THE JET SETTER
Issue 5-99

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

In November 1998 the MDHC Executive embarked on a program which I feel could take a minimum five years to complete. The program is about establishing our Hockey Club as one of the elite hockey clubs in Australia in terms of results achieved, state and Australian representation, facilities for our members, socially and in the minds of all of our opponents.

Phase one of this process is the most difficult because it involves developing a new way of thinking that runs throughout the entire club. Every club member has to believe with both their hearts and their heads that this goal is not only achievable but absolutely inevitable. Each one of us has to be totally committed to this way of thinking for the long term so that as a huge group of people we are single minded in our work towards the end result.

This year the Executives objectives have been to start to rebuild
A) pride in our club,
B) loyalty,
C) self belief

D)the achievement process so that people start feeling positive about both being around the club, and with their involvement and contribution towards the clubs overall progress. Whilst we may not have had the onfield success in 1999 to match some other years overall we’ve made huge steps forward.

In 1999 the club has:

• Adopted a new uniform and club logo
• Published a new regular club magazine
• Had a very successful year socially - $10,000 net profit
• Run a major fundraiser – The Club raffle
• Maintained member numbers where other clubs are shrinking
• Stabilized club administration
• Computerized the club and continue to have the best website in VHA
• Started to re-introduce our life membership to the club in hopefully what will be a ‘coterie like’ capacity in the future

The most satisfying part of each of these achievements has been working with a large group of club members who have all had a common goal – giving their best effort to help the club. Its been very rewarding for all concerned and has certainly proved to me that the more you put into something you feel very strongly about the more you get out.

These volunteers, combined with our coaches provided at total of over 50 people who contributed to the club this year off the field, which is a fantastic effort from all concerned.

Where do we go from here?

The momentum has started and its now up to every individual involved with the club to adjust their mindset and to steel themselves for a very exciting 5 year journey, a journey in which the more you commit the more you’ll receive.

ALLEN HART
President

MEN’S SECTION REPORT

On the surface, 1999 would have to go down as a disappointing season for the Moorabbin Men’s section – poor State League performances, no premierships and no promotions. On the other hand there were some real achievement – one extra team, significantly more juniors playing, three teams in finals and every team at least competitive in their grade.

The most satisfying aspect was the number of juniors playing seniors for the first time. This is a really talented bunch, which if we can keep them all together should breed success in pennant and state league in future years.

Also extremely satisfying was the further increased contribution by a number of players to the off-field success. Contributions to administration, raffle organisation, social organisation, coaching, uniforms and newsletter have improved enormously from the last couple of years. This reflects directly in the off-field morale or the club, and also to the finances.

State League 2

After such a promising year in 1998 and an excellent pre-season it all turned bad. I don’t want to perpetuate the annus horribilus by writing further about it, save to say, "If we haven’t learnt from it, it was wasted." Now I’m going to get fit, work hard, and prove a few people wrong next year. Hope you’re with me.

There were some highlights:

• A very very gutsy win against Powerhouse in round-2
• A tremendous 65 minutes against Hawthorn in round-8
• A solid second half against Hawthorn in round-17

It can be done.

Pennant A

At the start of the season all those that know best would have expected Pennant-A to have yet another year like all the ones for the past ten years – you know – scrape a point here and there, the odd good game, and just avoid relegation. The team looked the same as most years (i.e. Brian Paxton was at Fullback). BUT, there was something different. There was real passion. The tougher the challenge the better this team performed. No doubt the results against the top four teams would be better than those against the bottom four.

Finishing fourth after the home and away games, it would have been expected that the team might be satisfied with that, and make way gracefully for the real contenders in the finals; but nobody had read the script. A 1-0 win over the mighty Camberwell (who will forget Danny Benjamin’s goal from right half), led to a preliminary final against Doncaster who had lost only two games for the year. Well now make that three.

The Grand Final was against Kew. We led 1-0 after a cross from Ben Verney was converted masterfully by Mitch Smith. Then a corner which was clearly going high was awarded a goal for Kew to make the scores 1-1 at half time. The second half was dominated by Kew, but a strong defence led by Dave Hammond in goal kept them out. Extra time was more of the same with Moorabbin only dangerous on the occasional counter attack. 1-1 all after extra time and the penalty stroke system sucks when you lose.

Well done to everyone involved with Pennant A over the year, and in particular to Brian Paxton and John Purcell. Hopefully there are some players there that are keen to move on from seconds hockey next year, and have a real crack at State League success.

Pennant C

This team started off with the "super team" tag, after some handy recruiting to attract Cameron Taggart and Ben Peachey back to the club. It certainly looked like they would fit the bill after the first game, a thrashing of TEMC – after which Ben had 4 goals and a promise to attend presentation night nude if he didn’t hit 50 goals for the year. The roll continued for most of the first half of the season, but from that point we struggled to get our best team on the field.

Thanks to Mal Brown for a top job as captain, and Ian Fraser for juggling the managers job with everything else.

Metro 1 East

We put together here the group from Metro 2 South last year. A bunch of younger guys who train more frequently than others and showed some potential. They got off to a good start but lost a number of games that they should have won. Captain and manager John Leighton severely injured his knee in the 4^th game and our goal keeper (Johns mate) retired around the same time. Matt Skinner took over the helm and did an admirable job although he probably holds the new record for fines in a season. Thanks Matt.

When the full squad was available the team played well but a number of players failed to attend critical games without warning or notice and this affected results.

Metro 2 South

We started here with a sprinkling of juniors and finished up with a majority. These included under 15’s Ian Smyth, Tristan Briede, Brent Scales, Brett Dempster and Steven Stuart. From the under 17’s we had Mark Beecham and Warwick Baker.

To lose only 2 games for the minor round was quite a good result and just when we thought we had the formula right CBCOC came out and whipped us in the semi final. Mind you they went on to play in the grand final.

Many thanks to Finno for once again acting as captain, manager and motivator.

Metro 3 South

This started off as a bit of a father and son side with the O’Brien and Morphet clans playing and supporting. We got off to a rocky start but once the numbers and players settled down the team played well and finished a creditable 3^rd.

Again we had quality juniors playing from the under 15’s Shaun Davis, Joshua Heathecote, Paul Morphet and the under 17’s Michael O’Brien and Doug Alcock.

Many thanks to Brad for acting as captain and manager.

Metro 4 South

We were relegated from Metro 3 last year and got off to a great start with a couple of good wins. Unfortunately we then came to earth and finished around the middle of the table.

This team consists of all the old guys, the beginners and a couple of youngsters Greg Beckmann and Michael Sleeth.

Many thanks to Vilim who once again acted as manager and Simon who took on the captains role.

Special thanks to Paul Beckmann for his tremendous contribution to the Men’s section throughout the year. Paul almost single handedly ran the Metro teams, and did a top job. It is of significant value for the club to field an additional team. It adds to the depth on the club in an on-field sense, and assists in providing an avenue for junior development. Of equal importance is the financial contribution an extra team means, simply by forcing the association to roster a few more games at Moorabbin. We couldn’t have achieved this without Paul Beckmann. Well Done.

John Purcell is a legend at Moorabbin Hockey club and in hockey circles generally. This is not only for his undeniable hockey ability and knowledge, but also because he is a genuine good bloke. John’s contribution as the Senior coach for the past two seasons, and as the Pennant coach for two years before that, has been excellent and proven his definite talent in this area. It is disappointing therefore that John has decided to withdraw himself from coaching next season. I am sure that John will continue around the club in another capacity, if only as a player where he still obviously has plenty to offer. I hope that he therefore enjoys next season a lot more than he would have the turmoils of the season just past. John, on behalf of all the players who have learnt so much from you over the last four years, thanks.

John made his intentions known before the end of the winter season, and as such a group has been established to secure another Senior coach. With the 2000 season starting in early March, we would expect to fill this position by the end of October.

Wishing you all a successful spring carnival, a festive Christmas and a bug free New Year.

Cameron Hunter

WOMEN’S SECTION REPORT

Looking back over this last season the on field results were on the whole pretty disappointing. However, with the restructuring of the grading system for next year, only the League 1 team has been relegated. In 2000 we will have teams in League 2, Pennant A (formerly D1), Pennant B (Top five teams from D2S & D2N), District 3 South, and District 4 South. In future there will not be two teams from the same club in the one grade of the League or Pennant competition and, where possible, in the District grades too.

Some of the on field highlights were:

• The performance of the District 2 team to make the grand final once again (the hard way this year)! The grand final was a torrid affair, and very entertaining to watch. We scored the first goal, but T.E.M. equalised late in the second half, forcing the game into extra time. With a minute to go, T.E.M. scored the winning goal from a penalty corner.

• The juniors involved in the D2 grand final were also in the thrilling U15 girls premiership win a week before! This brings me to my next highlight, the progress of the younger members of the section to step up and challenge the more senior players for on field positions. I am looking forward to seeing all the juniors involved in the club taking another step up the grades next year. This takes hard work and dedication, which cannot be achieved without the dedication of their parents, thankyou.

• I am sure there were many very good goals scored this year, but of the ones I saw, there was none better than Tamsin's diving goal against Greensborough in the first round.

• "Save" of the year could quite easily have gone to Lauren Stevenson for her spectacular save with her heels in the air in a practise match at Esssendon. (One could have said it was a fluke, but she did it again at training later in the season!!) But for when it really counted, Alison Wright's save with her helmet is the winner. Alison had already made a great save at full stretch on the ground, and was in the process of getting up to save the lifting reboundshot on goal. The only part of her body she could get behind the ball was her head!!!

Our State Representatives this year were:

Tamsin Johnston U21

Marissa Butterfield U18

Sarah Ashworth U16

Alycia Simmons U16

Lauren Stevenson U16

Lauren was also selected in the U16 Australian team.

Jane Alcorn Vetrans - Over 45's.

Congratulations to all these players, and good luck for next year.

I would like to thank the people who have helped run the Women's section this year. The Selection committee headed by Fiona Simmons and Tracey Crossman. Umpiring co-ordinator Julie Wilson-Puke. Coaches Glen Jackson and Tim McMahon. Thankyou also to Bob Puke for his pre-season program, and his services at games all season.

Season 2000 starts on 18^th & 19^th March! Because of this everything else has to be brought forward one month as well. Summer hockey starts next Thursday (21^st), and Vets the Wednesday after (27^th). We have to start preparing for next season now ! We are in the process of finding and appointing coaches, so if you know of anyone interested, or who might be persuaded to coach - we are looking for coaches for all grades - please let me know. A club is only as good as the people involved in it! So please help out in any way you can.

Lee Beet
Women's Section
Co-Ordinator

MDHC Social events 1999

Spit Roast Weekend

Campbell and Ella worked all weekend to sell about 400 hundred magnificent spit roast rolls

Thank to them both and who ever helped on that weekend

Money raised approximately $800.00

Trivia Night

Campbell, Ella (Again) and Allison put in huge amount of time to organise one of the most successful social events MDHC has had for years.

All 300 people had a great time displaying their intelligence (Or lack of !!!!) with the eventual winners being lead by Mr Andrew Spalding (defected to Camberwell) and Gus (defected to Essendon). Yes protests were submitted !!!!

Thanks again to Campbell, Ella and Allison (and any other helpers) for organising a great night.

Money raised approximately $3300.00

$1000.00 day and Life Member’s Day

Campbell, Ella (Again) put in a massive effect with the catering (Magnificent food) to have a great life member’s lunch.

Then Steve Maguire and myself help to get the $1000.00 off and running, with Bency and Paul doing a great job pulling out the tickets.

Congratulations to Jessica Mophitt for winning the BIG $1000.00.

Money raised approximately $1600.00

Thank you to everyone who attended the social events this year. This year’s events have been the most successful for many years so thank you to all the people who helped.

Special thanks must go to Campbell and Ella for all their help.

Regards
Matt Brown

JUNIOR SECTION REPORT

This year we began with 12 teams, one more than last year. The team we added was the Under 15 Girls Pennant due to the great number of girls who turned up at the start of the year, Well done, girls! Of the twelve teams - seven made the finals and three reached the grand final. Our Under 15 A Girls team won the Premiership and became the first girl’s team to win an "A" final for our Club. Well done, girls! And to all the teams thanks for a great effort this year.

One disappointment this year was the lack of coaches and I must apologise to players and parents who this affected. My thanks go to Craig Scales, Doug Hopkins and Lindsay Smith and Tas Johnstone for doubling up and filling in the gaps. Thanks also go to those who did put their hand up and put in another strong year with the club.

A significant change which occurred in the club this year was the number of juniors playing senior hockey. This can help the club in several ways, it improves the player's game, also bringing the three sections of the club closer together by parents and juniors mixing with the seniors. This could result in more families being involved in social nights and more senior players getting involved in the junior section. It also helps the transition from Under 17 to senior level. Speaking of social nights, the trivia night was a great success and congratulations go to the organisers for a job well done. Other activities held were individual teams nights, chicken and chips, roast beef rolls nights, life members lunch and $1000 dollar draw and to finish off we hosted the Junior " A" Grade finals which from all accounts was a very successful day.

Thanks must go to the committee and their families for a terrific year, they have worked very hard to try and make the club a fun place to be at and I feel they have succeeded. Ably supporting us have been the team managers, and the volunteers who have helped with the umpiring, canteen, transport, giving the kids drinks on a game day and generally supporting the club.

Thanks go to be everyone for supporting the major raffle. Don't forget summer twilight hockey it’s a fun and relaxed way to finish the season off and gives you a chance to bring some friends down to try it out.

Good luck to all our Under 17 boys and girls who leave the juniors this year. I hope you continue your hockey in our senior ranks and I thank you for your years contributing to the success of our section. Good luck in your adult pursuits.

In conclusion, because of the Olympics, next season is starting at about a month earlier, so be prepared! I hope you all have a safe summer and we look forward to seeing you all back next year.

We had a pleasing number of brand new players who had never tried playing hockey before who eventually went on to play during the winter season. This is one of the reasons we hold the summer competition to encourage kids to try hockey and hopefully obtain some new players who will play for many years to come. Of course the more experienced players enjoyed the relaxed but competitive games played.

Summer competition 1999 will be held in a slightly different format. We will be playing a modified indoor game using boards which will make the game a lot faster. Pick up your nomination form tonight for the summer competition and fill it in and return it and we hope to see you on Friday 15th October for the start of the competition.

This year we tried to limit the functions to a couple of big fundraisers. We held a Trivia night, which was very well and attended by both Seniors and Juniors. We managed to squeeze into the hall over 200 people and a great night was had by all those who attended. Special thanks to all the hard workers, catering, decorating and the organising committee.

During the latter half of season all teams had individual social nights and of course the whole club was involved in the selling of raffle tickets to raise money to replace the turf. We would like to thank all those who assisted with the functions held, in the kitchen selling chips, and generally put their hand up to do extra.

Special thanks to those who worked so hard on a Grand Final Day!!!

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Moorabbin Districts Hockey Club Inc. 1997

Page created by: Gary Simmons, Moorabbin Districts Hockey Club
Last Updated: 23 October 1999