Blog Hiatus

As many will understand - it is important to spend a little time with all your grandchildren.  The unfortunate consequence of visiting grandchildren on the other side of the world is that I will be unable to take any photos for the Blog for a few weeks.
If anyone had a few photos of our boys and would like to put them on the Blog, I would be happy to post them.  Email photos to idrpix@gmail.com
Best wishes to the Team.
Ian

Training Night

Wednesday produced one of those balmy Autumn evenings when it was a pleasure to be outside.  A situation that is unlikely to be repeated too many times in the coming months as it gets darker and wetter.  Training under lights, the enthusiasm was still up.

Donvale v Glen Waverley Rovers

At least the weather was kinder for the game than it was for training.  First there was a warm up on the ground and then the Coach's briefing in the rooms.

With a few new players in the last couple of weeks we now have a few on the bench during the game.

It has to be said that The Rovers played well. In the first half, our forwards did not see a lot of action -

although it was not for lack of effort.

Half time, saw the boys listening attentively to the coach as he issued instructions for the distribution of "snakes".

Perhaps he did more than issue the sweets because the second half saw an improvement in the play with better teamwork and greater anticipation of the play.

Unfortunately the improvement on the ground did not translate into massive numbers on the scoreboard, but the game was well played in great spirit.

Training in the Rain

It was a miserable night.  Dark, cold and wet.  They huddled around in small groups under the lights wishing they were home and warm.  But that was the parents.  The kids were out there and getting stuck into the training routines and having a ball.

Despite the weather, the boys were enjoying themselves!

A bit of handball and accurate short passes were on the agenda tonight.

 

Many of the photos in this blog show the importance of the tongue in determining the accuracy of the kick or handball.

Donvale v Boronia

The Under 9s are now getting into the season.  There is now a full complement of players and they are starting to work as a team. Today they came up against Boronia which appeared to have had more match experience than our boys but that is how they learn.

Following the meeting with the umpire and after coach's instructions they were into it.  On occasions it looked as though Boronia had 30 on the ground!

but the team saw plenty of the ball.

It was great to see them coming off as a team at half time.

The third quarter saw a little more cohesion in the play.

Then after the final siren, acknowledging a game well played by both teams.

More photos of the day can be seen by clicking on the following link.
Slide show (24 photos)

Training - Back at the Home Ground

Wednesday's Training session was back on the home ground so the feeling is that the season is really underway.  There was some handball practice -

 

Then a bit of work on the short passes.

The Pie Night that followed ensured appropriate sustenance following the workout.

First Game

Today the season started in earnest.  Following the preliminaries in the Clubrooms

it was out onto the grounds for the first match against Montrose.

A brief strategy session and then it was down to business.

From this observers perspective, the team had benefited from the practice match as the play was more strategic and purposeful. 

After his pirouette at training on Wednesday, Brendon made his own arrangements to observe the match in style but with stability.

 

A great match.  Congratulations to both teams and all the volunteer parents.