Fun first for Southern Roos
AHarrow-balmoral club leader says a letter written by club elders during last year’s disrupted season epitomises the club’s ethos.
Incoming president Tereasa Hobbs said before the abandonment of the finals series, when the club was set to host a spectator-less finals match, a group of elder club members wrote a ‘beautiful’ card wishing the club well before the game.
“It was a reminder our community was missing out just as much as the players were. It maybe signals what the club stands for – community,” she said.
“This year is about getting the community back together, after the last couple of years that really took a toll on everyone.
“The club plays such an important role in the community, not just from a football and netball standpoint, but within the broader regional community.”
Mrs Hobbs takes up the top-job after being involved with the club for three decades, working as club secretary for five seasons.
She said with new and experienced faces on the committee for 2022, the club was in good shape.
Harrow-balmoral senior footballers and netballers finished third in 2021 and many club leaders have tipped them to be there-abouts again in 2022.
Netball director Tim Leeming said many new faces had arrived at the club this pre-season and there was plenty of numbers at training across all netball grades.
He said many new players were young, which was great for the club.
Mr Leeming echoed Mrs Hobbs’ sentiment about getting the community back together through community sport.
“It was pretty ordinary over the past few seasons, but it has reinforced the bones of why sport is so important for country communities and we want to appreciate that this year,” he said. Leeming said it was about bringing things back to basics – having fun, being competitive and developing players.
“These factors build viability. We also feel we have a responsibility to develop young players,” he said.
“We don’t want young talent sitting on the bench. We are lucky we have a great line-up of junior coaches, which is where we want to place an emphasis, as our junior program will build longevity.”
Leeming also praised the experience of incoming A Grade coach Kirby Knight, who will take the senior coaching reigns in 2022.
He said with a couple of good recruits to the A Grade team’s mid-court brigade and the chance for some under-17 selection, the top side was in good shape.
Re-signing senior football coach Nick Pekin said because the COVID-19 disruptions were ‘deflating’, he would emphasise an enjoyment philosophy this season.
“The more enjoyment for players and spectators, the more success that will follow. We want to get everyone back to enjoying football – we all just want to play,” he said.
Pekin said given previous season COVID-19 interruptions, his side remained reigning Horsham district premier.
“We are still the hunted and we don’t mind that. We will take all that in our stride,” he said.
He said new recruits would be great, however they would miss the services of the Deutscher brothers Connor, Cody and Ben, who left the club this season.
“Our younger players before the pandemic are now hitting their 20s and perhaps looking to go that bit extra now. They haven’t yet tasted success like our older players, so that will drive us forward,” he said.
“We have a healthy amount of talls, not as many as previous seasons, so we might want to get away from kicking the down line – even though we could do that if we wanted.
“If we can use those short kicks on the 45, hold possession and play corridor footy, things will work out well.
“But until we get to match day, we really just don’t know how we will go.”
Pekin also wanted to recognise the success of the Southern Roos’ homegrown talent Eric Guthrie who tied for the Northern Territory Football League’s best and fairest this week – the Nichols Medal – in his first season for NTFL club Palmerston.
“He is a born and bred local, a gun player and his success was worth a mention from our club, well done,” he said.