End of Year Report - League Coach Todd Curley

UNFORTUNATELY in 2018, our season once again came to an end on preliminary final weekend. In the first half we produced our worst half of footy for the year and although our players fought hard in the second half of the match to get ourselves back into the game, it was too little too late.

It was certainly a bitter pill to swallow for everyone after so much hard work throughout the year, when the opportunity of a Grand Final was within our grasp we just couldn’t get anything positive going in the game.

After the raw emotion of the result, reflecting on the entire 2018 season we have again made steps forward in a year where we had to overcome some significant hurdles. Our player group continues to stick together and support each other during the ups and downs encountered throughout the season and should be very proud of their efforts.

In 2018 we had a number of senior players miss significant chunks of the season and all the way through we were able to continue winning games to again finish second on the ladder. A point of difference this year was we had 10 debutants, who along with a group of players who had played only a handful of games before 2018 were able to come into the senior team and contribute in their role when the opportunities arose.

The future of our footy club is extremely positive with an excellent core group of senior players supported by an emerging band of young players who are poised to jump up and become quality regular senior players with increased opportunities in 2019. The emergence of players such as Noah Strom, Chad Pearson and Brandon Donaldson this year to become key players at senior level gives us great confidence that our football program will continue to develop the talented young players on our list. A big thank you to all our players for their hard work, dedication and sacrifices made through out another season in 2018. 

Our new leadership team led by Dylan Main and Mason Shaw did a fantastic job in 2018 and are well placed to really shape the group into their own in 2019. With the retirement of some fantastic contributors to our football club and a year under their belts in their leadership roles, we look forward to helping to continue to grow as the leaders and men.

Post-season we have seen a number of experienced players decide it was time for them to move on to the next phase of their lives and retire from senior football. Ashton Hams, Ryan Cook, Shane Hockey, Cory Dell‘olio and Jarrod Parry have all confirmed their retirement. They have all made a significant impact on the football club both on and off the field and are fantastic people, footballers and friends. We wish them every success in their future endeavours and look forward to them still being a part of the club. I would also like to thank Arthur Maskos for his contribution to the football club as a player, colts premiership coach and for his friendship and support over the last four years with me as an assistant coach. 

We are very lucky with the quality of people we have at our football club and I would like to say a few thank yous to the many people who assist in our football program.

To my coaching team, senior assistant coaches Brett King, Tony Walters and Arthur Maskos; reserves coach Paul Litherland and his assistants Mike Hays, Glenn McCallum and Geoff Barry; Kris Miller; chairman of selectors Geoff Lewis; runners Shaun Tinsley and Adam Crannage; a massive thank you for your time, friendship, support, ideas and laughs in 2018. 

To Ryan Gaias and his strength and conditioning team, physio Michael Swan, Doc Anthony Henderson, head trainer Jasmin and her team thank you. I believe we have the best team in the competition and it makes my job so much easier when you have total confidence in your team. Thank you all for your time, effort and friendship. 

To our fantastic group of volunteers who are the heat beat of our football club, your smiles and unwavering support of our players, coaches and club are a daily reminder why we are all involved in our great game. A special thank you to Tony, Pete, Ross, Les, Steve, Pete and Jim for your all of your work, support and friendship.
 
Thank you to the Board, CEO Tom Bottrell and all the administration staff for their support and hard work that gives us all the opportunity to remain involved in a successful club in the best state league football competition in Australia. Thank you to football manager David Depane for all his work to keep the program running, friendship and support.

To the families, wives, girlfriends, partners and friends of everyone involved in our football club a special thank you for all the time and support you unconditionally give to allow us to pursue our passion.

Finally to the members and supporters, thank you for your support. We will continue to strive to be a team you can be proud of, that is always striving to improve and that remains committed in pursuit of the grand final success that we can all celebrate together.