The Swoop - Round 3 v Ballan

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NETBALL REPORT

Round 3 sees us return home to take on Ballan in a special ANZAC Day clash, and it’s shaping up to be a big afternoon and evening for our netballers. With altered game times across the day, it’s a great opportunity for the whole club to get around every grade and create some atmosphere!

After a solid start to the season, our girls are beginning to settle into their combinations, with both new and returning players already making an impact. Each week we’re seeing more confidence build across all grades, and it’s exciting to watch the progression from our juniors right through to our senior sides.

It was fantastic to celebrate a couple of junior milestones last week against Beaufort, with Lacey Duggan and Zarah Campbell both bringing up their 50 game milestones! This week we look forward to another special milestone, with Alysha Pannozzo set to run out for her 200th game. A huge effort and a testament to her dedication over many years.

Ballan will provide a strong challenge across the board, but playing at home gives us a great chance to lift. Our juniors continue to develop their skills and teamwork, and it’s been great to see their energy and effort on display. The U15s and U17s are building nicely, showing resilience and determination in tight contests, while our senior teams are starting to find their rhythm and structure early in the season.

Our A Grade side will be looking to build on their recent form and continue developing strong connections down the court. With a young but talented group, they’re showing plenty of promise and will be eager to put together a strong and composed game in front of a home crowd.

A reminder that game times tomorrow are:

12.00pm U13B, 12.40pm U13A, 1.35pm U15, 2.30pm U17, 3.30pm D Grade 4.30pm C Grade 5.30pm B Grade, 6.30pm A Grade

We encourage everyone to get down early, stay for the day, and support all of our teams. Best of luck to all players, coaches, umpires, and volunteers. Let’s make it a great day at home and get around each other. Go Maggies!

FOOTBALL REPORT

Was last weekend’s season opener in the Seniors exciting enough for everybody? Very pleased to get over the line with a one point win but aware that improvement will be required to stay on the winners list as we move through the season. Poor conversion in front of goal was the most glaring area we need to improve as our inaccuracy allowed the opposition to stay close on the scoreboard. Overall we felt we played the better football in the first quarter and should have created an unassailable margin by the first break. To come from behind after being headed in the last quarter shows the determination within our playing group.

Sadly we lost Mitch Bishop to a knee injury during the game and his season is over with him needing to have surgery. It’s a devastating outcome for Mitch whom we wish all the best and hope to keep in regular contact with the club despite him living interstate.

The Reserves stamped their class all over their contest and highlighted the depth we have in our ranks this season. Jimmy Muller in the forward line surprised many, including Jimmy, who found the major opening three times. The U/18 lads were beaten but never defeated in their game as Fev’s squad added several U/15 boys to get a team on the field. We appreciate the effort of every player who takes the field each week in this grade as we continue to rebuild our numbers. The U/15 boys were the big winners on the day and with surnames like Featherston, Anderson and Van Berkel in the ranks it’s great to see past eras being represented by the current generation. In a day for one point results the littlest footballing Maggies lost a thriller as they were desperately trying to force the ball over the line in the last minute to wrangle a draw. First game for quite a few which is so good for the players, families and the club. Special mention to Brax Anderson on playing his 50th club game. Well done Brax!

This weekend we have the privilege of playing on ANZAC Day as we welcome Ballan to the Bull Milgate Oval. This is a special day on the Australian calendar as we pay our respects as a nation to our service personnel, past and present, fallen and living. What better way to appreciate the beauty of where we live and the sacrifice of so many to protect our nation, than to celebrate with a day and night of football and netball.

Senior Player I’m looking forward to watching this week: Jax Coon is starting to understand the amount of running his role requires but also his capacity to produce that level of running. Expect to see Jax covering plenty of turf against Ballan.

Reserves player I’m looking forward to watching this week: Jesse Baker stepped into open age football last week and showed that the reigning U/18 Best & Fairest winner has some footy smarts. Keen to see how Jesse takes on the mature bodies of the opposition this week.

Junior player I’m looking forward to watching this week: Tex Twentyman joined the senior squad on the training track during match simulation on Tuesday night. Showed pace and game awareness.

All the best to all our teams. Keen for a huge ANZAC Day for Clunes FNC.

Go Maggies!