Presentation Day 2012

On Saturday, 25th August we held our annual Presentation Day at Pickett's Reserve and it was a massive success. Our Presentation Day is very well known as being a BIG event and this year was no exception. We started at 12 noon for the U8s and worked our way up the age groups until we reached the 17A side at 6.30.

The presentations were concluded with a very moving tribute to Ian McAleese who passed away on the 20th August and our thoughts and love are with his family.

On the night we awarded Life Membership to Darren Jacobsen who has dedicated many years to the FTG Eagles Juniors and 'Jaco" was a very fitting recipient of his Life Membership award. We also awarded the inaugural 'Sam Cavarra Coach of the Year' award and we had 3 very worthy finalists in Tim Beare, Jeremy Freeman and Michael Hearn. All 3 coaches are very much admired and respected but in the end Mick Hearn was a very popular winner of this award.

We conducted numerous raffles and auctions on the night and all contributed greatly to the coffers of the club. Throughout the afternoon our kids and players were able to entertain themselves on the rides and as usual this was a popular pastime. The BBQ and Canteen was flat out all day and it was wonderful to see so many people at the club at different times of the day.

The day culminated in a fantastic fireworks display that started slowly and got better and better. It is an amazing sight to look up into the crowd ands see so many people at our great club enjoying themselves and making the day the success it is.

Thanks must go out to all the people who helped make the day a huge success. I won't individualise but to every one who helped out with the Presentation Day Organising Committee - a massive thanks. A big thanks to everyone who manned the BBQ or canteen or anything else on the day to make the day run smoothly.

I would especially like to say thanks to the 6 dedicated people who showed up bright and early on the Sunday to help clean up the grounds and room...it was a big job.

With more teams than ever before playing and more kids than ever registered at the club it was probably the biggest Presentation Day we have ever had.

Well done to everyone and lets hope next year is even bigger again.

Noel White
President FTG Eagles JFC

All Abilities Grand Final

Hi Everyone,

A brief update on the Ferntree Gully Eagles AllAbilities Football Team.

Well, the home and away season has just ended - and our team has had a remarkable year - undefeated all year; finishing top of the ladder; and now will play-off in the Grand Final - all in their inaugural season.

The boys have had a great time with our numbers now growing to 18 regular players (with another 6+ on the maybe list for next year). The boys would love to see you at their Grand Final and have asked that I invite you all - as you have all provided your support to this team in more ways than I can ever justify in this brief e-mail. The players and their families are all very appreciative...

The details of the Grand Final are:

DATE: Sunday 19 August 2012

TIME: Game kick-off is 10:00am (Players will be asked to arrive at ground by 9:00am)

VENUE: Central Reserve (Main Oval), Corner Springvale Road and Waverley Road, Glen Waverley (Mel. Ref. 71 C5)

We do hope you can make this special event for this team - and we hope that the boys can come away with a win on the day...and a Premiership.

I also take this opportunity to wish Tim (our Coach); Julie (Team Manager); Peter/Brendon (Assistant Coach/Runner); and Leanne (Trainer) all the very best on the day - great work all year to this group and to all the parents who have assisted in the many jobs throughout the 2012 season.

Regards,

Sam Cavarra

Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club

Grand Final Day 2012

Sunday the 19th of August was a historical day in the History of the FTG Eagles JFC. It was the day we had 4 sides in Grand Finals for the first time ever.

The day started with the All Abilities side playing Rupertswood at Central Reserve in Mt Waverley. Our AA side had previously been undefeated and had dominated most games they had played throughout the season. This game however was a very tight contest and was only sealed in the last 5 minutes of the game with an amazing goal from the boundary.

The win was truly a great team effort where every player contributed on the day. The scenes after the game were truly amazing. Parents, players and a very proud coach all expressed overwhelming emotions.

As a club we didn't know what to expect from this group of players and to win the premiership in their first season was an unbelievable achievement.

The way the AA side has fitted into our junior club environment has been a credit to all at the club. It has been a wonderful exercise in inclusion and we are all very proud of the AA side.

The next game saw our U12s playing Heathmont at Blackburn. The U12s season had been consistent with a few hiccups in the last 4-5 rounds and this match was definitely evenly poised.

'Hilts' got off the boys off to a flyer only to see Heathmont get right back in it and totally shut us down nearing half time. This was a real see sawing game and very befitting a final. With 3-4 minutes to go we kicked a couple of late goals to record a 6.4.40 to 3.6.34 victory. As is with any grand final the emotions after the game were high and family and friends where beside themselves with happiness.

Congratulations to John Hilton who has coached this side for 4 years and was coaching them for the last time. So far we had recorded 2 wins from 2 games and the President was daring to dream of a perfect 4!!!!

So off to Wantirna South to watch Wrighty's U14B side face a very formidable opponent in Heathmont who had been undefeated all season. Two weeks prior they had given our boys a serious football lesson and our boys wanted to acquit themselves much better in the BIG one. 5 minutes into the game  Heathmont knew they were in for a serious contest. We were as desperate as we had been all year and were giving them one hell of a fright. Slowly but surely they edged away and got out by 4-5 goals at 3/4 time. Heathmont ran out 67 point winners after kicking 6 goals in the last 5 minutes of the game  but our boys should be very proud of the way they played.

They gave it their all and came up against a much bigger side. Congratulations to Heathmont on an undefeated year and ultimately winning the 'cup' 

Last game of the day saw our U15s take on Waverley Blues at Knox and this turned out to be another desperate contest. The U15 boys had only had 2 losses throughout the season but knew they had a contest on their hands and would have to work very hard if they wanted to make it 3 Cups for the Eagles. The U15s ended up winning 4.11.35 to 1.6.12. The game itself was a scrappy affair but Brett had his boys primed and the simply wanted the ball more than their opposition.  

There were some outstanding efforts by players in this game and in the end they were deserving winners of the U15c Premiership.

So in the end 3 out of 4 was an amazing and proud day for the club. Sunday night saw us all back at the rooms to celebrate 4 great teams and 3 premiership sides. I just want to acknowledge the way the U14s joined in with heads held high and congratulated all the other players. For Andrew Wright and his assistants it must have been a tough night and they were fantastic the way they were positive and good sports. Each player was introduced to thunderous applause and then each coach was presented to the cheering crowd whilst carrying in the premiership cup. Lots of fun and laughs were had and it would be fair to say it was a very memorable night and may not happen again for a long time.

It was a great way to end the season and i must say the behaviour and sportsmanship shown by our parents and players throughout the finals was top class.

We should all be very proud of the way this season has turned out and a lot of reward has come to a lot of hard working people.

Congratulations and well done to all,..

Go Eagles!

Noel White
President

Presentation Day Agenda 2012