With a new boss at the helm, the Lions spirit remained intact. One of the highlights of the year was the "Turning on the Lights" ceremony held at Dukes Oval which was officially done by Penrith Mayor, Greg Davies and officials from the AFL. With funding from Penrith Council, the Dept of Sport and Recreation as well as many months of Lions fundraising, it was the culmination of hard work (and swift talking) by the Nolans and their fellow committee people in the previous couple of years. The club now had a training facility that could be used extensively in the dark winter months.
The Auskick squad was small on quantity but huge on quality with Thomas Beard, Jack Minney, Sam Corcoran and Tim Thomas the only participants, with the latter pair playing up most weeks in Under 10's. Although disappointed with the numbers, coach Danny Corcoran and Manager, Viv Corcoran remained buoyant and enthusiastic throughout. The highlights of the season were the half time match at Stadium Australia in front of a huge crowd and the "match" against St Clair Crows at Dukes Oval. In latter years the Lions made Auskick a major priority and the club now has expanded this programme into other "feeder" areas with a record number of participants.
The Under 10's had a strong squad of nineteen players with first time Lions coach, John Rix, at the helm ably assisted by his wife, Kylie. Only five of this team were to go up to Under 12's football the following year, so it was John who was to mould the very young team into an outfit of the future. Although unable to make the finals series, the team fought out every game until the final siren and their skills and confidence grew every week.
The Under 12's were divided into two teams just prior to the season. The clubs policy was to have teams equal in ability and unlike other clubs, was not prepared to "stack" either side into "A" and "B" teams.
Geoff Payne took over the Under 12's "Blue" with a good mix of established players and young cubs coming up from the 10's whilst Andrea Metcalfe backed up as Team Manager again doing a fabulous job. To the surprise of many (but not the coaches or players), both teams made the finals series. The "Blues" finished the year as Minor Premiers. Unfortunately they were narrowly beaten by Hawkesbury (4 points) in the major semi and then went down to the Emu Plains "Maroons" in the prelim final by just a goal. All in all it was a top year for the "Blues" and with twelve players eligible to play in the same division the following year, these boys looked a "shoe-in" to fly another premiership flag.
2001 "Senior Clubman of the Year", Craig Sharp, took over the coaching of the Under 12's "Maroons". With a squad of nineteen players, Craig, Assistant Coach Glen Stevens and Sue Samuels as Manager, the team performed very well to take third spot on the ladder at the end of the "Home and Away" season. After winning their elimination final, it waqs a somewhat difficult Prelim Final as the team had to take on the Minor Premiers, Emu Plains Blue. The match was played in great spirit with the Maroons scoring an upset win and preceeding to the Grand Final at Cook and Banks the following week. Although they did not wear the Premiership Medals on the day, the team performed brilliantly and bought pride to themselves, their parents, their supporters and the club.
It was a difficult year for the Under 14's under the guidence of the 2002 "Senior Clubman", Ian "Will" Williamson and Manager Greg Corless. Both these gentlemen (if I may use the word loosely) also coached and managed the Under 16's team with aplomb and, most of all, a good sense of humour. The team certainly lacked in height, but not in courage. Although they didn't manage to sing the club song all year, it was one quarter that often let them down. The last game of the season saw them take on competition leaders, Penrith and the boys pushed them all the way to the finish in their best performance of the year.
The Under 16's competition was new in 2003, but with just four teams entering the competition it was going to be a trying one. Emu Plains had only six true age players and week after week had to rely on the Under 14's playing up. It was certainly a challenge for the Williamson/Corless duo. With a lopsided draw (having to play the top notch Penrith team nine times), the team was going to struggle, but a win in round five over St Clair showed the Lions were not just there to make up the numbers. . Round 10 saw they boys blow a 30 point three-quarter time lead to go down by 3 to Blue Mountains but a week later accounted for the same team by a massive 64 points which included 29 behinds. The Lions made the finals series (as you do with four teams competing) and after accounting with the Blue Mountains in the Elimination Semi, fell one game short of a Grand Final Berth when beaten by St Clair in the Final. The sensational six pioneering Under 16's Lions players were: Rhys Stapleton, Jarryd Cook, Matthew Cusack, Joel Stephens, David Waddell and Michael Lambert.
Committee 2003 |
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|
President |
Jeff Randall |
Vice President |
Greg Corless |
Treasurer |
Greg Rogers |
Secretary |
Geoff Payne |
Committee |
Donna Stapleton |
Committee |
David Nolan |
Committee |
Craig Sharp |
Committee |
Ian Williamson |
Committee |
Dorothy Waddell |
Committee |
Victoria Becus |
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Team Staff 2003 |
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Auskick Coach |
Danny Corcoran |
Auskick Manager |
Viv Corcoran |
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Under 10's Coach |
John Rix |
Under 10's Assistant |
Tim Wade |
Under 10's Manager |
Kylie Rix |
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Under 12's "Blue" Coach |
Geoff Payne |
Under 12's "Blue" Assistant |
Adrian Edwards |
Under 12's "Blue" Manager |
Andrea Metcalfe |
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Under 12's "Maroon" Coach |
Craig Sharp |
Under 12's "Maroon" Assistant |
Glen Stevens |
Under 12's "Maroon" Manager |
Sue Samuels |
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Under 14's Coach |
Ian Williamson |
Under 14's Manager |
Greg Corless |
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Under 16's Coach |
Ian Williamson |
Under 16's Manager |
Greg Corless |
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Other Volunteers 2000 |
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Paul and Kay Lockhart |
Donation |
Shirelle Anasis |
Canteen |
Val Dixon |
Canteen |
Cusack Family |
Various |
Garry Shephard |
Football Operations |
Tim Cook |
Football Operations |
Chris Cochrane |
Football Operations |
Kevin Tate |
Football Operations |
Bruce Eggleton |
Football Operations |
Graeme Lean |
Football Operations |
James Grinrod |
Football Operations |
Award Winners |
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Award |
Under 10's |
Under 12's Blue |
Under 12's Maroon |
Under 14's |
Under 16's
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Best & Fairest |
Blake Daenell |
Matthew Payne |
Luke Dixon |
Cameron Lefoe |
Rys Stapleton |
Most Consistent |
Matthew Cauchi |
Daniel Spiteri |
Adam Sharp |
Joshua Shephard |
Joel Stephens** |
Most Improved |
Matthew Matcalfe |
Jack Parker |
William Tate |
John Cox |
Jarryd Cook |
Most Determined* |
Michael Spiteri |
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David Waddell** |
Coach's Award |
Michael Cook |
Tim Oldershaw |
David Brocklehurst |
Michael Elven |
Matthew Cusack |
Junior Clubman |
Michael Elven |
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Senior Clubman |
Val Dixon |
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*Most Determined Award was a new award in 2003 presented to Under 10's Only
**Joel Stephens and David Waddell were co-winners of the Most Consistent Award
Representative Players
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Greater Western Football Association U12's |
Matthew Payne |
Greater Western Football Association U12's |
Zac Metcalfe |
Greater Western Football Association U12's |
Adam Sharp |
Greater Western Football Association U12's |
James Randall |
Greater Western Football Association U12's |
William Tate |
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|
Greater Western Football Association U12's |
Thomas Samuels |
Greater Western Football Association U13's |
Joshua Anasis |
Greater Western Football Association U12's |
Daniel Spiteri |
Greater Western Football Association U13's |
Joshua Cochrane |
Greater Western Football Association U12's |
Nic Edwards |
Greater Western Football Association U13's |
Joshua Shephard |
Milestones
Milestone |
Player |
Milestone |
Player |
100 Club Games |
Nicholas Edwards |
50 Club Games |
Anthony Edwards |
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|
50 Club Games |
Cameron Lefoe |
50 Club Games |
Joshua Anasis |
50 Club Games |
Sam Lockhart |
50 Club Games |
Jarrah Andrew |
50 Club Games |
Zac Metcalfe |
50 Club Games |
David Brocklehurst |
50 Club Games |
Thomas Samuels |
50 Club Games |
Joshua Cochrane |
50 Club Games |
Daniel Spiteri |
50 Club Games |
Tayt Corless |
50 Club Games |
Michael Spiteri |
50 Club Games |
Blake Daenell |
50 Club Games |
Rhys Stapleton |
50 Club Games |
Luke Dixon |
50 Club Games |
Joel Stephens |
Last Modified on 23/12/2008 07:47