Frankston High School – STATE CHAMPIONS

On Sunday 2^nd August, Frankston High School Senior football team took out the title of VSSSA State Champions. A great feat for the school, the players, and our local community.

Played at the MCG (as a curtain raiser to the Melbourne V. Richmond clash) the team defeated Ballarat High School.

Along the way the team became Southern Metro. Champions by beating (the highly fancied) Hallam High school. This day saw the bus ready to leave with only 17 players on board – many missing due to illness, injury and other commitments, before another two were roped in at the 11^th hour, from class and TAFE, along with scrounging boots and gear for them! A 5 goal win there helped to pick up the commitment and enthusiasm for all.

The next scalp was Box Hill Secondary school – Eastern Metro Champions for the last 3 years.

Wonthaggi High school (Southern Country Champ.) and Mildura College (Eastern Country champ) were the next two stepping stones to make the Grand final.

Frankston High School was established in 1924 and this group is the First team to bring home the championship in those 85 years. The Premiership Cup & Pennant will proudly adorn the school’s trophy cabinet.

The team coach, Con Neratzoglou, is not only proud of the teams achievement but was quick to highlight their achievement as a group of individuals in saying “All boys distinguished themselves by their exceptional discipline, adherence to team structures and strategies, and wonderful skills and commitment. They were faultless in their conduct after the game also, displaying a maturity and decency that is inculcated at the school."

With at least 4 of the group playing senior football this season, and another 3 Stingrays representatives, this group has plenty of talent.

From the player list below, I am sure many people will see a number of familiar names that have been players in your club, or you have thought (as opposition) “how are going to keep him quiet today?” With a large number of these young men having participated in the F&DJFL over many years, we would like to congratulate, not only our past (& present) players, but pass those congratulations to all involved. This is a great example of the quality of junior sport in our region, and the quality of citizen being developed in our community.

MCC  VSSSA – State Championship – Grand Final

Best :  Jake Batchelor (BOG), Lachlan Wallace, Jarryd Elton, Callan Dixon, Andrew Fowler, Brayden Irving, Shannon White

Goals:  Jake Batchelor 3, Lachlan Wallace 3, Brayden Irving 2, Yiann Marandos 2, Callum Hall 1, Lyndon O’Keefe 1, Daniel O’Brien 1.

 “The Team”