John Rix became the Lions fourth President taking over from Greg Corless, who stayed on as Vice President to ensure a smooth transition. With numbers on the rise, the Lions again played Holsworthy Tigers in the annual pre-season "King of the Jungle" day and narrowly took the trophy. This was followed by a trial day against Penrith Swans which proved that 2007 was going to be a successful year for the club. It was a huge year for veteran junior, Matthew Payne, who starred in the 16's undefeated premiership ride. Matty won Best on Ground in the Grand Final and also won the Best & Fairest for the season in the combined West/South West regions. He also represented Sydney West and SSA as well as the Sydney AFL team that went through undefeated in the V-Line series in Victoria. Playing his 150th club game during the season, Matty took out the inaugural prestigious Nolan Medal at the Lions Presentation Day. To cap it off, he was awarded Junior Clubman of the Year for his help around the club in coaching junior players throughout the season.
Scott Hogarth and Olli O'Keeffe were at the helm of the Auskick Squad. With big numbers in the thirties, they divided the squad up into two teams which enabled them along with their helpers to give more individual attention to improve their skills. Highlights of the year were: Playing in front of 64,000 players at Telstra Stadium, the Gala "Night", Hawkesbury coming over for training, Fruit and Snakes and the big improvement shown by all and the way they always listened and behaved.
The Under 10's were always going to have a good year after most of them had honed their skills the previous year. With a squad of twenty one, David Batson took on the head coaching role with Mitch Perry as assistant, Monique Holburn as Manager and Rod Thurley as Press Secretary. The team were impressive winning their trial matches easily and continued on beating every team they faced except their nemisis, St Clair. After finishing second to the Crows on the ladder, Grand Final turned into one of the greatest Under 10's Grand Finals ever with St Clair hanging on grimly to record a three point victory with the Lions relentlessly attacking their line when the siren called a halt to proceedings.
The Under 12's were tutored by John Rix and managed by Janine Worth. The season started well with good wins from their first five outings before Hawkesbury derailed the team with a controversial win. By the end of the season they had finished in third spot and recored an emphatic sixteen point win over the Blue Mountains in the elimination semi. However, they could not match the power of eventual premiers, Hawkesbury Saints in the preliminary final. As team reporter, Dave "Scoop" Forsyth summised;
"You have given us enduring memories, a wonderful example of true team spirit and a glimpse into the future of teh game of fluro-clad whistle blowers and men in white coats waving little white flags. I love this game"
The Under 14's had a difficult year on the field. They were small in stature but made up for it in heart and courage. Glen Stevens took over as head coach with help from assistants, Geoff and Matthew Payne whilst the mecurial Paul Hocking did a wonderful job as Manager and Team Reporter. Injuries rocked the team throughout the year with broken arms and leg injuries causing players to sit on the sidelines for lengthy periods of time. Luckily,quality players from the 12's helped out the team on a weekly basis. The highlight of the season was an enormous victory against a high rolling shellshocked Penrith Swans outfit on a bleak, gale-ridden day at Bensons Lane.
The Under 16's were the story of the year. After being habitual finalists in the previous four years, the team started off the season with a narrow in against Holsworthy Tigers in the annual pre-season match and ended off the season playing that team in the Grand Final. The team amassed fourteen straight wins in the "home and away" series under the coaching of Craig Sharp and Assistants Geoff Payne and Kevin Tate. The pressure was certainly on in the Grand Final at Bensons lane when the Tigers grabbed the lead late in the game, but the Lions swept into overdrive. As club reporter, Professor Duck wrote in his wrap-up of the match:
"The Paul Prepost coached Tigers are a very well drilled team and only a total of 18 points separated the two Grand Finalists in the two matches they were pitted against each other this year. This was going to be a fight to the end and as the opening siren sounded both teams went hammer and tong at each other with the Tigers having a slight wind advantage. With 18 players each on the paddock and six on the interchange, the Lions gained early ascendancy with a 3.3 quarter whilst the visitors responded kicking 2.2 and it was free-flowing footy all the way. With the wind advantage, the Lions lifted and added a further three goals to the Tigers single as the teams went to the half time break. With a twenty two point lead, all was going to plan for the local side with outstanding football being played under the somewhat difficult conditions.
The Lions have had issues with minutes 40 to 60 this year, but of course, this wouldn't happen in a Grand Final. Or would it?
It did....with a pumped up Tigers coming out breathing fire and finding loose men all over the paddock as they completely dominated the session despite being a player down for much of it. The coaching staff looked as stunned as the players and supporters and the game had come to life. This writer was furiously making call to Hawkesbury based vets who specialised in heart conditions. It was animated scenes from both club's huddles at the three quarter break with only a goal separating the two combatants. To make things more confusing, the wind dropped to zero taking away any Lions advantage.
It came down to the last twenty minutes of football in 2007 for two great teams. An early goal to the Tigers saw the scoreboard even (although it was later disclosed that the Lions were down a point). A relieving six pointer saw the Mountain Lions grab back the lead which deflated the warriors from the South West and a few late Lions six pointers sealed the Tigers fate with a twenty six point victory and the Lions first Under 16's flag in history. To the Mountains Lions, a brilliant year capped off with the major prize. Does it get any better? Each and everyone of the twenty four players out there put in a champion performance with many leaving the junior ranks and hopefully making the transition to senior footy in 2008."
Under 16's Mountain Lions 11.13-79 def def Holsworthy Tigers 8.5-53
Committee 2007 |
|
|
|
President |
John Rix |
Vice President |
Greg Corless |
Football Operations Manager |
Geoff Payne |
Treasurer/Registrar |
Kim Nolan |
Secretary |
David Batson |
Admin Manager/Ground Manager |
Greg Rogers |
Property Manager |
Karen Batson |
Committee |
Glen Stevens |
Committee |
Craig Sharp |
Committee |
Graeme Lean |
Committee |
Adrian Cusack |
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|
Team Staff 2007 |
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|
|
Auskick Coach |
Scott Hogarth |
Auskick Coach |
Olli O'Keeffe |
Auskick Manager |
Kylie Rix |
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|
Under 10's Coach |
David Batson |
Under 10's Assistant Coach |
Mitch Perry |
Under 10's Manager |
Monique Holburn |
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|
Under 12's Coach |
John Rix |
Under 12's Manager |
Janine Worth |
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|
Under 14's Coach |
Glen Stevens |
Under 14's Assistant Coach |
Geoff Payne |
Under 14's Assistant Coach |
Matthew Payne |
Under 14's Manager |
Paul Hocking |
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|
Under 16's Coach |
Craig Sharp |
Under 16's Assistant Coach |
Geoff Payne |
Under 16's Assistant Coach |
Kevin Tate |
Under 16's Manager |
Joann Randall |
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|
Other Volunteers 2007 |
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|
|
Jan Rogers |
Canteen |
The Dixon Family |
Canteen |
Heidi Howell |
Canteen |
Cheryl Payne |
Photography |
Sandi Thomas |
Timekeeper |
Rod "Weird Pen Collector" Thurley |
Team Reporter |
David "Scoop" Forsyth |
Team Reporter |
Raylene Matthews |
Football Operations |
Tim Wade |
Football Operations |
Paul Devlin |
Football Operations |
Geoff Noble |
Football Operations |
David Nolan |
Football Operations |
Adam Sharp |
Football Operations |
David Brown |
Football Operations |
Paul Fitzpatrick |
Football Operations |
Graeme Lean |
Football Operations |
Award Winners
Award |
Under 10 |
Under 12 |
Under 14 |
Under 16 |
Best & Fairest
|
Jake Stevens |
Patrick Pope |
Jackson Swarbrick |
Cameron Jaworski |
Most Consistent |
Sam Batson |
Jeremy Rix |
Alexander Wade |
Ben Robinson |
Most Improved |
Joel Batson |
Blake Langer |
Sam Devlin |
Andrew Simankowicz |
Coach's Award |
Mitchell Andrews |
Richard Ryan |
Michael Cook |
Lachlan Gippel |
Most Determined |
Matthew Holburn |
Christopher Nolan |
Michael Kerr |
Kyle McDonagh |
Nolan Medal* |
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|
|
Matthew Payne** |
Junior Clubman |
Matthew Payne |
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|
Senior Clubman |
Greg Corless |
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*Matthew Payne was also voted Best & Fairest (umpire votes) in the 2008 Sydney West/South West Under 16's Competition
**The Nolan Medal is only awarded in the Under 16's Grade.
Representative Players
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 12's |
Julian Borg |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Ben Robinson |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 12's |
Christopher Nolan |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Adam Sharp |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 12's |
Patrick Pope |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Dean Siljanoski |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Gordon Howell* |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Andrew Simankowicz |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Cameron Jaworski |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
John Spicer |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Kyle McDonagh |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Matthew Stevens |
GSJ-Sydney West Under 16s |
Matthew Payne** |
Sydney West SSA Regional Squad |
Jackson Swarbrick |
*Gordon Howell was also selected in the Sydney West SSA Regional Squad.
**Matthew Payne was also selected in the Sydney West SSA Regional Squad and the Sydney Under 15's team that played the V-Line series.
Milestones
Milestone |
Player |
Milestone |
Player |
150 Club Games |
Matthew Payne |
50 Club Games |
Nicholas Hocking |
150 Club Games |
Adam Sharp |
50 Club Games |
Jack Noble |
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|
50 Club Games |
Tom Noble |
100 Club Games |
Luke Dixon |
50 Club Games |
Jake Stevens |
50 Club Games |
Alexander Hocking |
50 Club Games |
Matthew Stevens |
Service Awards
Recipient |
Games |
Recipient |
Games |
Recipient |
Games |
Alex Rogers |
143 Club Games |
Mitchell Reinhard |
85 Club Games |
Cameron Jaworski |
30 Club Games |
William Tate |
138 Club Games |
Jarrod Cusack |
83 Club Games |
Andrew Simankowicz |
30 Club Games |
Luke Dixon |
103 Club Games |
Matthew Stevens |
62 Club Games |
Dean Siljanoski |
28 Club Games |
Aidan Cook |
97 Club Games |
Lachlan Gippel |
32 Club Games |
Patrick Young |
17 Club Games |
Ben Lean |
90 Club Games |
Ben Robinson |
30 Club Games |
Kyle McDonagh |
16 Club Games |
Last Modified on 31/12/2008 13:43