Coached by David Soanes, this team competed in Central – North East –East Under 16 B League. 

The team finished 10^th out 14 on the table with 5 wins, 3 draws and 10 losses and a goal difference of -11.

Award Winners

1st Best and fairest - Emily Clayton

2nd best and Fairest - Roisin McSweeney

3rd best and Fairest - Ruby Horton and Georgie Filip

Player’s Player Award - Emily Clayton

Golden Boot - Tarn Duangdee

Most Improved - Emily Hibberd

Season Overview

It was a bit of a mixed season where the team lost to some teams that we would have expected to beat and played some of our best games against the stronger teams.  

We took some draws and victories against good teams due to the whole team lifting their effort and supporting each other. In these games it was great to see players moving into space and finding their passes.

We suffered as the season progressed from losing a number of key players through the season due to various injuries and this impacted on results.  We had to move players around and try different formations and it was good to see the girls quickly adapting and applying themselves.  

Highlights

Despite having an ankle injury, Ruby played several games in goal and put in some terrific performances - blocking some shots that would normally have gone in.

There were a number of good performances in defence but special mention goes to Roisin for solid performances week on week and to Georgie who slotted into the sweeper role comfortably and was very good at clearing the lose ball and frustrating the opposing strikers.

We had a strong midfield that ran hard through the games.  Many of our goals in the early season came from the midfield and in particular Emily C lofted in some impressive goals from outside the 18 yard box. 

The forwards put opposing defences under immense pressure from well timed runs and physical strength on the ball but suffered at times with the final touch.

We practiced through the season using the non-preferred foot but Tarn was never a fan and complained that she couldn't use her left foot.  So it was pleasing in the final games to see her score 2 goals with her left.  Well done for perseverance.

Summing Up

We mustn't lose sight of the fact that this was the first season for these girls in the U16s and it was always going to be tough so we should take some pride from the games we won and played well in.  We'll look to next season to improve on our consistency.

Thank-you

There are many people who are need to get the team onto the park each week and their efforts are much appreciated.  Thank you to……

Lisa Devereux – the team’s first aider, who was always attentive, aware and tender with our players.  On many occasions she also provide first aid support to the opposition.  Our players felt confident to ask her to strap their ankles/knees etc as they knew she would do a great job.

Alex Wightman - our regular linesman, who always volunteered to run the lines and was very fair.

Marco and Steve Clayton - who assisted David with coaching and training.  David really appreciated their support and often their advice on what to do game time and in training.  They were very respectful of his strategies and they worked well together.

Mandy Ballinger - who organised the roster for fruit and lollies so smoothly.

And finally a big thank you to Coach David and Team Manager Jacqui van Heerden.  David has been the coach of this team in its various incarnations since the foundation of the club in 2008 and his guidance has been reflected in the stability and success of the team.  Jacqui has been on hand capably running the off-field and match day aspects of the team in the many tasks that fall to the team manager.  Well done.