THE JET SETTER
Issue 2-2000

MEN’S SECTION REPORT

It’s been good to get started with the real hockey after such a long pre-season.  It’ll be even better when all the teams get settled and players availability becomes a bit more regular.  The early start, new uniforms, and school holidays have made the first few weeks a real struggle to get seven teams organised and on the park.  However, as they say, “Necessity it the mother of invention”(or something like that), and we pulled some old names out of the hat, got a lot more juniors involved, and had Mitch Smith play goalie in Metro-3.

In Round-1 we must have broken a record for the number of Juniors playing senior mens hockey in the club.  At the risk of forgetting anybody, and I apologise in advance, these Juniors all played senior hockey in the first week:  Craig Hardham, Warwick Baker, Paul Morphett, Simon Moody, Michael O’Brien, Daniel Beaver, Michael Sleeth, Josh Heathcote, Ian Smyth, Brent Scales, Brett Dempster, Chris Griffiths, Matt Harvey, Steve Harvey and Greg Beckmann.  Then in subsequent weeks Will Blewett, Sam Evans, Michael Shaw, Andrew Edwards and Luke Osborne have joined the fray.  This is fantastic for the future of the club.  At the risk of sounding a bit like Bruce McAvany, we have forty players 25yo and below playing senior hockey.

Again at the risk of missing out on somebody, we’ve had a few familiar faces come back to have a hit (or just fill in – sometimes they don’t know the difference).  Welcome back to John McIvor, Dave MacPherson, Andrew Scott, Dave MacGregor, Darren White, Daniel McKay, Sam Waters and Steve Brown.  There’s some talent there – and perhaps more importantly, some Bar Sales.

After three rounds it’s always a bit difficult to say how we’re going, and probably more than ever this year with the early start.  I expect our problems rounding up players were significantly less than some of our opposing clubs.  However we can say that all teams have got at least one win on the board from three starts, and all look competitive.

State League has won three from three.  There is a small amount of truth in “Only being able to beat what they put in front of you”, but the reality is that the hardest challenges are yet to come.  Easter certainly won’t be a time to slacken off.

Pennant-A won it’s first two games in fine style before coming up against a very talented Waverley line-up.  There’s a few new faces in the Pennant-A side. (Lee and Mick from Springy, Brook and Scalesy up from Pennant-C, and Stuart Campbell from Mackie) It takes a bit of time to work out those around you and I expect Pennant-A’s best hockey is still to come.  I know Brian and the guys would be hoping to play in the finals again this season after last years heroics.

Pennant-C again won the first two games before going down to Essendon.  They’ve got the road trip down to Geelong in round-4, so we wish them well, and hope to here plenty of gossip on the way back.  Frase, Mal and Ross are focused on individual improvement, team building and winning (in no particular order)

Metro-1 has a win, a loss and a draw from their three games.  The round-1 loss probably should have been a win, and they’re looking pretty strong for the season.  With the experience of players like McIvor and Beckmann, and the talented mix of youth around them, I’m thinking top three.  Only time will tell.

Metro-2 has only won the one game, but would appear to have come up against a couple of the better sides.  No doubt the team they struck in round one had either had a Ben Johnston preparation, or was trained by Hayden Haitana (if you get that you’ve done well).  The only other explanation I can fathom is Finno and the boys running into an Indian Bookie during the warmup.

Metro-3 is the clubs glamor side this year.  The one everybody wants to be a part of.  With two wins and a bye so far they have dominated every minute of every game played so far.  Tracey Armstrong leads a side of youth, youth and really old blokes.  The average age of the side is about 17 until you add in the experience of Peter Morphett and Ken Walker.  They take the average up to about 22.  No doubt Ken has played more senior games of hockey than the rest of the team put together.  If you get a chance, get along to a Metro-3 game.  It’s good for your hockey outlook.

Metro-4 is again Monday Night Vets revisited.  They’ve had a win against Monash in round-2 with a loss either side. I’ve tried to find out more, but all I can ever get out of Ron is a story about the couple of goals he hit in Round-1 Vets, and I think it was twelve assists.

Cameron Hunter
Men’s Section Coordinator

WOMEN’S SECTION REPORT

Welcome to Season 2000 with such a frantic start to the hockey this year thanks to the Olympics it has been a bit of a struggle to get all players on the park. Finally this week at the end of Round 3 we seemed to have weeded out of the woodwork all the stragglers and have all teams up and running. The Women’s Association has changed our grading system to State League, Pennant and then District so last years D1 now (Pen A) and D2 now (Pen B) to make the competition more even. We also have D2Sth and D3Sth teams.

State League started the season with a new coach – Erin Lovett who returns to the Club and has increased the tempo and fitness already throughout the Club. With our sudden promotion back to State League 1 and the changing of the guard with some players leaving and others electing to wind down their careers Erin has started the new year by promoting some juniors  with Alisia Simmons and Amy McKay being regular players in the State League. We have seen  Jess Morphet at the tender age of 12  playing at centre forward in the firsts. Jess had shown skill and enthusiasm and attended all training sessions and practice games, showing that hard work really can pay off. With Lauren Stevenson and Marissa Butterfield away in the Under 18 State team the State League has had a few tough games to start the season but I think the corner has turned with a hard fought game against Waverley on the weekend and hopefully they can get some points on the board. Even though we haven’t recorded a win yet we have scored in every game which promises brightly for the future.

Pennant A have had a hard trot for the first few games but seemed to have settled now with a new look team. Sharon Meade is managing the team due to a weight problem (Sorry Sharon all the best for the pregnancy) with Jackie Jacob leading from the field. A core of players from last year still remain with the promotion of some Juniors again producing a team which even though has struggled for the first couple of games can and will be a force as the season is played out.

Pennant B is again looked after by Linda Ward, who capably marshals her troops every week and ensures a full team on the park. Pennant B has many experienced players and with some past players returning and some ex juniors playing should again be a force during the season. They have recorded a draw already which isn’t a bad effort considering the stealage of players that occurs from this grade.

D2 South is being maintained in impeccable order by Leanne Chapman again this year with players recording a win already to get 2 points on the board. This grade is for those players who enjoy their hockey with some competitive games being played throughout the season.

And last but not least is D3 South which is looked after by Sue Beckmann. This is the grade to play for a companionable afternoon strolling the hockey field and hopefully we manage to win a few games along the way. We certainly have fun when we play and I suppose the score becomes insignificant along the way sometimes.

Well this is the run down for this years teams. If you would like anything reported or have some Goss ( only the good stuff) please contact me and I will endeavour to get it in to the newsletter.

Sue Beckmann Ph : 9551 5046
Email : beckmann@tpg.com.au

JUNIOR SECTION REPORT

The season is finally under way.  We had a fairly successful first round with 6 of our 12 teams having wins.  Unfortunately we had to give walkovers in Under 17 Souths and Under 11 Souths due to lack of numbers.  By the time you receive this Jet Setter we will have completed round 2 and will be having a 2 week break before round 3.  We desperately need more players in Under 11’s and Under 9’s, please bring a friend along to training.

The Junior Committee would like to thank every one that has been lending a hand to make our club function.  This season we have over 50 people helping each week with the day to day running of our Section.  Most teams have a Coach, Assistant and a Team Manager.  We have a Committee of 12 hard working parents.  Without your assistance our Club would not be the “Great Club” it is today.

I am very pleased to see how many players are already playing Hockey for the senior sections of the Club as well as playing Juniors.  It is a great experience for all of you and also seems to have less pressure on you.  Any players wanting to play senior hockey please contact Ian Fraser on 9572.3767.

Gary Simmons
President Junior Section.

New Players
Speak to your friends and convince them to play Hockey for Moorabbin.  We are still in need of a few more players for the most age groups especially Under 9’s and Under 11’s.  These groups are the lifeblood of our Club and we must have players in these age groups.  The more the merrier.  Ask around all your friends and get them to contact Peter Morphet on 9578 3484 if they have any questions.

Fees are now Overdue!
Please forward your fees to our Treasurer Sue McIvor at 19 Melrose Street Mordialloc, 3195.  If fees are have not been received by May 1, a $10.00 surcharge will be added to your fees and an Invoice will be sent at the beginning of May.

State and Regional Teams.
Congratulations to the following Junior players for making a State or Regional team so far this year:  For any queries, please contact Tina Ashworth on 9583.3551.

Under 18 Women’s State -
                Lauren Stevenson (Goalkeeper)

Under 18 Women’s RegionaI -
                Alisia Simmons, Lauren Stevenson, Catherine Cheong

Team Managers.
We are still in need of a couple of team managers for the season.  Any interested parents, please contact Craig Scales on 9598.6642.  WE NEED YOU!!  The Canteen is being run in a different way this season.  There will not be a formal roster published this season, however we still need volunteers to help out during the busy periods.

Junior Fixture Book.
Due to the constant withdrawal of Junior teams over the first couple of rounds, the VJHA only issue the first 4 rounds a week at a time.  We should receive the fixture for rounds 3 and 4 over Easter.  We are hoping that everyone will have a completed fixture book by round 5.

Coaching.
All teams now have coaches.  We would like to thank all the Club members who are involved with coaching a Junior team.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Phone Numbers.