For those of you who don't know, I am coaching the under 16 group at Happy Valley Football Club with Steve Chapman.
The last minor round saw our boys go down gallantly to Brighton Football Club who were sitting in equal top position. It was a grand effort by the lads only let down by a poor start that saw Brighton kick 3 goals in the first 15 minutes. From then on HVFC won the day but couldn't quite breach the gap. As we discussed as a predominately first year team, we need to concentrate and sustain a four quarter team game if we are to go deeper into September. A couple of special mentions to two of the boys who were given big jobs on the day. Sam Bauer was entrusted with keeping Brendan Howie (36 goals for the year) in check at centre half forward and he did a really good job, forsaking his own game to negate Brendan. Rhys Barrett, went back to full back releasing Josh Peters into the centre of the ground. Rhys manned up on Mitchell Howie (who had booted 60 plus goals for the year). Rhys was able to stop Mitchell adding to that total and provided us with much rebound all day. Others to play well on the day were Peters (Best on Ground)Spacie, Raitt, Tate, Beard, Sexton, Eshmade (3 goals).
On Sunday our team played the first final against Morphett Vale and despite having about 75% of the play all day, continued to butcher their possessions and not put score on the board. Morphett Vale had a purple patch of approximately 6 minutes in the third quarter with the wind where they put 3 goals on the board and threatened to blow the game apart. However whilst giving our coaches and supporters plenty to worry about the boys plugged away to finally goal with a minute to go and seal the victory by 4 points. This ensures Happy Valley a spot in the preliminary final next weekend. This was a gutsy win and showed what a team effort can provide for the club. It was also the third come from behind victory in recent weeks. Best players on the day were Aiden Chaplain, Jack Mesecke, Tristan Cummings, Ryan Doherty, Alex Nicholson, Daniel Bennetts.
We now look forward to an elimination final for our Saturday team and a preliminary final for our Sunday team. With players injured, playing under 18 and at West Adelaide we have struggled to get our most settled side on the park for most of the year, and with SFL regulations that seem to defy logic and common sense, and injuries in teams above us it appears nothing will change this weekend. The boys picked will need to be well prepared, well rested, focused and ready to commit and concentrate on working as a team for four quarters if we are to move further into finals action.
All the best to the club and all the teams competing in finals this weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers particularly our regular staff Michael, Ross, Dean, Brad, David, for the huge efforts and sacrifices that you have made for the club, our boys and for me and Chappy this season, without you guys there is simply no team, and it highly appreciated.
Regards Steve Davenport
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