U12 Div 2 – Round 5

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U12 Div 2 Canada Bay Cannons v Miranda Bombers

Round 5 – 7th May 2017

Match Report by Stephen; photos by Catherine

ALL ABOUT ‘BALANCE’
“Balance. (noun)- a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions”

The Canada Bay Cannons were sitting undefeated on top of the ladder while the Miranda Bombers have not had such a strong start to the season. There were 16 fired up Cannons players in the warm up but only 12 wearing the Bombers’ black and red. Hardly what you would describe as an even contest, so coaches Paul and Luke addressed the imbalance by offering Miranda two players.

Quarter 1 saw Cooper and Mark wearing unfamiliar colours and with unfamiliar numbers, but there were something very familiar about the way they attacked the ball at the centre bounce. Showing his trademark balance and poise Cooper fired a beautiful goal for his temporarily adopted team. Then, just in case anyone missed it, he did it again! The Bombers were in control of the game, and the Cannons looked confused!

By the time the quarter time siren had blown the Bombers had kicked three straight to two Cannons points.

“Mark your man and contest the ball” were the two simple instructions from the coaches at quarter time, adding. “You can’t expect a couple of players to do all the work, you have to share the load and make it a team effort if we want to get this game back to an even contest!”

The second quarter saw Damo and Eathn helping the Bombers but the Cannons had taken on board the coaches’ comments. Football is about teamwork and playing for each other and the combinations started to click. Daniel asserted himself in the ruck and Archer’s continued efforts were rewarded with a goal. The pair of Jacks – (Jack B and Jack H) offered a balanced combination of speed and strength. Every player lifted and the results started to appear. By half time the scoreboard had tipped back in favour of the Cannons but the game was very much still in the balance!

JA, Archie and Justin headed over to the Bombers huddle at the half time break but the Cannons had the momentum and they weren’t about to let it go. Max relished his opportunity to captain the side and lead from the front. Mattie C and Lachie combined to prove that most attacks begin in defence. There were flashes of individual brilliance balanced with great team efforts. Mark’s pick up on the run, bounce on the 50 and then outside of the boot goal was definitely a candidate for goal of the year, but it was bettered only moments later with a fantastic team goal. It started with Damo on the wing centring the ball to Dallas, who passed to Woody. Woody found Mat Plugger on a lead, who in turn offloaded to Matt B, quick pass to Mark and goal! Probably the best team goal we have seen all year!

At three quarter time the Cannons were looking the goods, so again the coaches swapped things around to maintain the balance and they did a great job of it, with both teams kicking four goals one a piece in the final term. The Cannons held firm to carry on their undefeated start to the season, but the Bombers were able to take plenty of positives out of the game.

There were contributors all over the field and Coach Paul was heard to comment how well balanced the whole playing group is. There is great combination of size, speed, skill and strength and it was all on show this week. The biggest shout out though has to go to Cooper, Mark, Damo, Eathn, James, Archer, Justin and Woody. These committed Cannons not only spent time playing for the other team, but gave 100% when they played for them. That is what sportsmanship is all about and all the boys did themselves proud.

With everyone leading such busy lives it is hard to maintain a work life balance. We are all involved in kids sport because we want the kids to have fun. We want them to understand it’s not about winning and losing, it’s about doing your best and playing fair… and this week’s game was proof that success is all about keeping the balance.

 

Cannons U15, Round 2

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UNDER 15 DIVISION 2
ROUND 2

Old Park, Penshurst
Sunday April 8

PENSHURST PANTHERS 9.0.54
CANADA BAY CANNONS 6.17.53

A desperate Penshurst Panthers goal into the breeze in the final minute pipped an under-manned Canada Bay by a point in a match the Cannons will say they let slip through their fingers.

A player short, the Cannons couldn’t convert their scoring shots and kicked an astonishing 17 behinds on the expanses of Olds Park. In the confines of the dressing sheds straight after the game, coach Dean Lee kicked 17 behinds too.

He and the players alike lamented the loss. And his comments didn’t miss their mark because each person in that room expected more.

“I am disappointed in the effort,” a sombre but frustrated Lee said after the game.

“We rushed our shots, didn’t look for the right options and we dropped off in defence at crucial moments,” he said.

“The match should have been over by half-time because we had so much of the ball and dominated the attack but we blew our opportunities,” he said. “We gifted that game to them”.

Despite gorging on possession and territory for much of match the Cannons rained 23 scoring shots on the opponents’ goal but harvested only six majors.

The home team’s efficiency was first rate by comparison. Nine straight kicks got them home. Eight of them came in the second half.

The Cannons had carved a 36-6 lead by the long break. But the scoreboard said it all: 4 goals, 11 behinds to the visitors’ solitary major.

They started the match running into a stiff north-westerly breeze but their sheer dominance out of the centre and pace up the flanks rattled the Panthers.

Stand-in ruckman Jordan found himself on the end of a good run to land Canada Bay’s first goal just four minutes in. From that point the visitors had their confidence up and had their opposites on the back foot.

And there were plenty of good signs with Pat, Michael, Jaden and Gus  each having their moments. Joshua was strong in the air while Max stood like a block of flats in defence and outmuscled the Panthers.

A free kick to Penshurst while at point-blank range landed them the first and only score for the half.

The breeze at their backs in the second term allowed the Cannons to take up permanent residence in their forward half. But it soon became a rabble in the over-crowded 50 metre arc as “squatters” moved in from Canada Bay’s midfield and destroyed their positional structure.

The Cannons rushed scoring shots and exercised poor passing options. They managed 1.8.14 for the quarter and in doing so, managed to stir the beast inside their coach.

He pleaded for order and accountability from all players in his animated half-time address.

His players appeared to respond, landing a goal off the stray boot of bulldozer George.

But that’s where it ended for the visitors.

The Panthers pounced while the Cannons turned into the kittens. Five unanswered goals gave Penshurst a sniff – just eights points behind going into the last quarter.

The closing term was set-up for a barnstorming finish.

Then the diminutive and brave Damian stood tall and goaled three minutes in.

Despite strong marking and tough defence in patches, the Cannons appeared to put the cue in the rack early. The Panthers kicked three unlikely goals against the wind – the last and killer blow coming in the final minute.

The boys had plenty of time for self-reflection after the game, each vowing to regroup and do better in the the next match … and they need to. The road to the 2017 finals will be a tough one and while the Cannons have the team to do it, they realise now they will have to earn it.

CANNONS GOALS: George 2, Jordan 1, Pat 1, Joel 1, Damian 1.

CANNONS BEST: Joshua, Gus, Jaden, Michael, Damian, Matt, Pat, Joel.

Information for New Families

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Unfortunately, our new family orientation sessions this year were cancelled (twice!) due to wet weather.

We apologise that we were not able to schedule this briefing session.

Please download the attached information. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Resources

The draw, when released, will be available online via Sports TG (formerly Fox Sporting Pulse)

  • Sports TG website version
  • Sports TG also has a free app, available from the Apple App Store and Google Play, called Game Day Sports TG. 

Instructions for finding your team on Game Day Sports TG.

Once you have logged in, select ‘find my team’ and then ‘Australian Football’. Search for ‘SJ Sydney Harbour City’ and then under the tab ‘competition’, and you will find a list of divisions.

Please note that that while your team colour may be black, white or teal, your division may be a different colour. Just look through all the entries for your age group for Drummoyne Power until you find it. Once you’ve found it once, press the star in the top right hand corner, and it will stay on the home screen of the app, so you don’t have to look for it again.

Also, the publication date for the draw is March 29. While it appears that the draw has been loaded ahead of time in some age groups, its veracity cannot be confirmed until March 29. Consider anything you see before then as a draft.

After March 29, the draw is considered the single source of truth. If there is ever any conflicting information about game times or locations, consult the online version of the draw.

 

 

 

 

 

U12 medal

2016 Premiers: Under 12 Div 2

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Canada Bay Under 12 Division 2 v Pennant Hills

Grand Final, Sunday 4 September

Ross Gwilliam Oval, Macquarie University

What could be better than winning a grand final by one point? Doing it on Fathers’ Day!

These kids sure know how to treat their mums and dads. They gave us the Mothers’ Day Miracle in May and now the Fathers’ Day Fantasy.

But they make us sweat.

Time and again this year we’ve said these kids have guts, character and resolve.

They just wanted to prove it one last time in the biggest possible moment. To stick at a tight grand final all day, trail by less than a goal at every change, hit the lead halfway through the last quarter and then hang on in a desperate and frantic last five minutes.

The backline, like in the prelim, was massive. Led by Will, who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, they held out attack after attack as Pennant Hills were camped in their forward line and tried everything to snare that winning goal in the dying minutes. Each time that goal looked inevitable, a Cannon threw himself on a Penno boot, smothered, tackled or punched the ball clear. It was inspiring stuff.

Penno edged closer and closer, point by point with a few rushed behinds, but, thanks to the relentless Cannons pressure, they couldn’t bridge the gap before that beautiful final siren blew.

After the lead changed hands four times in the gripping first half, Penno got on top in the third quarter and went away to a 10 point lead midway through the term, the biggest lead of the day.

But we just knew the Cannons weren’t about to drop their heads. They kept fighting, kept themselves in the contest and Alex’s third goal for the day put us within three points at three-quarter time.

They believed they could do it and they believed in what Coach Tony told them:­ if they kept tackling, pressuring and helping each other the game would turn their way. They did and it did.

An early behind in the last quarter stretched Penno’s lead to four points, but the Cannons persevered and the tide turned. Once again it started with desperate defence; Will, Ben C, Connor, Fergus, Archie, Jezza, Blake and Brayden fought for the footy like men possessed. The ball ended up on the flank with Cooper, who sent it wide to Damo on the outer wing.

Damo had space, but only after he burned off a flailing Demon with sheer pace, took a couple of bounces as he dashed down the wing and sent the ball long into an open forward line, otherwise known as Thea’s Paddock.

Thea turned a couple of defenders inside out, gathered the ball and, still under extreme pressure, slotted the goal from close range and we were back in front for the first time since the second quarter.

Two minutes later, strong defence sent the ball back into the middle where Tank earned a free kick. He reacted quickly when he saw the paddock open, kicked the ball long and again Thea collected the footy to kick another pressure goal and, suddenly, we were nine points up late in a grand final.

And didn’t the crowd full of family, friends and clubmates love it! And didn’t they then endure the longest eight minutes of the year:­ the team manager was asked the time more than the old talking clock.

Penno hit back with a goal to make the final minutes even more tense but every Cannon threw themselves at every contest and helped each other like great mates, for an amazing end result.

The tone was set in the first quarter ­when Finlay saw the biggest kid on the field coming at him, he licked his lips, rubbed his hands together, wrapped his arms around the big fella and threw him down with the tackle of the season. More inspiring stuff.

From that moment on, everyone knew they had to do the hard things as well as the skilful things.

It was a classic grand final of grit, skill and character and our guys did it just that little bit better.

The game was a typical grand final arm wrestle early on with neither team able to gain any momentum until Alex pulled out one of his best magic tricks of the year to kick the opening goal (his 50th for the season) with a banana grubber from close to the boundary.

Nic was everywhere and racking up effective possessions and Paddy was winning the ball by going in hard, while Penno kicked a late long range goal to go into quarter time two points up.

A Damo tackle saved a goal early in the second term, Ferg took some telling marks, Whitey was clever and elusive and JA was an effective linkman between defence and attack. But scoring was still difficult for both teams until Cooper’s strong pack mark at centre half forward gave him a set shot which he calmly potted.

Ben M and Liam were crucial up forward as they provided strong contests and Dominator made an impact.

Everybody contributed to a great win to end a great season.

Great thanks and congratulations to Tony for the way he instilled a strong team ethic and belief among the kids as well as his emphasis on skills development, not to mention his calm and ultra-effective approach on match day.

And we must also acknowledge the great contribution Andrew and Clint have made to the football development of the Drummoyne kids over a long time –  seven years for many of them.

(And of course thanks to Luke for the biggest and best looking Under 12s banner ever seen.)

Thank you to Pennant Hills Demons – worthy opponents in a classic grand final game.

CANADA BAY 6.6 (42) Goals: Alex 3, Thea 2, Cooper 1

PENNANT HILLS 5.11 (41)

U12 Div 2 Finals

Under 12/2 Preliminary Final v Moore Park, Aug 28

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Congratulations everyone. Whatever your age and whatever level of footy you play, making a grand final is a fantastic achievement and something of which you should all be very proud. Grand final week and the game itself is great fun. Enjoy!

To get there, though, these kids once again showed the character and guts they’ve become renowned for.

The preliminary final was tight all day and after we snatched the lead in the second quarter, little more than a goal separated the teams throughout. And for that we owe our backline so much. Led by Will sweeping up across half back and with Ben C, Connor, Fergus, Archie and Blake repeatedly throwing their bodies on the line, helping each other out and desperately fending off Moore Park attacks.

So many times their willingness to support each other and not let their mates down saved goals which ultimately proved the difference.

Going into three quarter time eight points up, an early Moore Park behind and goal quickly cut the lead to one point and it was anyone’s game.

Anyone, that is, who has the character to persevere and handle pressure. And the Cannons yet again stood up.

The backline kept withstanding the pressure, Tank, Cooper and Nic in the middle were giving us best use of the footy, Damo kept tackling and we were again getting on top of the game, but needed to convert our possession.

Paddy lifted when the team needed him and after laying a strong tackle, he played on quickly from the free kick and passed nicely to Alex who took another strong mark and calmly went back to slot his third goal for the day to put us seven points up.

Shortly after, our attack yet again started deep in defence where Will mopped up and sent the ball downfield, a string of passes found Cooper who delivered to Whitey who played on immediately, skipped past a couple of defenders and steered home the sealer, putting us 14 points clear with five minutes to go.

But Moore Park also showed plenty of character, kept coming and ensured the crowd on the hill were never at ease. They clawed back to within eight points and still had a sniff, but the Cannons held firm even though a Moore Park goal on the siren narrowed the final margin to two points. Even when you think you might be clear, you still need to fight hard until the final siren.

As the game opened in the accustomed dewy conditions, Cooper, Damo and Will kept us going in the first quarter. Cooper was everywhere, taking marks, tackling, running through the lines and delivering beautifully by foot; Damo led the way with his tackling and stopped many promising Moore Park attacks, while Will was impassable in defence.

Tank in the ruck set up our first goal from the opening bounce in the second term when he roved his own tap, dished off to Paddy who handballed to a running JA streaming through the guts to find Alex on the lead. His goal locked the scores at 1.2 apiece.

Tank wasn’t just strong in the ruck, he was running down opponents, tackling, shepherding and, along with Jezza, provided a big presence for their teammates.

We hit the lead midway through the second term after a Cooper tackle turned over possession and Liam ran hard to beat two defenders to the loose ball, kicked it ahead for Ben M to gather and, from long range, potted the goal to give us a five point advantage.

It was a lead the kids fought hard to preserve. They kept Moore Park goalless in the second and third quarters and their hard work and constant pressure was rewarded when Alex snapped a goal in the third term to give us our eight point buffer.

That hard work and pressure were crucial to the win. There were so many examples of little. but very big, efforts which proved so decisive …

Tank running about 40 metres down the flank to beat two Moore Park players to the footy; Connor climbing up off the deck to chase and lay a crucial tackle in defence; Will punching the ball clear from what looked like a certain Moore Park mark; Finlay putting himself in danger to hold his ground and mark under all sorts of pressure; Dom stepping into traffic to put on a shepherd; Brayden bursting through a pack to clear the way for his mates.

They were hard to do, but had to be done. They’re the little things that are actually big things that can win a grand final.

CANADA BAY 5.5 (35)

Goals: Alex 3, Ben M 1, Whitey 1

MOORE PARK 4.9 (33)

 

U12/2 Canada Bay Cannons v Heathcote, Round 13

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U12 Div 2 Canada Bay Cannons v Heathcote

Round 13, Drummoyne Oval

The scoreboard lit up with the names of our 50 game veterans.

And the way they’re playing, they’re heading for Boomer Harvey’s record.

The Cannons racked up another good solid win against a physical Heathcote in, yet again, Arctic Drummoyne conditions whipping off Five Dock Bay leaving the families shivering in the stand waiting in vain for the coffee van to arrive.

But despite the cold, the Cannons fired from the start, straight from Tom’s first tap at the opening bounce.

Even when we didn’t have the ball the teamwork was impressive. Gang tackles were called for throughout the day as some of their big kids insisted on taking on three or four tacklers at a time. They might have got through one, they might have got through two, but there was always another Cannon there to help their teammates and eventually make the tackle stick. Teamwork doesn’t just apply when you’ve got the ball. Helping your teammates in every part of the game is a crucial part of footy.

Tom dominated the ruck all day and his beautiful tapwork created so much of our attack, as he provided silver service for Cooper, Damo, Blake and anyone else who wanted it.

He wasn’t just content with palming it straight to his midfielders.

He was also picking the ball off his toes and sending out a handball, or taking marks and finding a teammate with a pass. It was the complete ruckman’s game.

While Tom gave them the service, the midfielders used the ball well and there were so many examples of fluent teamwork through the middle as Cooper regularly connected with Nic, Thea, James and Will to send the ball forward where Liam and Alex were waiting.

Liam took some big marks up forward, including one on a high speed lead, and also read the play brilliantly, kicking two goals after roving the pack. And he was thinking about the team, finding Thea in front of goal with a perfect pass after he had marked near the boundary.

Thea did the right thing and duly kicked the goal, one of her three for the day, while Alex also pulled three goals out of his bag of tricks.

Finlay was a livewire on the wing, attacking the footy and tackling the man, shepherding, smothering and taking intercept marks on the wall. He was finally rewarded with a goal after Tom took a mark and passed to Nic who found Thea who shot the hands out to Fin for a clever  goal.

Ben C started the day with a strong shepherd and was reliable in defence where Brayden again took some telling marks. Archie as usual threw himself into everything, Dom was another key man in defence and Ozzy ran well through the middle where he picked up a handball from Damo and delivered a sweet pass to James to kick a goal.

Goals: Thea 3, Alex 3, Cooper 2, Liam 2, James 1, Will 1, Finlay 1, Damo 1.

 

U12-2 v Kellyville

Cannons Under 12 Div 2 v Kellyville

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Cannons U12 Division 2 v Kellyville

Round 12, 17 July

We had kids fly back from all corners of the globe; Ireland, Japan, England, Geelong, so a trip to Kellyville was an easy 40k jaunt up the M2.

Awaiting us in the Hills was a great challenge against Kellyville, only two weeks after they outclassed us. And the kids answered it brilliantly.

Inspired by Archie L leading his cheersquad on the terraces, the Cannons were back to their trademark footy – team oriented, clever and persistent.

The Cannons responded every time Kellyville challenged, regularly setting up goals deep in defence and finishing them off up forward with smart and unselfish passes to teammates in a better position.

After the result last time, an early statement was important and Tank and Cooper made it loud and clear when they combined brilliantly at the opening bounce to win the first clearance of the game. It set us up to dominate early possession but we just couldn’t convert. Kellyville then took its chance and scored the opening goal.

But our response was swift. Tank and Cooper combined again at the next bounce, got the ball to Paddy who kicked inside 50 for Will to mark strongly and slot the goal to put us in front, where we stayed.

Tank has really developed his rucking as the season has gone on and he was crucial in winning the clearances, while Brayden on the last line of defence had his best game of the year. He was poised and clever, took strong marks, tackled, kicked long and beautifully and saved the day many times, but also set up many attacks. The only forward line he’ll be in for the rest of the year is the opposition’s.

Cooper has added grunt to his silky skills and was always in and under extracting the ball for teammates while Finlay also kept going into the contest and coming out with the footy.

Thea was taking marks, running and providing a great link on the wing, combining with Nic to set up James for a first quarter goal, while Ben C and Dominator were cool when under siege in defence.

The passing, leading and marking was composed and impressive – James sent a precision ball in the second term to Will who did likewise to Alex DP for the first of his four goals. Will did it again in the third quarter when he took a strong mark on the wall and with a short pass found Nic who kicked his first goal. And after marking on the 50, Paddy found a strong lead from ADP and hit him on the chest.

Archie G made an immediate impact when he came on, crunching some Magpies with massive tackles, one of which spilled the ball loose for Nic to scoop up and kick a terrific running goal from the boundary to give us a handy halftime lead.

Alex DP turned his defender inside out a couple of times for a pair of third quarter goals after good lead up work from Damo and Blake and Nic’s major gave a big lead going into the final break.

We cruised home in the last quarter for an impressive win, but the highlight of the day was Archie L’s even more impressive cheersquad.

CANADA BAY 9.8.62
Goals: Alex DP 4, Nic 2, Will 1, Paddy 1, James 1
KELLYVILLE 6.4.40

Cannons U15-1 v Easts, Round 12

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U15 Division 1 Canada Bay Cannons v Easts Bulldogs
Round 12

First match back after the break saw the 15/1s playing long term rivals Easts in a must-win match to keep in finals contention, at East’s home ground. No pressure then, boys.

As the team took the field it was clear they had their game faces on. They gave it all they had from the first bounce, scrambling, smothering and determined to send the ball forward. And forward it went to the goal square, Josh H got his foot on it in the melee – goal to Cannons. Great start. Easts immediately responded with a strong attack, only to be repelled by a committed defence, co-captain Gus leading by example, and solid as a rock Ben W running the ball out. With the centres at full pace, Ely and Pierce using their strength and height to hold up play and the running combination of Luke G and Tommy taking the ball forward, Cannons attacked again. This time a kick forward, mark and goal from 40 out by Brendan. Strong play by Luke L and another score. Quarter time Cannons ahead to a goalless Easts.

The second quarter saw the centres start with the same desire and the same result, this time measured kicks and marks all the way to Gull at full forward – goal. By now Easts was frantic for a goal and threw extra players into its forward line, twice Ben W taking on three Easts players by himself and turning the ball back. Gus and Zac were also outstanding in mopping up play. Finally Easts goaled, Cannons up 20-10 at half time.

As Easts came out from the long break it was obvious they were fired up and ready to play. And play they did, getting right back into the game to even the score. Was this to be another match where Cannons lost focus and lost the match in one quarter? Not this time. The boys regrouped, refocussed and went hard again, with Louie M ignoring jet lag to run through the middle and kick the ball forward and Josh G grabbing mark after mark to frustrate Easts. Pressure, then more, resulted in goals to Josh M and Pierce. Cannons back in front.

The match see-sawed during the final quarter with Easts briefly taking the lead before a last push by the Cannons had Luke G and Gull kicking majors to see our boys home by 8 points (7.4.46 – 5.8.38).

Overall a great day’s play from every single Cannons player. Well done, boys.