely hard in and under, as well as around the packs. One of the most courageous guys around.

Jack Buchanan. “JB” was one of our goal kicking dynamos who dominated in the air, and around the ground, always giving 100%.

Cooper Donald​ is tenacious, courageous and a super smart footballer who gives 110%. “Coops” was pivotal in winning many games from his own boot.

Matthew Grech was a key swingman, playing key roles down back as well as in the forward line. Grechie has a safe pair of hands and is the master of communication and teamwork.

Elliot Harris is a running machine who gave 100% every week. His ability to make an impact on every contest was a highlight of a great year.

Cooper Husken had a sensational year kicking goals and taking key marks in a consistent manner. “Huski” is a pivotal dynamo forward for the team.

Jack Kent “Jacko” is a goal sneak of great quality. With a bag of 8, 6 and

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4 goals in consecutive weeks he was a livewire smart small forward.

Lachlan MacDonald’s courage made him a key contributor who was always in the thick of the action. “Lockstar” is willing to do anything for a win.

Max Merifield. Pace and determination are features of “Maxy’s” game, but it is his teamwork and commitment that made him a star contributor for the team.

Eathn Norum-Smith “Eaths” tenacious attack on the ball and willingness to impact a contest has always been evident, but additional speed was a real feature of his football this year.

Jayden Ooi was solid in defence and creative as a forward when required.

He was quiet on the field and let his actions do the talking.

Kipp Patterson. “Kipper” is a crafty footballer who can find the ball and deliver it with extreme accuracy; this first year Cannon shows lots of promise.

Matthew Peruzzi. “Cruisey” was the ‘rock’ at fullback who was instrumental in stopping so many goals, as well as turning defence into attack.

Akhil Powar is a pivotal player in our defence, who continually beat his opponents. This year “Killa” worked towards establishing himself as a star.

Daniel Righi. “Big Riggers” had another

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sensational year as our key ruckman, but it was his work around the ground that saw him grow into a complete footballer.

Damian Ryan “Damo’s” ability to win the ball meant he was always dominant either in the middle, down back or up forward proving many times to be a match winner for the team.

James Stewart “Stewy’” added overhead marking and precision kicking to his blistering pace and unstoppable drive to find the ball.

Joshua Wodson “Woody” was another of our key forwards who continually out-marked his opponents, kicked bags of goals or created many opportunities for his teammates.

– Coaches Brian and Stephen

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YOUTH GIRLS CANNONS

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DIVISION 2 YOUTH GIRLS TEAL

COACH Gabriella Stanwix MANAGER Finola Ogle

Consistently Keen!

THE 2019 season brought an exciting team of a dozen girls, ready to play a great season of fun footy! After starting strongly with multiple wins and a great developing squad, two players had to leave abruptly. One to injury; the other moving to New Zealand. However, losing these two key midfielders did not stop these girls from persisting and finishing the season off strongly. As a team, we produced a philosophy that we feel strongly contributed to our fantastic season: “Go hard at the ball, 100% effort and most importantly have fun!”

As a result of this philosophy, the team had a significant improvement in skills and game development. Perhaps the most special component of the U14 girls was the bond created within the

team. All of the girls were friends, they loved to talk, have mothers’ meetings and did I mention talk? In addition to this, the girls were amazing at turning up to training and games each week ready and keen to play footy! The hunger in their eyes was extraordinary, always willing to hear feedback and put in a tremendous amount of effort.

A huge thank you to Finola for managing the team this year, in addition to this I want to thank the parents for being so supportive of the team. Thanks to all the girls in the team for an amazing season! Fire up, Cannons!

■ Scarlett Barnard is a fearless player.

Sure, she isn’t the biggest girl on the field, but she definitely uses her body to her advantage. She often ran hard to

GO HARD AT THE BALL, 100% EFFORT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN!

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tackle opposition members double her size!

Tamara Chuproff is a very versatile and extremely strong player. She easily dominated her opponents in both defensive and offensive positions.

Lucy Donnellan is an extremely determined player. She consistently used her maturity to lift up her teammates, putting her heart, skills and voice into every game.

Ruby Fisher is a great team player.

She is fantastic at working with her teammates to have fun and score goals.

Most importantly, she loved the social aspect of footy, particularly a chat with her teammates.

Molly Gibbs is a dominant midfield player using her big boot to assist the

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team in moving the ball towards the forward line. She had a great season, running her guts out and putting 100% effort into the four quarters.

India Gilbert is a great runner, consistently using her fitness and bouncing skills, often running the ball from the backline all the way to the forward line with little assistance.

Sienna Grumley is a rock using her height to assist the team in winning stoppages around the field. She made a huge improvement in consistency of her ruck tapping and skills throughout the season.

Ruby Larcombe is a well-rounded player, there’s nothing she can’t do!

She is a great ruck and runner following

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the ball without fail in every position she is put in.

Skye MacDonald is a ferocious gutsy player and always first to the ball. She consistently uses her speed to get the ball down field. She was significantly fitter than most of her opponents, making her a weapon on the field!

Scarlett Moliterno is a courageous runner, not afraid to put her head over the ball and tackle any opponent in her sight. Scarlett was immensely “mongrel” and tough as nails!

Niamh Ogle is the heart of our back line and admittedly the mum of the team. She used her defensive skills and big kick to clear every ball coming her way. She definitely saved us from multiple losses within the season.

Catriona Smith is an energetic player, although not the most physically built player, she was definitely ferocious. Her teammates would easily back her to beat an opponent in a contest any day of the week.

Lila Van de Berg. Unfortunately broke her shoulder at a gala day prior to the footy season, Lila came back for the last five rounds of the season and proved her true grit! Lila got cracking with training and games and in a short space of time improved her skills and game sense tremendously.

– Coach Gabriella

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DIVISION 1 YOUTH GIRLS ORANGE

COACH Michael Holmes MANAGER Lenny Chuproff

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Love of Footy Drives Cannons to the Big Dance ANOTHER year, another grand final for this cracking youth girl’s footy team!

The season started at the back end of January. Two sessions per week focused on pre-season fitness and core AFL skills saw the girls ripping in with gusto. An early season hiccup eventuated, with the girls entered into the Division 2 competition where the first four games saw the Cannons reach the mercy rule, sometimes by halftime.

Round 5 was the girls’ first real test in the Division 1 competition, facing the Manly Bombers at home. Nerves during the lead up to the game were quickly put to bed when they dominated the mid-field and were relentless in the forward line scoring at will before reaching another mercy rule.

The next true test of this team’s metal came in Round 7 when we played arch rivals from 2018, the Glebe Greyhounds.

I was expecting a tight, hard fought game, but after a slow first quarter, the Cannons kicked up a gear in the second and opened an insurmountable lead. The final score of 8.8.56 to 1.0.6 had me wondering if this team could go all the way.

Round 9 was played in abysmal conditions at Heffron, with the Cannons taking on the eventual premiers Maroubra Saints. The Saints took it to the Cannons from the first bounce and were tenacious.

The Cannons rose to the challenge and rallied across the field, with some girls playing out of their skins. The Cannons were victorious 8.3.51 to 3.4.22. The return match against the Saints occurred under lights in round 13. A fired up Saints surprised the home team with their fight and tenacity, taking the game 9.4.58 to 4.8.32.

The following game the Cannons faced a full squad of Easts at Trumper. With many girls out of the squad, we eventually succumbed to the fresher legs of Easts and went down 4.2.26 to 1.4.10. Despite back-to-back losses, the girls completed the regular season with a convincing win against the Manly Bombers, finishing second on the ladder and in a commanding position ahead of the finals.

In the lead up the final series, the girls return to training twice a week and showed renewed commitment and enthusiasm. The semi-final against Maroubra saw the Cannons start the

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

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YOUTH GIRLS CANNONS

ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER GRAND FINAL... game on fire, dominating their opposition.

However, luck and the bounce of the ball did not go the Cannons way. Despite finishing the first quarter in front, they didn’t take advantage of the early field position only kicking one goal and five behinds. Maroubra rallied in the second and third quarters and despite some ferocious defence, eventually overcame the Cannons to win 8.11.59 to 4.8.32.

The ‘must win’ Preliminary final was played against a desperate Easts outfit.

Easts started well and scores were close at the end of the first quarter. The Cannons girls showed some true fighting spirit and in a tough game won the upper hand. They closed the game out in the fourth quarter to secure a spot in the grand final; final score 7.10.52 to 2.7.19.

The win came at a cost with two girls suffering season ending fractures in the last quarter.

They say grand finals don’t come around that often, but the Cannons girls

tend to write their own history. The girls were keen for a three-peat, but the footy gods thought it better to share the chocolates around this year. Scores were close during the first two quarters, but a hard-running Saints team pulled away in the third quarter and the Cannons couldn’t match them. The game was marred by a Cannons player going down mid-way through the fourth quarter with an injury that required the game to be halted. The match didn’t re-start and the Saints were crowned Premiers for 2019.

Throughout the season the girls showed continued improvement in their footy and it’s easy to see they love the game. Watch out in 2020, the Cannons youth girls will be seeking retribution!

A special thanks to our manager, Lenny Chuproff, for his hard work this year.

– Coach Michael

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DIVISION 2

COACH Tony Malakellis STAND-IN SUPER COACH Andrew Cook RUNNER Brian Gillard MANAGER Paul Mulvey

Plenty of Positives in Season 2019 UNDER 15s is a massive year for a junior footballer as they graduate from kids footy to young man’s footy.

It’s a huge step and while there were challenges for the Cannons of 2019, there were also plenty of positives from our young men. Three wins was a 300 per cent improvement on last year and we were only one spot out of the final four.

Amid the ups and downs, it all came together on the plastic in Belrose.

Everything Tony’s been telling the boys for a couple of years clicked beautifully in their most complete performance of the

year, if not for several years. It was just a shame he wasn’t there to see it.

The eight-goal win against Forest came three weeks after they pushed us around to beat us by the same margin. And it told us a lot about these Under 15 Cannons.

The 16-goal turnaround led by super stand-in coach Andrew showed how good they can be; it showed the importance of being switched on for four quarters; and it showed their resilience and character.

It also helped that we had a rare near full strength team.

There was no lingering fear from

EVERYTHING TONY’S BEEN TELLING THE BOYS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS CLICKED BEAUTIFULLY...

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the previous match against Forest, the Cannons just bounced back, took the game on and discovered that when you do the little things well – the shepherds, tackles, bumps, sticking up for your mate – the big things follow. And the spectacular things can as well, notably Joey’s sensational six goal haul.

The same applied with the boys’ thrilling one-point win over Moore Park a week after they beat us by 50 points and when we took it up to Pennant Hills a month after they mercy-ruled us. The Penno coach even remarked it was one of their toughest games of the year.

The boys’ ability to shrug off poor performances and bounce back against the same opposition was fantastic but highlighted an inconsistent season.

We weren’t helped by a luckless run of long-term injuries and we missed Blake, Brayden, Johnno and Cooky for long stretches of the year.

When we needed reinforcements, Ben Mastro answered the call in the midseason draft and it was great to have his strong marking and big kicking back with us for the rest of the year.

We welcomed two new boys to the

Cannons and Sam W and Will fitted in seamlessly, making an immediate impact as players and teammates.

And we also added depth as established players developed. Archie became more than just a tackling machine and grew into a strong midfielder, while Manfred continued his rapid development into the middle as well.

Sam F, Andrew and Tommo built a tough combination in defence, hard at the ball and the man but with good skills as well.

Alex stepped up to young man’s footy this year with great skill and reliability anywhere on the field, whether it be back, forward or on the ball, while Nic’s beautiful use of the footy and his dash also rose a level.

Joey’s pace and attack at the ball was electrifying and it’s hard to work out whether he likes a bounce or goal more.

Paddy was at the bottom of every pack, extracting the footy and coming up short of breath and Tank just kept running and running and running and giving his everything in the ruck.

Fin added a neat step and shimmy to his game as well as the goal of the year

CANNONS

with his over the shoulder snap from the boundary against Forest, while X also had some spectacular moments with long range goals and strong marks.

But the most telling moment of the year was the last, when the boys chaired Ozy from the ground after our final game and the announcement of his retirement.

It exemplified the bond these boys have built over the years and the friendships footy creates. That’s the best part of playing footy.

– Manager Paul

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DIVISION 1 YOUTH GIRLS

COACH Jeremy Stanwix MANAGER Jane Dunne

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Living up to a Tough Tackling Reputation OUR YG16 Division 1 side welcomed a bunch of new AFLW converts and many returning players. We started strongly in the first two games, copped some injuries and other representative duties, and then rebounded for the best game of the season against Easts at Trumper in Rd 10. We narrowly finished outside top four, and I commend the girls for staying focused and fighting it out to the last game. The girls truly lived our playing philosophy of tough tackling, going hard at the ball, effective kicking/handball disposal, and most of all having fun!

The Rd 10 game at Trumper was one to remember. There was quiet excitement in the parent group as we had built the game up as a winnable game against

a top three side. We steadied after a slow first quarter, and a reminder at the break about our goal for the day. From the second quarter, the girls used their handball and long kicks effectively down the wing and through the middle to deliver up forward. They lived up to their tough tackling reputation to give the Easts girls second thoughts about going in, and effectively linked to our forwards.

It was a memorable and tight final term, with the final score Cannons 8.3 51 to Easts 7.3 45. C’mon Cannons and bring on Youth Girls AFL for 2020!

We’ve had a terrific season and so enjoy these player comments from the girls!

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TEAM REPORTS

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Emily Dunne spent time on the bench due to injury (and crying). Had to wait until Jane was ready to go home. Half decent player.

Lily Girke was a great late-season signing. She built up her courage and gave everything a solid go (except remembering her socks).

Sasha Castillo is a great player who took care of her nails and her teammates the whole season.

Dedicated to training and family BBQs. Georgia Clifford. After a few years at the Club, Georgia has developed into a reliable and consistent player. Great season, Georgia!

Hayley Kenzler. Much to Emily’s disgust, Hayley had a great season. She just needed to learn to keep track of her mouthguard!

Eva Tkocz was a consistent and enthusiastic player who improved her hard tackling and second efforts through the season. Known to be tough on herself as well as opposition, but polite to Jane.

Georgina Kyneur had some time off with an injury but came back fit, firing and ready to do some damage. Great season!

Lara Kent. Even though she hated playing in the backs, she was a

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powerhouse and one of the strongest defenders in the team.

Kiara Shine. Thanks to Alex for convincing Kiara to swap the javelin for a footy as she had an impressive season on the wing.

Gabriella Stanwix. Gabriella absolutely carried the team and was the perfect captain. Thanks for letting Jezza coach he’s a kool dad!

Georgia Crisp: Crispy had her first season with the Cannons. She conquered her fear and became an asset all over the field.

Thea Gallen and her kicking game got us out of trouble during many games.

Random rucker, part-time captain, addictive hand-baller.

Cara Makhlouf. Our second toughest player, tackled hard, ran all day and had amazingly accurate kicks at the posts three weeks in a row!

Milly Dynan is the team’s toughest new mid-fielder who tried her best in every game. Always friendly and smiling (with an average fake tan!).

Grace Kenney is a reliable player who improved a lot and will have a big 2020 in footy! Thanks for bringing Scotty to the table Sachi Farmer. Sachi’s first competition game did not end well, but she came

YOUTH GIRLS CANNONS

I COMMEND THE GIRLS FOR STAYING FOCUSED AND FIGHTING IT OUT TO THE LAST GAME. ■

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back for more. Great first season, Sachi!

Geena Blackwood. Another season for this great player who developed a wicked season of humour and her skills throughout the year.

Lucinda Della Marta. The player who made all the opposing teams run away from the ball. Our fantastic ruck! Tough tackle count = 395ish.

Olivia Pinto changed from throwing a discus to hand-balling a Sherrin. A friendly player who had a great first season.

Lara Wilson was the mum of the team.

Our fabulous fullback, Wilso got around everyone. Plus she cracked bad jokes 24/7.

– Emily and Jane Dunne

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

CANNONS

UNDER

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DIVISION 2

COACHES Craig Lambert Matt Parker Lachlan Bennetts MANAGER Mark Watmore

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Band of Brothers WHEN they cast their eyes over the Cannons 17-2s 2019 season, the statisticians will see a 13-2 win-loss record in the home and away rounds and a four-point loss in the preliminary final.

One straight kick from a grand final berth.

And that’s a pretty good result.

When the romantics, the lovers and students of the game reflect on that same season, they will see a journey of courage, creativity and commitment that will be remembered for a special bond of brothers in arms.

By that measure, 2019 was a resounding success.

From an unlikely beginning when a heavily depleted 2018 premiership squad merged with last season’s Division 3 and Under 15s, the Cannons developed an inclusive team-first culture.

Head coach, former Richmond and Brisbane legend Craig Lambert who had

stepped away from football for several years, fell back in love with the game.

“I took as much from the fun, the friendship and watching these boys develop their confidence as they did,” he said at the end-of-season function. “They helped me personally,” he said. “I actually enjoyed being a part of football again.”

The Under 17-2 Cannons were guided

by Lambert and game-day coaches Matt Parker and Lachlan Bennetts. Each brought unique and formidable strengths to the squad.

Lambert brought his professional experience and knowledge of the game; Parker for his fitness development; Bennetts for his match strategy.

This was by no means the biggest, most physical team in the competition.

Graduating players from last season created gaps in key positions. But the triumvirate worked hard on the culture of

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

the team. They grew on talent and selfbelief.

Training became disciplined as the players were taught the importance of support and leadership on and off the field. But there was also plenty of fun and their pranks went viral making the boys #choccymilkfamous.

The skill and experience of natural leaders like 350-gamer Joshua Lee, dashing midfielder Joel Ditcham, damaging backman Jaden Fuata and the enigmatic full forward George Maniakas provided the platform for others to build their confidence.

The weeks of getting to know each other in the pre-season and the clarity of purpose in preparing for matches set this team up for success.

The 17-2s started 2019 with a squad of 30 players – a mix of talent, experience and passion. But season-ending injuries to workhorse Jack Hauschild and the silky-skilled Bodey Lambert were telling.

This was undoubtedly a great year

CANNONS

TRAINING BECAME DISCIPLINED... BUT THERE WAS ALSO PLENTY OF FUN AND THEIR PRANKS WENT VIRAL MAKING THE BOYS #CHOCCYMILKFAMOUS. for this special group of young men.

They bonded together, always played hard but fair, and walked from their final match well respected and with their heads held high. Critically, they remain close mates away from the field.

Many of these players will graduate to higher grades but sadly with other clubs, as the Canada Bay Cannons does not have an Under 18s team. Their new clubs will be beneficiaries.

Aside from the devotion the hardworking coach panels, the 17-2s owe a debt of gratitude to the clinical and highly-structured Mark Watmore. He is the supreme clubman who kept it all together.

We will long remember this bond of brotherhood.

Here’s the honour roll of 2019. May they all stand tall.

■ Oscar Bowhill-Hayes always showed great class with his left foot kicking skills.

■ Patrick Braithwaite, the workhorse in the midfield, always exceeding expectation.

■ Tom Buchanan was a rock in the backline, showing consistency with the contested ball when we needed it the most.

■ Patrick Chrystie was a hard worker, on and off the ball. Showed great improvement in his skills this year.

■ Alex Cornish showed his physical dominance through the year. As his confidence grew, so did his impact.

■ Wil Cossetto showed great 35

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

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improvement this year cementing his spot in the backline.

Anton Demark was invaluable to the group this year, being able to play at either end of the ground.

Joel Ditcham was a stand-out player for the Cannons, a highlight was his 10goal game against Moore Park.

Abdul Elbeb. New to the game but wasn’t afraid to contest the ball and was always willing to put in the hard work.

Jaden Fuata was our enforcer in the ruck this year, scaring the daylights out of his opposition.

Luca Fotea, the Saudi Arabian Prince, we wish you all the best in your move.

Will Gibbs shows serious class with the ball in hand, always being able to pop up with a classy goal when needed.

Gus Gillies is one of the fiercest tacklers in the team, and his ability to take down any opposition players was consistently demonstrated this season.

Will Gorman is a hard worker with a team first attitude. Showed consistency with is contested possession.

Jack Hauschild showed great midfield performances in the first half of the year until a devastating injury left him sidelined. His presence was missed, particularly in the finals series.

Hugo Hirst was the one player always doing the little things, chase down tackles, second efforts, very valuable to the group Raphael Kesov played in the forward pocket, providing support for his fellow forwards.

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THEY BONDED TOGETHER, ALWAYS PLAYED HARD BUT FAIR, AND WALKED FROM THEIR FINAL MATCH WELL RESPECTED AND WITH THEIR HEADS HELD HIGH. ■

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Bodey Lambert’s skills on the outside are pure class. He didn’t let an injury keep him down, still rolling out each week to show support.

Joshua Lee had a superb year, leading the 17s to the finals as well as a runner up finish in the league B&F. George Maniakas Big Bear in the square had a great year leading the charge at FF, kicking bags of goals in a lot of games.

Cameron McLean. The coaches were proud of how far Cam has come this year. We know he is a superb talent, he just has to believe that himself.

Jackson Mitchell-Lane was a standout in the ruck and defence. You wouldn’t know that this was his first year of AFL. Riley Nelson. The amount of pressure Riley provided during games was incredible often racking up more tackles than touches per game Jasper Parker became our tagger in the latter half of the year, shutting down key players to help us win games.

Louis Pribula had an exceptional ability to read the ball across half back. When combined with his silky skills, the forwards were met with great delivery.

Jak Rowland showed huge improvement throughout the year, with

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great performances down back and up forward.

Nick Sabine. We saw a huge change in Nick’s bicep size, his gym routine improved his performances on-field, often becoming the enforcer in the ruck.

Ethan Watmore made his name in the midfield group in the second half of the year, showing great class and composure to get the ball on the outside.

Nathan Wrigley A.K.A Cherry Picker, Nath often popped up for goals out the back, outsmarting his opponents in the forward line.

Noah Zreik gave AFL a red-hot go in his first season. Wouldn’t back down on the contest and was always willing to put his body on the line.

– Tony Gillies

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

YOUTH GIRLS CANNONS

UNDER

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DIVISION 1 YOUTH GIRLS

COACH Gabrielle Ferreira

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Champions in Orange and Teal THE 2019 season was a season of resilience: having to find players to field a team, to playing a game with 10 players. These girls are champions, with or without a flag. They carried on all the way through to the end – and what a remarkable end to the season it was! The U18s were always hopeful and had high spirits. Even when things weren’t going their way, they still came to train and had a positive outlook for each game. This positivity helped them win their first game against Kellyville 73-22.

This was our first year with the Cannons after coming over from Drummoyne Power – the orange and teal suits us!

This year was one marked by team bonding, as many of our team members were in their last season playing junior AFL. Alex, Charlotte, Claudia, Elysia, Fran, Jess M and Madena are positive influences on all the players in the youth girls comp. They are fantastic leaders, team mates and people in general. We will greatly miss them!

Thank you to all the other clubs that always gave us a good fight during the games and were always good sports.

Thank you to the U16 Youth Girls who played up for us when we needed players. And, finally, thank you to our parents, coaches and amazing players for such a fantastic season!

■ Alex Latham – Reads the ball better than a book, has the best positioning on the field, and has a textbook kick. Hope you’ve enjoyed your last junior season!

■ Anna Gaffney – New to the game, has improved so much throughout the season, always asking questions and wanting to learn more.

■ Caitlin Blackford – Hard hitting, a ‘no care’ attitude when it comes to tackling, a fantastic first season!

■ Charlotte Howden – Strongest player on the field mentally, always challenging herself and wanting to improve her game. Hope you’ve enjoyed your last junior season!

■ Cheneale Bedford-Mcguinty – Turns up to training once, but always

Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

TEAM REPORTS

YOUTH GIRLS CANNONS

CHAMPIONS, WITH OR WITHOUT A FLAG...

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plays her best game when she is on the field… who needs training?!

Claudia Halbisch – A returned AFL player, you wouldn’t have even realised that she left as her skills picked up right where she left off. A quiet achiever who gets the job done. Hope you’ve enjoyed your last junior season!

Eliza Brunsdon – Only played a short season, but Eliza has improved her skill in such a short time.

Elysia Cook – Tom Hawkins watch out, Elysia might take your spot, a fantastic mid/forward, hard leads and fantastic kicking. Hope you’ve enjoyed your last junior season!

Francesca Bull – The captain of 2019, a fantastic team mate on and off the field.

Fran led as a cohesive captain as she encouraged each player and was always positive. Incredible efforts on the field in her last junior AFL season.

Grace Donald – Another newbie to the game and you wouldn’t be able to tell. Her knowledge and determination made Grace a standout each week at the games.

Imogen Tullipan - A fantastic full back and great midfielder, the toughest on the field. From tackling, to fending and a big boot, Imogen could give any Swans player a run for their money.

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Jessalyn Fenton – Yet another season on Jessalyn’s belt, and she has improved even more, on and off the field. Coming out of her shell, her confidence grew.

And you could tell from the goals she kicked!

Jessica McKee - Juggling her last year of junior footy with senior AFL, McKee turned up to our games when we needed her. She never let us down on the field.

Kate Whitmore – From ruck to half forward to ruck rover, Kate has played a few more roles this season and her willpower to do all roles at 100% was Kate’s greatest asset.

Madena Jaffer – Returned from having a year off for her last year in junior AFL, Madena was ready to win. Played her favourite position on the wing, and she owned it, out running her opponents and taking fantastic marks.

Olympia Mullany. This girl is a star.

Named in the top 10 Best & Fairest

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players in Sydney Juniors AFL, we are glad to have her on our team. Another great leader on the field through her relentless efforts.

Sophia Hadwen. Started the season off in great form. Soph had been practising – and you can tell. She is now running down the field taking bounces. It was great to see her back on the field and pouring her heart out into the game after an injury!

Zara Holben. A new player to Cannons, Zara had to wipe off those Wests cobwebs and start fresh, and she did that so well. She had an awesome season. A lot of knowledge and skill.

– Coach Gabby

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

ADVERTORIAL

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A physiotherapist can use ‘hands-on’ techniques (e.g. massage and joint mobilisation), taping for support of a particular area, and provide rehabilitation exercises and advice to treat an injury and allow kids to take to the field safely.

We can also set up specific injury prevention programs for individual clients. These programs are typically not time intensive and can also improve sporting performance.

Five Dock Physio has been providing Canada Bay Cannons, and junior club Drummoyne Power, with expert physio support for more than 10 years. During this time, older teams with physio coverage have reported no long-term soft tissue injuries. This has arisen from a combination of professional coaching and preinjury management.

Five Dock Physio is located at 4 Barnstaple Road Five Dock ( just near Five Dock Park) and we also have a consulting room at Anytime Fitness, 169 Great North Road Five Dock.

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Canada Bay Cannons: Young Guns 2019

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