Student News

Congratulations to Brooke Mibus of Year 11 who has had an exciting week of announcements regarding her sporting achievements. First, she was selected to play in the North Ballarat Rebels Youth Girls’ Squad to play in the State Championships in Gippsland in the coming holidays. Brooke has also been chosen to represent the Central Highlands in their Under 17 Netball team to compete in the state finals in October. Good luck Brooke!

Mr Leigh Alexander

Basketball

ADVANCED BASKETBALL SKILLS SESSION

The College has been able to secure the services of Tim Gainey to run an advanced skills session on October 15 in the Geoff Handbury Sports Centre. These sessions are designed for those experienced or more advanced players who want to improve their skills and knowledge of the games. There will be two sessions: the under 10 and 12 grades will commence at 9:30am with the under 14 and 16, and senior players, in the afternoon starting at 12:30pm. Numbers will be limited to 25 for each session and places will be allocated in the receipt of form and payment basis.

Tim is a past captain and coach of the reigning Warrnambool Seahawks Big V competition premiers. He commenced his professional basketball career playing for the Southern Utah University and has been with the Seahawks for more than a decade.

A form is attached to this newsletter, to secure your place so please complete and return with payment as soon as possible.

PROPOSAL TO CHANGE BASKETBALL GRAND FINALS

Proposal to change basketball Grand Finals (Under 12 to Under 16) to Sunday November 27.

A proposal has been presented by the Junior Committee of the Hamilton Basketball Association to move the Grand Finals to Sunday November 27 instead of the usual mid-week finals. The proposed times are

10am 12B Boys

11am 14B Boys

12 noon 12 Girls

1pm 12A Boys

2pm 14 Girls

3pm 14A Boys

4pm 16 Girls

5pm 16 Boys

This will impact especially those boarders who travel home for the week end. The committee has asked for feedback. If you have an opinion one way or the other could you please e-mail me your thoughts to iclare@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au .

Mr Ian Clare

Basketball Co-ordinator

Hockey

JUNIOR HOCKEY

Division 4

College Crusaders played Demons in the 2016 Division 4 Grand Final. The match ebbed and flowed, as both teams came with an intent to attack. A goal to Demons just before the half time whistle put the Crusaders on the back foot. Will Ash made some fabulous saves in the first half, and was ably supported by the back three of Millie Dopheide, Emily Ash and Owen Priestly. Isabelle Musson and Olivia Allen had several close attempts on goal through short corners. The second half was dominated by Demons, and they scored a second with 10 minutes remaining. The forward line of Ciaran Nelson, Natalie Featherston, Rosie Dopheide, Sophie Merrin and Thomas Stratmann did not stop trying. In the midfield, Bridget Delany ran herself into the ground, as did Will Merrin. Whilst the team were on the wrong end of a 2-0 score line, they can be very proud of their efforts, both collectively and individually. A special thank you to Peter Musson, who co-coached the team, and brought humour, skill and great tactical thinking to training sessions and games. Finally to our Division 4 parents - the best in the competition! They wonderfully encouraged the team throughout the year, and were an amazing support base for their sons and daughters. Bring on 2017!

Mr Stephen Nelson

DIVISION ONE HOCKEY REPORT

They did it! Well after 15 rounds of hockey and 3 tense finals the College Thundersticks are now the 2016 Division 1 Premiers.

In atrocious conditions on Friday night the College girls played their best hockey of the season to defeat Monivae 4-1. This was an amazing turn around as only two weeks earlier the Monivae girls defeated College to move directly into the Grand Final.

The start of the game did not exactly go to plan with Monivae scoring off a short corner in the first 5 minutes of the game. Credit to the girls, they did not drop their heads; in fact, it was just the spark they needed. From that point the College forwards took control to score the next four goals.

Our captain Emily Johnston who was back from injury really lifted the girls to score our first of the match. She was instrumental in every forward play and the Monivae backline could do little to stop her speed and stick skills. Phoebe Sweeney and Maddi Mutch were just superb on the left side. Phoebe played some really strong hockey to set up a number of forward moves and she never stopped running. Maddi played her best game of the season and her control and vision to deliver to her team mates were crucial in all four of our goals. Mrs Williams was just everywhere on Friday night. After being tagged in the preliminary final her opponent had no hope of keeping up with her and she continued to create opportunities all night. Hannah Nichols has just played her best season and probably one of her best matches. She has the skill to play in both attack and defence and we needed her everywhere on Friday night and she certainly delivered at both ends of the field. Claudia Robert’s hockey continues to go from strength to strength. Probably the best right wing in the competition, Claudia must have been close to best on ground. A superb game from her.

Our backline was once again rock solid. Beatrice Nesbitt our goalie worked really hard during the week to iron out a few issues and she made two crucial saves in the game. Charlotte Boyd-Walsh was very brave playing with a torn ligament in her foot and she covered the Monivae forwards perfectly. Abby Hayes is just so reliable and she played a wonderful covering game on that crucial last line of defence. Mrs Nichols would have to be the most determined defender in the competition and very few attackers ever get past her. This was the case again on Friday night. Chloe Russell is going to be a star of the future. Our youngest player in the team is not intimidated by anyone and her game as our left half was simply brilliant. Hannah Russell played one of the best Grand Finals I have ever seen from a player. She gave everything she had on Friday night and her back stick goal early in the second half was a real turning point of the game.

Goal Scorers: Emily Johnston, Claudia Roberts, Hannah Nichols and Hannah Russell.

Better Players: Hannah Russell, Chloe Russell, Claudia Roberts, Hannah Nichols and Emily Johnston.

It has been such a privilege to play with this very special team. They are most deserving premiers.

Miss Kristen Waldron

BOYS’ HOCKEY

What a great climax to the season!

The Open team played some superb hockey last Friday night to record a 6-2 victory over Bulls in the men’s Grand Final. Fresh from a fifteen minute lunchtime skill session on the new field on McPherson Street, the boys were full of commitment, determination and run. Excellent teamwork has been their hallmark and this did not let them down on Friday.

Bulls scored first but Harry Musson equalised soon after with a fine corner variation which caught our opponents off-guard. Two Thomas Verco goals followed as the boys gained control of the match before Bulls fought back and narrowed the margin to a single goal. Liam McMaugh’s opportunistic goal restored our dominant position before Tom Verco completed his hat-trick (his seventh of the year!) and Tom Bunge hammered home the final goal with minutes remaining.

Tom Verco was declared Man of the Match by the umpires. He made numerous forward runs, threatening to carve his way through each time, and also could be found in defence when needed. Our Captain, Josh Nichols, must have been close behind. Josh, as usual, was where the action was, calmly controlling the play and opening up the game for team-mates. Goalie Josh Cavill was superb also. He could not be blamed for either goal conceded and, whilst the game was still “live,” made two sensational saves to prevent seemingly certain goals from being scored. Nick Lacey played one of his best games for the season as sweeper and Will Allen was dependable and alert as ever at fullback. Bulls play their best when their outside runners have space and, between them, Andrew Robertson, Thomas Dufty and Patrick Stratmann shut these down effectively. Up forward, our wingers Sam Rowe and Tom Bunge, made challenging runs and confused their opponents by swapping roles from time to time. Liam McMaugh and Harry Musson provided fierce competitiveness as inside runners and each was there to score when we needed them. Peter Musson, Stephen Nelson and David Merrin were our “old heads” and the boys valued their contributions on field and off, as they did the efforts of the final member of the team, Old Collegian Chay Deary.

At the presentations after the game, Josh Nichols was awarded the Association Best and Fairest Award and Thomas Verco received the trophy as Highest Goalscorer in the Men’s Division.

With all this coming on top of the girls’ success in the first final, Friday night was certainly a night to celebrate!

Saturday morning saw the two Under 16 teams play off in the Grand Final. The previous two Grand Final encounters between our teams have entered the folklore but this game was disappointingly one-sided and ended 4-1 to Gold. There was plenty of endeavour and intent but the Blue boys just could not find their passing and running game and were forced to defend for long periods. Gold played extremely well and controlled the centre of the field nearly throughout.

Charlie Rivett, Harry Beal, Reagan Simons and Taku Mahwendepi scored for Gold and Sami Zehir for Blue. For Charlie and Taku these were their first goals of the season – what a time to find the net for the first time! Harry Beal had not played since mid-year due to a knee injury so his goal was also to be celebrated. Reagan was the competition’s leading scorer and Sami is always in the action for his team and their goals were, whilst less unexpected, equally important to their teams. Sami brought Blue back into the game at 1-2 with his goal and Reagan closed the door again with his shot.

For Gold, Reagan Simons was voted Best Afield by the umpires and Oli Hoskyns, Captain Lachie Holcombe and Zac Cunningham also stood out. Blue’s goalie Will Ash, in the first of two finals he played on Saturday, made some good saves, while Sami Zehir worked very hard to create openings and drive, as did Jack Green.

At the Association presentations afterwards, James Sutherland (Blue) and Dylan Cunningham (Gold) were joint runners-up to Reagan Simons (Gold) as Leading Scorer in the Division. Reagan finished runner-up in the Best and Fairest count to Sami Zehir (Blue) as these presentations assumed a strong College flavour. In addition, the Best Clubman at Under 16 level was awarded to Dougal Sweeney (Gold), for his commitment to and enthusiasm for the sport, for his manner and approach as a player and for his contributions as an umpire.

Congratulations also to Josh Walter who received the Association’s Best Junior Umpire Award. Josh is committed to his umpiring and he has worked hard to gain accreditation and I understand he is planning to continue with his development as the man with the whistle.

At Saturday night’s Club Hockey Dinner, each coach, in reflecting on the season, made two awards to players. These were as follows:

Open Men Best and Fairest: Josh Nichols

Open Men Leading Scorer: Thomas Verco

Under 16 Gold Best and Fairest: Reagan Simons

Under 16 Team player: Dylan Cunningham

Under 16 Blue Best and Fairest: Sami Zehir

Under 16 Blue Coach’s Award: Jack Green

And so, another season ends. The opening of the new field next term provides real excitement as we look forward to season 2017. Best wishes, in particular, to the seven Year 12 boys who played their final games for College at the weekend: I hope you find a hockey field is still part of the next stage of your lives.

Mr Neil MacLean

Head of Hockey (Boys’)

HOCKEY FESTIVAL

We have secured a small number of tickets to a Festival of Hockey being played in Melbourne in November. Our tickets are for Saturday 26 November when the men’s teams from Australia, Malaysia, India and New Zealand will be in action. We anticipate we will travel by car leaving Hamilton in the morning and returning at night. Tickets will cost $30 each. We have a few left so anyone interested should see one of us as soon as possible before they disappear!

Mr Neil MacLean, Miss Kristen Waldron

Heads of Hockey

Dates to Remember

Term 4 Calendar Dates