A Grade report

The final game for season 2010 has arrived. A game against Fitzroy in terrible conditions was the only thing standing between us and 6 months off. Both sides have no chance of playing finals so it was a game that both sides needed to find something to motivate them. We played some good footy last week against Greenacres so we wanted to continue that effort this week. We can perform for 2-3 quarters in all games so to finish with a 4 quarter effort would be something that would make me very happy.
 
The condition of the oval was going to make this task a huge effort, over night rain and 2 early games turned the oval into the worst that i've ever seen it. Last time we played Fitzroy we got over the line by 2 points with a very spirited performance so we knew that we could match it with them in any conditions. There was a strong breeze blowing south worth probably 4 goals so wanted to go with the wind straight away to set our game up early. Unfortunately for us the toss went against us and we had to push the ball into the wind. They started really well kicking a couple of quick goals, we managed to hang on for some of the quarter but they were to dominant using the breeze well to kick 6 goals to our 2. The second we started well and got ourselves back in the contest with hard contested football and gut running. At the main break we had basically levelled the scoreboard so it was back to who wanted it more in the last half.
 
Again we showed that we don't have the fitness to completely run out a full game. We had the ability to run with them but not get in front, eventually going down by 20 points. It was fitting that we went out with another patchy performance. We had moments of superior football showing that we definitely have the ability to run with these sides in Div 4. Our biggest problem was that we couldn't maintain that effort for the majority of the game so will be something that needs to be worked on next year.
 
Ian Perrie finished the year of with a bang, receiving the best player award for the day. With conditions not suiting big forwards he had a tremendous day all over the ground. With his superior work rate he was huge in defence helping out the defenders, pushing through the middle of the ground and giving us a dominant target up forward. Joel Aish had another great game, kicking 3 goals and continually delivering the footy to team mates with ease in the tough conditions. Defenders Josh O'Connell, Matt Mitchell and Will Darley had solid games giving their all for most of the day. In the midfield Andrew Pettigrew, Alex Bajev, Chris Barrie and Sam Margitich all finished the year with good games. As a group they continually tried hard around the contests and stoppages.
 
Its disappointing to not play finals this year but we've proven that clearly we're not out of our depth in this competition. Enjoy your time of guys and we'll see you all at the B&F night to have another brown lemonade together.
 
 
Best Players: Ian Perrie, Joel Aish, Josh O'Connell, Alex Bajev, Matt Mitchell
 
 
Adam Silvy
Head Coach

Reserves report

Leaving the best till last……………
 
Wow – what a way to finish the season off - as well as my coaching stint with the Club. A WIN.
 
For those who braved the conditions that the weather god’s threw down on us, you would have witnessed the best game produced by the lads in a long, long while. Maybe I should have announced my retirement at the start of the year and not at the start of our last!
 
My pre-game speech was a tough moment for me. It has indeed been a personally satisfying experience for me but at the same time a sad one after two years of an emotional roller-coaster ride. My heart is satisfied that I made a contribution to the Club but my ego has been severely pulverised by our win/loss ratio this year.
 
Last year was a fantastic turn around from the year before when we ended up just missing out on the finals. We started this year off full of hope by winning our first game. From then on until last Saturday’s last game, one can only describe it as a tale of woe and frustration.
 
To see so many good players injured for most of the year was heart breaking not only for the Club but for the young men themselves. It was a real shame. It left us trying to field a team from anywhere we could get players (with the bulk of that work falling on the capable shoulders of my assistant Aaron Bahr). And so the year proceeded with us having to play players that had often not played for years only to succumb to injury themselves, simply because they too were totally under cooked. The vicious cycle of injury on injury was a nightmare.
 
In all, we ended up rotating near on seventy players (70). Yes, seventy – not a misprint. Be that as it may, there were times when we matched all bar one side competitively.
 
To the game on Saturday.
I am happy to report that all 21 players played their hearts’ out. If there was ever a time when a coach asked for and received 100% total four quarter effort, it was on Saturday.  There were outstanding performances by a lot of players including consistent solid efforts by Nic Sutherland in the middle, Tim Wyld at half back, Andrew Maitland on the wing, and Alex Dooley at full forward (bagging 4 goals), and the Johannsen brothers – James and Tom on the wing and half forward respectively.   
 
In regards to our top five: Damon Doolette-Cox and his brother Heath were simply outstanding in the wet, soggy, hard ball get conditions. It was fantastic to see the red brigade smash into the opposition and cheekily take overhead marks on a day that defied this skill. Whilst it’s always a hard job to pick one from the other, Damon gets the nod for backing up his brilliant game with 2 goals. Superb footy boys.
 
Next in line for honours was Andy Simpson. Andy officially played his 50th game for the Club on Saturday (what better time to turn in a corker of a game). He too is one of the unfortunates struck down with an injury riddled year. Andy proved that despite wet boggy conditions, he adapted really well and provided us with a lot of penetrating attacks. Great job Andy.
 
What can you say about Michael Krawczyk – just ask him and he’ll tell you. But seriously, his around the ground work as well as his ruck work was fantastic. Michael brought many players into the game and was a great leader on-the-field. Good job Krafty.
 
Finally, Argy Kikianis. He was the reason we started off so well with the best half of football I have seen him play. Direct, elusive, together with some freaky manoeuvres helped the team establish a great hold on the game. Terrific effort Argy.
 
I will take the opportunity to thank a number of people later at our Club Trophy event sometime in September. 
But I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank and on behalf of the club sincerely thank, Kym Johannsen for his generosity in allowing our boys to celebrate our win back at the Saracens. I know that Kym thoroughly enjoyed the win especially given that both his sons played such an excellent game. Thank you very much.
 
Well that’s it for me as coach. Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention…………(where have I heard that before?). Not all warmed to my brand of football ethos, but irrespective, I had to do a job and I did it MY WAY (ah that’s where I heard it!!).
 
A final note from me to all players - never compromise on your own capabilities. There will always be someone better skilled and/or more talented. But there will never be anyone better than you if you really have a crack at reaching your full potential. You are in control – not others. Take control, take responsibility, don’t find excuses, and if you end up upsetting some – stiff.
 
Cut - That’s a wrap.
 
Peter Hamam
 

The Pulteney Football Club would like congratulate Josh Francou on his induction into the SANFL Hall of Fame.

Josh, the Club's number 1 ticket holder, joins fellow Hall of Famers Michael Aish and Bruce Abernethy as great players who have come from Pulteney.

A grade report

A huge challenge was in front of us this week taking on the Greenacres FC. They've been dispatching of all sides this year so taking them on at their oval was going to be massive. Arriving at the oval I couldn't help but notice (as I've never travelled to Greenacres) that the Barbed wire lining the eastern side of the oval was going to create some scary thoughts. Yatala Labour Prison lines the eastern side of the oval -- I'm not quite sure what would happen if the ball went over the fence???? Do we go and knock on the door and ask for our ball back????
 
We needed to prove to ourselves that we could self motivate this week as that's all we're playing for now that finals are out of the question. My pre game speech was quite simple: look inside yourself and find something that will motivate you. It could be that you're not happy with individual form, team form or it could be that you'd like to finish the year with a couple of wins. We seemed to do this as we were competitive in the first quarter going against a strong breeze, only losing the quarter by a couple of goals. We didn't manage to kick a goal but held them to only 3.
 
Kicking with the wind we really stepped up the pressure and attack on the footy and the player. We ran the ball with numbers and looked really lively in the forward line. Ian Perrie was dominant, taking advantage of some undisciplined acts by their defenders and kicking a couple of goals. The midfield became superior all over the ground as we continually peppered the goal front. It was our best quarter of football for the year, kicking 8 majors. At the main break we were right in this contest, we just needed to freshen up and whether the storm that we knew they'd bring in the third. Unfortunately we couldn't keep up the pressure for the entire last half, eventually going down by 5 goals. We still showed in patches that we could match it with the best -- only fitness and little bit of polish letting us down.
 
We had many players give patches of really good effort but the stand outs were Josh O'Connell and Joel Aish. Josh continued his great form with another great game across half back and then in the middle in the last quarter when we needed someone to win the ball. Joel was everywhere all day, in defence assisting the defenders with solid ball skills and up forward kicking 3 goals. He continually ran the ball through the middle delivering to our forwards.
 
Alex Kaethner had a good game in defence taking many contested marks and repelling many attacks forward. Chris Barrie and Andrew Pettigrew were again big contributors for us for most of the day, winning many valuable touches in the midfield. Ben Tippett and Ian Perrie were good up forward kicking 4 and 3 goals. The most disgusting thing for the day was the foul language continually directed at Sarge, not only by the players but also the tent housing "Day Release Inmates" from next door. It's so frustrating listening this crap. He certainly doesn't deserve it.
 
1 game left now lads so let's have a fun week in the gym tuesday then at Morgan for Thursday's session. It would be fantastic to go out beating a side above us twice in Fitzroy.
 
Best Players: Josh O'Connell, Joel Aish, Alex Kaethner, Chris Barrie, Andrew Pettigrew.
 
Adam Silvy
Head Coach

Reserves report

On the eve of our penultimate game against Greenacres I was delighted to have what appeared to be a very good side with five big inclusions. So much so that the Thursday night after selection I actually went to sleep feeling confident and started off sleeping like a baby. First time in seventeen weeks. Then suddenly at 2:00 am I woke up in a cold sweat and feeling sick at the thought that the rest of the team will adopt the silly idea that given we have these first class players in the side, they will just sit back and watch them do all the work. I really hate knowing my gut instincts often prove correct.
 
As the first quarter unfolded I saw my nightmare evolving before my very eyes. The opposition kicked four goals in five minutes (it seemed). And from there kicked another three to our one. What can any coach do when confronted with laziness? Why do we persistently allow and rely on the few to do all the work?
 
The situation was made even worse when we lost our gun ruck man after the first quarter (Krafty) to flu symptoms (I thank him for making the effort to front-up. He really looked horrible but did not complain). Of the remaining ‘gun’ players - these guys had not played for either most of the year due to injury or away for about four weeks. I really didn’t expect them to dominate other than provide good on field options and skill stability (which they did).
But irrespective of what I thought, the rest of the team had other ideas – they would be good enough to do the hard work whilst they watched.
 
I think we are all getting the message here. It’s a scenario that has been consistently played out all year. I won’t go into my half time speech to the team, but suffice it to say in the end we kin of managed to salvage something. We actually played a good brand of football in the second half kicking four straight in the last making the score look a little more respectable - but still going down by fifty points.
 
As we now approach our last game we will again be challenged with selection options. I can only wonder how the guys will respond to eke out a last game win.
 
Best – The Johannsen brothers played really well with James taking the best honours. Last year James was our clear best and fairest. But for a crippling injury missing all but three games this year, Saturday’s performance probably robbed him of another. His effort on Saturday was extraordinary but more significantly showed us that his loss this year was a major, major blow to us. He did not rely on others to do the work. I was delighted for this young man coming back into the team after such a terrible year to shine as he did.
Tom Johannsen too has had a terrible year with injury and he too played an outstanding game. The way he presented himself and attacked the ball was befitting of second best on the day. Good job Tom.
Next was Tim Wyld (Captain). Off for two weeks he came back into the team without missing a beat. He just kept doing all the hard things necessary – but with little support around him. His leadership this year and his efforts game-after-game does not deserve the appalling win/loss result this year.
Finally, our last batch of best players were the twins. Again! Confronted with very talented opposition on-ballers, the twins together effectively stopped what could have been a major disaster. Admittedly the horse bolted in the first quarter but for the persistence of Heath and Damian, the opposing could have really nailed us. Great work boys.
 
I would also like to congratulate other players that made a contribution without being the outstanding players the rest of the team expected them to be after being out for a long time: Sam Margetich, Todd Hamam, Argy Kikianis, and Alex Dooley (3 goals).
It’s not easy to come straight back and be expected to dominate but a contribution was made nevertheless. Nic Sutherland too imposed himself strongly playing how only Nic knows how - hard, decisive, and effective.
 
One more chance left.
 
Peter Hamam
Reserves Coach
 

A grade report

Firstly I'd like to apologise to the supporters of the PFC that made the long drive out to Salisbury to watch the game on saturday. A game that promised so much for this group was so disappointing. With finals footy still available for us if we wanted it, we needed to commit to each other and play hard contested footy and we could take home the win. Unfortunately only approximately half of the team turned up with the right mentality, thus meaning we copped an almighty flogging.
 
The most disappointing thing for me was the players new finals were still on the cards but they were not interested in doing anything that would maybe hurt. Only a couple for players were prepared to put their body on the line when it counted. They know who they are and as for the rest of you, as I said after the game I'm not prepared to carry you anymore. Either show something in the next couple of weeks or you'll be in the reserves.
 
From the outset they hit the ball hard and ran the ball well. We just struggled to keep up the intensity that they set; actually we were no match for them. They were very similar to the side that we played earlier in the year which we beat. We can talk about injuries and people going overseas but they are only excuses. I back in the 21 every week whoever they are. I believe the side we took out there were good enough to do better than what was dished up.
 
For a season that promised so much, it feels quite empty right now. Sitting at 7-4 and second or third we were looking really good. Now 7-9 and eighth. Losing 5 games in a row is really hurting so hopefully we can now show some heart and pride in the last 2 games and get some colours back that we've lowered.
 
I do need and want to mention the efforts of 2 players lastly. Matt Mitchell and Lachlan Jones. If it wasn't for these 2 guys the scoreboard would been even worse than it was. It was the best game of football I've seen Mitch play. He hit the packs hard, putting his body on the line all day. Jonah came back from Melbourne for another game and I played him in a position that I've seen him play some really good footy. Playing across half back he had an outstanding game.
 
Best Players: Matt Mitchell, Lachlan Jones, Adam Silvy, Josh O"Connell, Ben Frick.
 
Adam Silvy
Head Coach

Reserves report

Honest Game. That about much describes the way we played on Saturday.
 
Coming up against the second top side after the shellacking we received from the top side the week before was never going to be an easy thing. I was really worried about our boy’s mental state. But after an impassioned plea to all players before the game I was delighted how well we responded to the challenge.
 
Within the first thirty seconds of the game we posted our first score with a blistering break from the middle. At the quarter time break we were slightly off the pace but well in the game. We were just a couple of goals away. As has been often the case this year, our second quarters have let us down. The pattern seemed to continue going into the long break with a six to seven goal deficit.
 
After the main break we rose to the occasion. We outplayed our opposition for the rest of the game and pulled back the deficit with a terrific last quarter rally. We were the better side and the endeavour was fantastic to watch. All players lifted in intensity; team spirit; and a desire rarely seen this year mainly due to our team never being settled at any stage. When you rotate something like over sixty players in one team, the chances of consistency (and success) is out the window.
 
So what was the difference in this dramatic turn around? It was pride.
The message before the game was direct and honest. We also had some quality come into the side with the likes of Sutherland, Krafty, Jones, and Johannsen back in our line up. This had a flow-on effect to other players and our confidence grew. Despite still being (and have been all year) severely depleted (unprecedented you may say), we threw caution to the wind and played a ‘risk / reward’ brand of football.
 
Highlights included – Damon Doolette-Cox. I have said time and again, give me a player with passion and limited talent and I guarantee results. This lad has plenty of heart and passion. He listens to instructions and guess what – it works because he executes. Hard fierce attack on the footy; plenty of run; made himself an absolute nuisance to the opposition with very good results. In recognition of his efforts, he gets our top award.
 
Next was another young gun who is quickly laying claims to get back into the senior side after a sluggish couple of weeks – Michael Jones. Just watching him run non-stop makes you tired. Michael’s great strength is his ability of consistently presenting himself – he runs, runs, runs. Just doesn’t stop. Once Michael masters the one-take, quick give option, he will be a devastating on-baller.
 
Coming back into the side was Nic Sutherland. We were very fortunate to have him play for us due to heavy work commitments over the past two weeks keeping him out of where he belongs – the ones. His attack at the contest, his read of the play, his leadership on-the-ground shone like a beacon. Nic had a massive impact on the game after an inspired moved by the coach to throw him in the middle. A true team man through and through, showed our other players that aggression on-the-field has its place when balanced delightfully with top football skills.
 
Next in line in game honours was Tom Johannsen. After a frustratingly injury riddled year it would have been as no surprise if Tom decided to give his hamstring a complete rest and be ready for next year. But no – he donned the boots and came out to play a very good forward’s game. Tom gave us really good forward penetration and looked dangerous all game.
 
Finally, Stewart Edwards played another serviceable game creating lots of opportunities and ran all day. Stewart has been a very good consistent player all year despite the lack of support around him. With a year in the reserves under his belt, Stewart’s claim for an A grade spot next year is gaining momentum.
 
I want to also mention the terrific contribution of Michael Krawczyk. How good a ruckman is this bloke? Big, ‘somewhat’ mobile, strong and imposing, Michael gave us a much needed presence in ruck and across the ground. By all accounts I believe he had a bit of fun playing especially with his long-time mate Sutho in the middle.

I would also be remiss in not mentioning Paul Tripodi’s efforts. Blessed by some interesting and gratuitous sibling support – Paul played a really good game as well. I like the way he plays – there is passion in his make-up.
 
All in all, and whilst losing contests will always make me cranky, I was impressed and delighted at the spirit the boys displayed. It was indeed a good honest game of football.
 
Let’s hope the next two weeks will deliver much needed wins to end a year meant to test the patience of Job.
    
Peter Hamam
Reserves Coach