Eighteen of Young’s Saints will head to Nowra this weekend to represent Central West AFL in the Under 18s and women’s league.
Their selection into the representative teams comes after a nomination process which resulted in 10 Saintees and eight Under 18 Saints selected for the squads.
The Saints joining the squad are Hamish Gledhill, Conah Wilder, Matthew Knight, Brandon Sanderson, bailey Pennell, Brayden Harmer-Clark, Kai O'Rourke, Maddi Parr, Paige Poulton, Emily Poulton, Bridgette Windsor, Hallee L'Estrange, Jayden Pennell, Caity Albert, Tymika Perceval, Kayley Hart, Ellie Silk and Grace Silk.
According to Saintees coach Michaela Perceval it’s an outstanding achievement for the club to have 18 players selected from the entire CWAFL area.
“I’m wrapped – it’s a massive confidence boost and a big opportunity to strive for bigger things with the girls’ national league coming up next year,” she said.
Of all players selected for the squads Young has the most representatives.
Saturday saw the Young Saints First Grade side take on the Parkes Panthers, with byes in the remaining grades.
In another game played on the slush and mud the Saints held strong for the fourth game in a row to narrow a margin between themselves and a side further up the ladder. The result dramatically improved from the last time they met.
The Panthers had Young’s measure in a night game nearly two months ago, but since then have struggled and last week’s win over the Saints snapped their five game losing streak.
Both teams found the going hard and scores remained low and close.
Once again the regular members of the Under 18 Saints filled in for Young and did themselves and the club proud.
“To see those boys put in on a regular basis at training and on game day makes the club, officials and supporters proud,” clubman and player Geoff Harmer said.
“These young men have become the backbone and future of the club.
“I’m embarrassed to say we’ve always been a proud club, but that pride has disappeared of late with just a select few seniors toiling away and putting in along with some new eager, keen older fellows working together, and with the 18s to make this senior outfit proud again.”
This new generation pride was on show again last week when the game looked like getting away from them. The boys found a way to dig deep and fight it out.
Stewarts Jewellers best on ground again this week was ruckman Justin Kelly who’s eagerness to play and the passion he plays with was infectious and lifted everyone around him.
“He hardly lost a contest all day and his long range kicking in such conditions was top notch,” Harmer said.
Jarrod Pope at fullback again proved why he is the league’s best fullback by spoiling and turning around the opposition raids and enabling Young to push forward through the likes of Cameron Hobbs and Will Albert, through to Ron Roe Snr who was in outstanding form in the forward line and midfield.
QT – Young 0-5-5, parkes 2-4-16.
HT – Young 1-7-13, Parkes 3-7-25.
QT – Young 2-11-23, Parkes 7-11-53.
FT – Young 3-15-33, Parkes 8-13-61.
Goalkickers – Ron Roe Snr (2) and Cameron Hobbs (1).
On Sunday the Under 14s travelled to Cowra to engage the Blues and managed to put in a complete team performance and register their first win of the season in the process.
Co-captains Lachie Pratt and Beau Harmer-Clark were brilliant in the midfield and their experience and unselfishness near goals enabled many of their team mates scoring opportunities.
Aiden Pratt an dDylan james had plenty of touches and moved the ball around well. The team’s two utility players Tristan Perceval and Bryton Harmer-Clark were in the game all day from the backs to the forwards.
One players who had a top game and showed major improvement in his skills was Rhys Minnic both in attack and defence.
All in all the lads played as a team from go to whoa and if they can stay together not just for the remainder of this season but return next season, our junior racks look good.
QT – Young 3-8-26, Cowra 0-0-0.
HT – Young 5-18-48, Cowra 1-0-6.
QT – Young 6-23-59, Cowra 2-0-12.
FT – Young 8-25-73, Cowra 4-1-25.
Goalkickers – (2) each to Beau Harmer-Clark and Lachlan Crouch, and (1) each to Rhys Minnic, Aiden Pratt, Alex Block and Matthew Broughton.
Due to the rep weekend this week Young Saints will have byes on Saturday and the Under 14s don’t play throughout the holidays.
Good luck from all at the club to our Central West AFL representatives.
