Locals represent in the Western Youth League

This year seven MDSC boys represented Orange District Football Association in the Western Youth League. Isaac Thurtell and Dax Clarke were named in the Under 10 squad, and Jeremy Wenham, Rhys Bodlay, Mitchell Foster and Mason Clarke were named in the Under 11 squad. Baxter Sullivan also answered the late call up into the U11 squad due to injury.

The Western Youth League is played over 6 Sundays, two games a day in areas such as Mudgee, Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow, Dubbo and Forbes against these neighbouring districts. The games are fast paced and require a much higher skill level than club soccer, so the players commit and dedicate themselves to a rigorous training schedule leading up to the games. A massive shout out needs to go to these boys for training week in and week out in Orange in temperatures as low as one degree to prepare for the League.

Isaac and Dax shared goalkeeping duties in the under 10’s, giving their all as the last line of defence. With some amazing saves from Daxs dives and Isaacs ability to punch the ball up and over the posts, both boys developed into solid Keepers. Isaac kept us in some very important games with game winning saves, enormous kicks and was a fantastic team player. Whilst out of the goal, Isaac demonstrated over and over again his enormous kick from the backs and was a very dependable player. Dax took on kids twice his size as a Mid and even scored his first Representative goal. Coach Wade Clarke says he is incredibly proud of both boys.

The Under 11s had to work hard from the start of the season with 7 new players into their team that hadn’t played at his level before, and they dug deep to show great leadership and resilience. Mitchell Foster was referred to time and time again as “The Energiser Bunny” for his boundless energy as a Midfielder, constant backing up and never hesitating to retrieve a lost ball as many times as it took to regain possession for his team. It should be noted that Mitchell also received the Players Player award for his team.

Rhys Bodlays optimism shone through whilst he encouraged his teammates on and off the field. His teamwork in the mids and forwards and passing skills gave his team mates some fantastic opportunity for shots at goal, and he was very unlucky to not score himself with some amazing shots at goal himself. His willingness to learn and better himself as a player should be commended, always taking on board what he had learned and trying new things on the field.

Jeremy Wenham returned to his Midfielder position this year, with some stints as a forward, finding the net on more than one occasion. His patience and speed on the ball saw some great breaks up the sidelines and, and he was a hard player for any opposition player to get past. With a strong boot, he was very unlucky to not score more goals, but has brought that form back into Club soccer and is one of our leading goal scorers this season.

Mason Clarke returned to Goalkeeping duties for most of this representative season, and improves each and every year. He puts his body on the line each and every game, throwing his body up, down, left and right and can make supporters from both his team and the opposing team cheer him on with some amazing takes. With a hyper focus on the ball, he gets braver each year, and was seen coming much further out from goals to take balls, kick balls, and even go for the odd run up the sidelines himself!

After one of the squad members broke their arm and sickness took hold around the squads, Baxter answered the late call up to help the U11 Lions. Baxter had not been involved in the pre season training so was initiated by fire and could have sunk or swum. He chose to swim hard, and became a solid defender, tracking the ball to him, keeping the ball away from his goal , tacking well at just the right time, and developed a good clearing kick. It was a pleasure to have his always smiling face in our squad.

The u11s received many compliments from opposing coaches for their ability to adapt and change to their competition, and their ability to gel and work as a team. They learned to work for something bigger than themselves and created a real team environment.

All the boys club teams have really benefited from the experience they received in the WYL, with these boys being able to support the less experienced players in their team ,from encouragement, to backing up and retrieving balls to give back to these less experienced players. They work as a team, no matter who is in it, and are a real asset to their club teams. Their coaches and club are very proud of all the boys have achieved this season.