Mid Season Check In; U19s Division One
With Head Coach, Tim Spehr, at the helm, the U19s Div 1 team have been travelling really well – undefeated and with healthy wins over every side in the competition.
Coming off the Premiership win last year, the team has had an undefeated start to the season. They have successfully navigated the bulk of the school and representative footy seasons and are looking to consolidate a best 22 in the back half of the year. With such a deep, talented and hard-working list, that will pose a significant challenge but the pressure that places on each player to fight for their spot will ultimately yield the best possible results.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON SO FAR
The most heartening characteristic of this playing group has been in each individual’s ability to impose themselves on the game and have important moments. The collective effort and dedication to continually improving their communication and on-field intelligence is outstanding and has led to the team leading the league in both points scored and conceded. A special mention has to go to Daemon Lakatos who has a competition-high 36 goals through 9 games including bags of eight twice and six once.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON
The biggest challenge will be maintaining the continuity they have built and the culture they have developed. The squad takes a lot of pride in playing for each other and acting selflessly on-field in pursuit of larger team goals – that attitude will be vital in taking them to a premiership and has to be nurtured in balance with their on-field education. The boys know how high the ceiling is but without placing value in the processes that will get them there, it becomes significantly harder to reach the potential they are capable of.
KEY GAMES TO WATCH FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON
Pennant Hills, North Shore and UNSW will be the toughest games in the second half of the seaosn. Penno have fleshed out their 19s program really impressively and play accountable footy that will test our U19s at home in a few weeks. North Shore and UNSW continue to have an abundance of talent that will keep rounding into shape as the season progresses and both will be great challenges leading into finals.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON
The team is lucky to have a wide array of guys playing great footy across the ground. The boys who have forced themselves into consideration because of the quality of their hard work are particularly impressive: Oscar Bosnjakovic and Noah Mitchell are key examples, both vice captains of the squad due in large part to their preseason efforts in developing their strength and endurance and giving themselves the best platforms to drive standards and be aspirational to our younger players. TJ Speedy Coe and Russell Royal (the two best names at the club) have been electric, Declan Fitzpatrick and Joe Shawcross lead with their competitiveness and fearlessness, and the Swans academy boys (Felix Rugge-Price, Nick Andreacchio and Zac Nandlal) have added class and poise.
Head Coach, Tim, has thoroughly enjoyed working with the playing group so far: “It’s been a pleasure as a coach to mentor a group as interested in becoming the best footballers and men they can be. Under the impressive (and undefeated including three games last season) captaincy of Nic Malakellis, I’m confident that each of our boys will continue to have impressive moments this year and hopefully lead us to another flag.”
U19s Division One play their next match on Saturday 17th June, 10.40am @ Kanebridge Oval vs East Coast Eagles. View their full fixture and ladder details HERE