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Season's report
The season for the premier league women's squad was a long one. It began in January with numerous beach sessions in the sun and ended in the rain and cold, late in September. The season was a success in many ways.
Importantly, after exhausting any and all friendships that the coaching staff and present players had, we managed to attract enough players to field two teams (or close to). This, although causing some headaches throughout the year trying to field strong teams in both divisions, is a positive step for the future of women's soccer in the club. A second team is a must as it provides an avenue for first year players to play soccer and in addition places pressure on those players in the first team. The second team unfortunately did play short on occasions but I hope those players will gauge success on how much they improved from start to finish and not on results. In that squad we had 8 or 9 first year players and others who had not played for a while. The improvement all players made was immeasurable, from not being able to kick the ball to confident, aggressive team play later in the season. This was also demonstrated through the debut of players in the first team - Trish Gleeson, Nell Bent, Alice Kennedy, Ang Di Tomasso, Lisa Di Tomasso, Nat Flemming (and others) who all did a tremendous job and are all very capable of being regular first team players over the coming years. To all players that played in the second team I thank you for your determination when faced with adversity and I hope that you return next year because you have done the hard work, it will only get better from here.
In addition to the second team, a junior base of female players was established. Thanks for their work here go to Bearo, Karen, Roy, Kath, Jeff and Lisa. These girls will play senior women's soccer if we can keep them in the game and are the key to the club presenting itself as a power in the growth area of soccer - we've got some good kids!
The first team squad. It was the first time we have trained hard from January and I think it had a tremendously positive effect on our game - I thank those regulars who did not miss a beat when it came to training (you know who you are). Although I may often philosophise grandly of Manchester United (much to the giggles of the Perry sisters) my coaching philosophy is orientated around trying to play the game the right way. Now that may take time to accomplish but along the way I will guarantee we will be improving. The players I believe are now acquiring the tools in order for them to maintain possession of the ball, not one player or two but the team - once this goal is achieved then the world is our oyster. Our progress I feel has been reflected best in the offerings from opposition coaches who feel and I quote, we "play the best soccer". An example of which occurred at Sherburd Park against University. Result irrelevant, the quality of play was sensational and as a coach I left the ground content - University left shell shocked (someone get on the phone to Melinda, quick!)
The squad's level of commitment on game day increased again this year with the majority of players abiding to the team rules agreed to at the beginning of the year. We did however have our ups and downs, as with any squad, and the communication process was one that maybe needed the cobwebs cleared out of. This duly occurred, a learning process for players and coach!
Lastly, I would like to make a special thanks to our senior group of players who provided me with support and a sounding board throughout the year. I hope that you continue on in future years and ensure that the work of this year is a building block for something bigger and better.
Tim Dale - Coach
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Final match statistics - league position : 3rd.
| P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag. |
Pts. |
| 14 |
8 |
0 |
6 |
43 |
22 |
24 |
Goal scorers
| 14 |
Lisa Perry
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| 10 |
Erin Perry
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| 8 |
Terri Norris
|
| 4 |
Liz Elliott
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| 3 |
Eleanor Harper
|
1 |
Andrea Turbett
Ange Wild
Amy Vanderveer
Ruth Harper
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