Untitled - Norwood Football Club

DEVELOPMENTRePORTThe goal of the program is to identify talent andathleticism, assist the players in their learningof how we want the lads to play at Norwoodand provide them with the best possibleenvironment for which they can learn.UNDER 16 SEASONThe Redlegs Under 16 program concluded on Saturday 12thMay with a determined 7-point victory over a very talentedGlenelg team in the SANFL Macca’s Talent Shield GrandFinal at AAMI Stadium.The match was played after the Adelaide Crows v Geelongclash, giving all players the opportunity of playing on thepremier football stadium in South Australia.The match was closely contested all night, with Norwoodleading at quarter time by one point, Glenelg at half time by 5points, Norwood by ten points at the last break, before holdingout a fast finishing Tigers unit by 7 points at the final siren.Peter Bampton, who has been playing U18 football thisseason, was outstanding with his body strength, speed andball use. He was well supported by skipper Matt Hallandal,live wire small forward Nic Pansini, with key forwards MacBower, Ryan Llewellyn and Brayden Denmead prominent.Riley Sinnott was classy in defence.Over the course of the program, forty players haverepresented the squad in eight preliminary round matchesagainst all SANFL clubs. The squad finished the regularseason with six wins and two losses and on top of theMacca’s Talent Shield ladder.Is this the ultimate goal of the program? absolutely not.The goal of the program is to identify talent and athleticism,assist the players in their learning of how we want the ladsto play at Norwood and provide them with the best possibleenvironment IN which they can learn. Training is the mostimportant part of our underage program at Norwood.The players will now move into different programs for theremainder of the season. Some will move on to our Under18 program with David Oatey, others will go back to the Under15 program, in conjunction with local club and school matches.It has been a pleasure to work with this ambitious group ofyoung men over the last five months; however, none of thisis possible without the support of caring people.I would like to thank assistant coaches Tim Weatherald,David Ising and Tod Barabas for their valued contribution,Team Manager Ralph Osborne, Head Trainer,Tania Herbertand assistant Nick Cubitt for attending to the sore bodiesafter each game, Physio, Bec Ashton, Time keeper, RickKapperer, Scoreboard attendant, Mark Vincent and KickingCoach, Robert Oatey.To Nathan Bassett and David Oatey, thank you for thecoaching support that provides a strong structure for theplayers to learn.To Jarrod Cotton and Shredlogix, thank you for yoursponsorship of our junior program. It is greatly appreciated.Most importantly, it is the parents that take the players toand from training, which is a huge task considering we trainat varying venues during the season. Besides that, there arethe physio visits in order to get the players back on the parkfrom injury. Thank you!Congratulations to Peter Bampton, Mac Bower, Nic Pansini,Matt Hallandal and Ryan Reavley who have been chosenin the preliminary state squad for the NAB AFL U16Championships to be held in Western Sydney from July7th-13th. A final squad of twenty-five plus five emergencieswill be chosen after a series of trial matches in the comingweeks. Good luck lads!UNDER 18’sThe Under 18’s, coached by David Oatey, have started 2012strongly, sitting second on the Macca’s Cup ladder after 9rounds, with six wins and one loss.The depth of talent at Norwood has been evident with JamesAish playing league football since round 1 as an under 17,Trent Dumont playing reserves also as an under 17 and under18’s, Aaron Luccon, Fred Beytell, Daniel Williamson, ChaseBower, Matthew Wallis and Steve Baldasso, receivingopportunities at senior level.Tullio De Matteis (Rostrevor College) and Mitchell Wilkins (StPeters College) have also played senior trials prior to returningto school football. Both have exceptional talent and athleticism.The progress of these players is by nomeans luck. The environment for whichthe lads are able to learn is critical totheir development as individuals andperforming in a team structure.Along with Eddy O’Connor, Orazio Fantasia and a number ofother young talented players, the future is looking bright atThe Parade.The progress of these players is by no means luck. Theenvironment for which the lads are able to learn is critical totheir development as individuals and performing in a teamstructure. The time and preparation that David and his teamof coaches put in editing footage for the boys to review andlearn from, is substantial. From there, the players undertaketraining activities and game phases that replicate what theywill experience on match day. We feel that this is workingwell across all grades.Finally, congratulations to Aaron Luccon, Tullio De Matteis,Fred Beytell, Steve Balsasso, Matt Wallis, James Aishand Trent Dumont, who have been chosen in the SouthAustralian squad to participate in the upcoming NAB AFLU18 Championships. I’m sure all players will perform wellon the big stage!ROBBIE NEILLDEVELOPMENT MANAGER27 28