Posts Tagged Mens State League 1

Under the guidance of new coach Zac Hawes, the Waverley Men’s Hockey Club have been hard at it starting their preparations for season 2010!

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Big things are on the horizon for the Waverley Hockey Club.  The appointment two years ago of Brett Thompson to SL 1 Mens coach consolidated the senior group and provided a springboard for the future of the Mens unit.  Brett brought his passion, skill and expertise to the group and developed and nurtured younger players as well as guiding members of the older brigade.  Unfortunately, as happens to most in amateur sport, due to career and family commitments Brett has has stepped aside as SL1 coach.  The Waverley Hockey Club, and the Men’s Unit in particular, wish to thank Brett for his tireless efforts and for the expertise he bought to the game as coach and previously as a player.

Consequent to Brett’s decision the chase was on in earnest to secure the right people to continue Brett’s work and guide the future of the senior unit.  After much searching, including speaking to past legends of the club and others, Waverley has appointed Zac Hawes as the Mens SL1 coach.  Zac brings a solid background as a player at the AHL, State and SL1 club levels and much experience in personal coaching and development. He is the current Victorian U21 Mens coach: his coaching performance at the recent U21 Australian championships where the group finished 2nd, was duly noted.  We see his ability to develop youth and manage senior players as critical to his appointment to the role.  It can also be said he has been seen as somewhat a nemesis to opposition clubs.  Waverley sees this as a good fit to its culture.

In conjunction with Zac’s appointment Waverley have also secured former State and SL1 player, Adrian Kucyk as Pennant A coach and former Waverley player Stephen James as U17 Boys coach. Adrian brings a hard edged passion to the sport with much experience at the elite levels.  The combination of Zac and Adrian will consolidate the senior group and provide opportunity for players young and old to develop and be challenged in their hockey.   Stephen James is a hard task master who expects much of younger players as they seek to develop and make the transition in to senior hockey.

As if the appointment of quality coaches were not enough, Waverley Mens Unit is excited that former Australian player and Athens Gold Medalist Travis Brooks will return to play for the Panthers in 2010.  Travis’ exquisent hockey skills and innate coaching ability will complete the coaching  triumvirate and playing resurgence of the club.  Continuing on from the solid foundation started by Brett, he will help guide, develop and mentor younger players around the club to ensure the strength of the club will continue for years to come.

Go the Panthers

Waverley 0 defeated by Greensborough 6.

Greensborough handed the Panthers their departure ticket on Sunday with a 6 nil drumming at the State Hockey Centre in front of a large crowd, to end a great season in disappointing style.

After a promising season the Panthers were able to finish third and carried high hopes entering the finals. However, a well-versed Burra jumped the Panthers from the outset with an early goal leaving Waverley in a state of shell-shock.

Waverley courageously sought to fight back in the second half to reclaim the three goal deficit. However, the Panthers were unable to buy a goal on the day whilst Greensborough continued its march. Three goals in each half were more than enough to plummet the Panthers out of the finals race for 2009.

The season of 2009 has been exceedingly successful for a team who is looking to rebuild the invincible dynasty of old. The not so distant future looks bright with several young guns stepping up and becoming dominate within the team and Victorian hockey – whilst the older crew continues to provide invaluable experience and knowledge to an exciting lineup.

Finals would not have been possible without the efforts of Coach Brett Thompson whose experience has proved invaluable.Thanks must also go to Trav Brooks for ’specialist coaching’ throughout the year as well as Helen Joseph and Ken Moore for contributing their time and expertise to the team – the boys are forever thankful.

Great season boys.

Congratulations to the Pennant E boys who won their qualifying final 1-0 against Doncaster to catapult them straight into the Grand Final. This team has had considerable success over the previous years and will be looking to continue this in 2009. We will be down there supporting in 2 weeks!

Goals:

Team: Scott, Greaves, Glasscock, Brennan, Freeman, Thompson, Jarvis, Joseph, Preston, Wischusen, Mutimer, Young, Swindells, Dallimore, Fooks and Moore.

The following teams have had considerable success during the 2009 season and will now compete in the finals for the ultimate glory.

Please head down where possible

Saturday 12.15pm Mens Metro 2 East  V  Hawthorn at Hawthorn 1

Saturday 2.00pm   Mens PE  V Doncaster at Waverley

Saturday 3.45 pm Mens Metro 3 East V MCC at MHS

Saturday 5.30pm Mens PA V Doncaster at S1

Sunday 2.30pm Mens State League 1 V Greensborough at S1

Waverley 4 defeated TEM 1.

Round 18 progressed smoothly with the Panthers registering a comfortable win over relegation bound TEM at Hawthorn – The overall winner on the day was the Breast Cancer Awareness effort that was organized by TEM’s which was a sterling success with a large crowd turning out to support the initiative.

The match opened with an intense pace as each side pressed for that initial goal. After a 20 minute stale mate the Panther were finally able to convert through ‘old pro’ Wes Moore who burrowed the ball into the backboard from a well timed cross, his first of many for the day, 1-0 to Waverley.

Shortly after the ever dangerous Timmy Wischusen took advantage of his limited space with a spinning shot from the right finding the sideboard to register the scoreboard at 2-0 for the Panthers. The score remained at 2-0 thanks to some stern defending from Geoff Greaves and Jarrod Glasscock who was able to save a dragflick on the line late in the half.

With all going smoothly the Panther relaxed entering the second half and were punished when TEM’s Adam Seccull found the net with a dragflick from the penalty corner, 2-1. This strike roused the Panthers from their slumber who hit back promptly to snuff out any revival.

This assault was spearheaded by the ‘old brigade’ Wes Moore who found red-hot form with two goals to put the match beyond doubt. His second goal was extremely pleasing to the crowd after he stripped TEM’s Brenton Perry of the ball and continued a one-two combination with Sparrow Swindells through the middle to finally beat the TEM’s keeper placing the ball firmly into the goal, 3-1.

The final goal proved to be methodical for the Panthers with a run along the base line being fired across the goalmouth into the lap of Wes Moore who made no mistake. At the final whistle the scoreline stood at 4-1 to the Panthers – Wes with a hat-trick.

After a successful 18 rounds the Waverley Panthers sit firmly in third position and are now preparing for the finals. We will meet Greensborough in a cut-throat finals elimination round on Sunday starting at 2:30PM at the State Hockey Centre (S-1).

If there was ever a time to jump on the wagon and support the club it is now, all support on the day will be much appreciated and will certainly be a great occasion in our 50th year celebrations.

Further congratulations to all the Waverley teams who have made finals, especially to the Pennant E boys who were minor premiers in 2009 and will be justly promoted next season. Please support your club by getting out to as many games as you can!

Sorry for the late post – Off to the finals!

Goals: Wischusen & Moore (3)

The Skin Institute “Player of the Match”: Wes Moore

Team: Greaves, Glasscock, Brennan, Freeman, Thompson, Jarvis, Joseph, Preston, Wischusen, Mutimer, Young, Swindells and Moore.

Senior finals on for this weekend are as follows.

Show your  support for the club at the games in our 50th year celebrations!

Saturday 12.15pm Mens Metro 2 East  V  Hawthorn at Hawthorn 1

Saturday 2.00pm   Mens PE  V Doncaster at Waverley

Saturday 3.45 pm Mens Metro 3 East V MCC at MHS

Saturday 5.30pm Mens PA V Doncaster at S1

Sunday 2.30pm Mens State League 1 V Greensborough at S1

With only one round left in the regular season before the finals fever starts, you have to wonder where has the year gone?

The Waverley Hockey Club, in it’s 50th Year Celebrations, would like to extend and invitation to all past, present and future members for the annual Senior Presentation night.

The details are as follows:

When: Friday 30th October, 7pm
Where: Merrimu Receptions – 1300 Dandenong Road, Clayton.
Why: A great night of entertainment at the end of the season to celebrate the clubs achievements.
Who: See Rach Sheppard or Jess Collins for enquiries / payment options.
Rach – 0439 360 922
Jess – 0400 546 840

Tickets – $80 each.

2009 Senior Presentation Night Form

More details will be posted shortly. Put the date in your diaries!

Waverley 3 defeated Doncaster 2.

The Panthers stamped their authority on the State League 1 competition with a stirring win against top of the table Doncaster at the State Hockey Centre. The win ensures that Waverley will be part of the finals race in 2009 as well as retaining third spot on the ladder with one round left in the regular season.

Both teams found themselves with dangerous opportunities early in the match. However, it was the Panthers who were able to capitalize first whilst displaying their familiar attacking flair.

The unrelenting pressure imposed by Simon Preston was rewarded when he was able to strip Olympian Andrew Smith of the ball – he continued his characteristic run down the right wing and delivered a inch perfect pass to Sparrow who crashed the ball into the goal for a one nil lead, Waverley 1-0.

A lapse of concentration and discipline shortly after saw the Panthers reduced to nine men for a 10 minutes. This period proved to be very hard-fought as Waverley persistently repelled Doncasters’ attempts to draw back the scoreline. The Blue Boys defended solidly until the team was returned to full strength and continued this drive until half time where the score remained at 1-0.

Doncaster entered the second half with fire in their belly and quickly leveled the scores within the first five minutes from a deflection, 1-1. The Panthers awoke from their half-time slumber and an arm wrestle followed with the game in a state of suspense. The deadlock was broken by the hard working Tim Wischusen who was able to slide the ball past the keeper during a goal mouth scramble, 2-1.

Just as Waverley were beginning to take control it came crashing down with another professional foul seeing the Panthers down a man. During this time Doncaster bought themselves another goal with a desperate diving deflection finding the corner from a cross, 2-2.

With less than five minutes on the clock the Panthers reapplied its aggressive style of play and found themselves with a well constructed chain of passes ending with a short corner. Steve Jarvis took the reigns and found the back of the net with a well-timed dragflick, to continue his cracking form of late, to put Waverley in the drivers seat with a 3-2 scoreline.

The last two minutes proved frantic with Doncaster having nothing to lose. Waverley maintained its composure and iced the clock to ensure the three points at the end of the day with a 3-2 win at the final whistle.

Waverley will be looking to hit its straps against relegation bound TEM’s next week in preparation for finals and to finish third. The game starts at 3:30PM on Saturday at Hawthorn (H-1).

Goals: Swindells, Wischusen & Jarvis

The Skin Institute “Player of the Match”: Luke Young

Team: Greaves, Glasscock, Brennan, Freeman, Thompson, Jarvis, Joseph, Preston, Wischusen, Mutimer, Young, Swindells and Moore.

Round 17 Kid Quiz – Name the Gold Olympic Medallist that was ballboy on the weekend?

Waverley 2 defeated Essendon 1.

The Panthers escaped with a well fought win on Sunday against a resurgent Essendon outfit. The Essendon home ground has been a fortress of late with a string of high profile scalps – the Panthers approached knowing full well that it would be a scrappy event at Essendon, fueled by the bad blood held from the round 7 clash as well as the torrential rain leading up to the game.

The Panthers launched themselves into the match and exposed the shaky Essendon defence with two early attempts at goal which flew painfully wide of either post. The ascendancy of the panthers continued with numerous shots being supplied by Wes Moore’s and Simon Preston’s piercing runs along the wings.

Disappointingly, against the flow of play, Essendon were able to produce a short corner and finished a variation into the bottom left corner to begin the scoring, 0-1 to Essendon. The pace intensified and so did the amount of unnecessary turnovers that marred the match.

The Panthers quickly regrouped and were justly rewarded after Simon Preston delivered a dangerous pass to Sparrow Swindells who found the back of the net with a neat deflection to level the scores at one a piece, 1-1.

Essendon refused to lay down and were awarded a penalty corner after a quick breakaway. The Waverley crowd were relieved when the low flick variation to the left deflected off the left post and was promptly cleared out of the circle.

The old brigade struck gold again when a dismal Essendon effort to clear the ball found a diving Wes Moore who slotted a blistering shot to the right sideboard of the goal -  Panthers went into the half time break with a 2-1 lead.

A 2-1 scoreline is renowned for being a dangerous position for a leading team and Waverley knew the perils if they did not score the next goal. However, a desperate Essendon claimed a goal from the top of the circle which was later disallowed for being hit outside – luckily for the Panthers.

Both teams had their chances to take the game by the scruff of the neck yet neither were able to produce any further scoreboard pressure. The end score remaining at 2-1 with Waverley leaving with the chocolates.

Waverley (3rd) will need to regain its composure in lead-up to the match against first placed Doncaster and will be a telling game in the race for a finals berth. The game starts at 2:15PM on Saturday at State Hockey Centre (S-2).

Goals: Swindells & Moore

The Skin Institute “Player of the Match”: Tommy Scott

Team: Scott, Glasscock, Brennan, Freeman, Thompson, Jarvis, Joseph, Preston, Wischusen, Mutimer, Young, Swindells and Moore.

Waverley 0 defeated by Altona 1.

The Panthers fell victim to an always dangerous Altona on the weekend at Ashwood Reserve. The match reminded everyone of the evenness in the State League One competition and the ability of any team being able to win on the day.

Waverley’s intensity from the outset was a highlight in a high-paced and passionate game against a ‘shin-boner’ Altona. Yet an inability to find the back of the net was a telling blow to the outcome of the match for the Panthers.

Within the first ten minutes of the match the Panthers had conjured up three penalty corners and several goal scoring positions that went begging time and time again. Waverley constantly pressed its agenda on the desperate Altona who repelled a barrage of offensive runs.

A controlling and frustrated Waverley held majority of play but were unable to convert which left the game in limbo with both teams heading into the half time break 0-0.

The start of the second half saw the level of play lift a notch as the teams fought for the points. With the increase in pace came a renewed sense of urgency resulting in a number of corners which just fell wide or were saved by the Altona keeper who was on fire.

The Waverley crowd were silenced in the 20th minute of the second half with Altona scoring an opportunistic straight shot goal resultant of an earlier turnover, 0-1 to Altona. Shortly after an Altona player spent time behind the net for a string of errant tackles, yet the Panthers failed to capitalize on the vulnerable Altona team.

It was not to be the Panthers day with a flurry of offensive activity in the last ten minutes being unsuccessful and Altona running out eventual winners with the one goal on the board.

Waverley maintains third spot but has missed a vital opportunity to gain ground for the top two spot. Waverley must now travel to meet Essendon who are fighting to stay out of relegation. The game starts at 2:00PM on Sunday at Essendon (ES1).

Goals: 0

The Skin Institute “Player of the Match”: Steve Jarvis

Team: Scott, Glasscock, Brennan, Freeman, Thompson, Jarvis, Joseph, Preston, Wischusen, Dallimore, Young, Swindells and Moore.