Club update - It’s the Final(s) Countdown

In this update, 60% of our teams are finals bound and a really, really big apology to our 14/2 boys…

Over half the Club’s teen and senior teams have made it to finals this season – an incredible outcome. Of special note the four of our teen female teams have been crowned minor premiers, and six of the seven who will play finals.

Still a few teams waiting on the outcomes this weekend, so good luck.

Minor premiers

1402

14G03

15G01

19G02

19G03

AA03, depending on the results from the last game

Locked & loaded for finals

13G03

150G02

1803

2103

3502

3508

4504

AA11

Squeaky shorts stage with one round to go….

16/02

45/02

AA05

AA16

Coach mentoring

The Club has been focused on increasing the number of female coaches we have at all levels.

So, we were appreciative of the support of Football New South Wales in having Kim Schaefer, Grassroots Female Coach Mentor, spend some time with our Under 19 coach Tara O’Connell and Under 8 coach Erin Elton.

Kim is a former national rep player and manager of the Matilda’s All Abilities team, and had plenty of positive feedback for the job both coaches were doing.

Football curious? A fantastic way for women to try the game.

Football Canterbury is running a great programme in September for women to try the game. Details are below and you can contact our Female Football coordinator,  Irene Browne if you want to discuss or get a group together to take part.

Teams Of The Month

Too many weekends, Club officials arrive at Centenary Park early and find the park strewn with rubbish. So when our AA05 men’s team were observed cleaning up all the rubbish their opposition left behind after a game they made this week $200 senior prize a clear choice. (We would have made it $400 if they dumped it at the opposition's Clubhouse)

Our 13/3 girls’ side has been allocated a large number of early first up games on Sunday mornings, with their parents and supporters not only setting up their field but also offering to help with others. They’re the Burwood FC committee’s $200 junior team of the month.

Five From The Field

This week we speak to coach Meraj Huda and manager Jim Tsirimiagos – about the (as yet) undefeated 14/2 boys.*

Given the first question is about you being undefeated this season have we just cursed your golden run?

No comment (!). And if you do jinx us...we know where you live!!

What’s your best response to the cliched question as to any pressure about being undefeated

>Yeah Nah...We are in fact taking it one game at a time. It's not over until it's over. But full credit to the boys, we know we're only as good as our last game.  We're not getting carried away, and we are making sure the boys play for the full 60 mins cause it is a game of two halves. It's all about the process and systems we have in place and being in the right mindset as it's just as much a mind game than a physical one.  Also, it's not about winning or losing but the brand of football we want to play and sending a clear message to our opponents.  (We think we got most of the relevant cliches in that answer!!)

What’s the basis of the team’s success this season?

Ensuring players train and play for the team (and not personal glory). Every player is developed to play across all positions that may be required of them. Most importantly, fighting for the entire game and not taking any result for granted.  Keeping clean sheets as a priority! And making sure we take our chances in finding the back of the net!

And the season highlights to date? 

1-0 win versus Marrickville (with a depleted squad on a fast synthetic surface and windy day). Several players played in different positions. 

The perennial question coming into finals - should we have them at all or top of the table takes out the championship?

Championships and Cup competitions should be entirely separate competitions. League championships are much harder to win. 

The hybrid play-offs model only happens in Australia!  The most consistent team of the regular season should be champs - ala Liverpool vis-a-vis Crystal Palace/Tottenham

*Three days after we put this five from the field together, the 14/2 boys lost their first game. Look, how were we to know….but sorry boys, we apologise (profusely)  and well done on winning the minor premiership.