AFL SYDNEY ANNUAL REPORT 2008 CONTENTS AFL Sydney 2008 Officials 1 Competition Management & Club Development Manager’s Report 2 Senior Football Operations Officer’s Report 4 Club Development Manager’s Report 9 AFL Sydney Umpiring Group Report 11 Sponsorship/Approved Suppliers 13 Publicity 14 Club Field Umpires 15 Phelan Medal 16 NAB Rising Star 18 Hall of Fame 19 Tribunal 20 Representative Football 21 Finals 34 Finals Match Results 36 Television Coverage 43 Footyweb 44 Club of the Year Incentive Scheme 45 Club Championship Award 46 AFL Sydney Team of the Year 47 The Football Record 49 2008 Premiers 50 2008 Grand Final Best on Ground Winners 51 2008 Miscellaneous Awards 51 2008 Leading Goal Kickers 52 2008 League Best and Fairest 53 2008 Competition Ladders 62 From the Vault 64 2008 Home and Away Results 65 AFL Sydney 2008 Annual Report AFL SYDNEY 2008 OFFICIALS Competition Management & Club Development Manager Bob Robinson Senior Football Operations Coordinator Garry Burkinshaw Club Development Manager Chris Mintern Competition Management Operations Alana Shackleton Tribunal Panel Appeals Board Brian Langton (Chair) Peter Hastings (Chair) Chris Raper Alec Leopold Barry Richardson Don Roach Richard O’Keefe Kim Perry Tony O’Donnell Jason Downing Representative Staff Seniors Development First Division Coach Danny Ryan Danny Ryan Peter Free Asst Coach Richard Gerke Richard Gerke Ric Scicluna Selectors Leigh Forsyth Leigh Forsyth Grant McCarthy Trevor Clisby Trevor Clisby Peter Wood Peter Wood Manager Garry Burkinshaw Garry Burkinshaw Mark Schultz Runner Daniel Kenny Daniel Kenny Brett Martin Captain Alastair Richardson Max Collett Kurt Hayward Physios James Sutherland James Sutherland Rebecca Riley-Ward Trainers Bruce Hunter Bruce Hunter Kristy Sutcliffe Cassie Parker Cassie Parker Russell Penton Russell Penton Statistics Don Leishman Don Leishman Hall of Fame Members Ralph Roberston, Jack Dean, Stan Milton, Roy Hayes, Jimmy Stiff, Jack Williamson, Harry Free, Col Harris, Billy McKoy, Rod Podbury, Ellis Noack, Cec Quilkey, Jack Armstrong, John Hardy, Frank Dixon, Rod Miles, Bryan Tyler, Dan Wilson, Ray Moore, Alf Penno, Ian Allen, John Grose, Anthony Quinn, Chris O’Dwyer 1 AFL Sydney 2008 Annual Report COMPETITION MANAGEMENT & CLUB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER’S REPORT 2008 was a year where the benefits of new initiatives and an increased focus on parts of our operational model at the end of the previous season started to bear fruit. Each year we strive to reinforce and build upon previous standards which are reviewed annually as we work to build upon the quality of the AFL Sydney competition. In a number of different ways we are seeing examples of that. It would be imprudent to suggest that we are satisfied with where we are at; rather we are confident that what we as a community are working towards collaboratively is headed in the right direction. Particular matters that should be mentioned in reflecting on 2008 include: • The revised Strategic Goals & Objectives document for AFL Sydney has been shared with all clubs and we will shortly commence the first of the annual reviews. • An agreed Licensing system that reflects on the expectations and commitments from all concerned has been put into place. • The Club Umpire System formally put in to place this year has been well supported in general with Clubs recognising the difficulties in sourcing the number of accredited umpires necessary. The result of training and allocation of club based umpires has been regarded as a very positive initiative. • A better system of recognising the best practice efforts of clubs during the year saw all clubs receiving a level of financial recognition through the Club of the Year scheme. That, along with the reintroduction of Club Champion and Premiership rewards, has been positively received. In addition to these initiatives increased funding from AFL NSW/ACT through extended resources at all levels of football will translate into positive benefits to AFL Sydney in both the short and long term. • Following on from the growth of Under 18’s football, more analysis and pathway transition from junior to senior football has provided clubs with more valuable information upon which to base recruitment for Under 18’s. A new document on pathway transition will be released shortly across both senior and junior football clubs. The content articulates the benefits of having a formal program of support from both senior and junior clubs. • The initiative to formalise support agreements between Premier Division and First Division clubs has seen both Nor-West and East Coast recognising the positive value of such. This is subsequent to similar discussions between North Shore and Manly-Warringah that has similar objectives. The proposition of clubs entering into regional arrangements is strongly supported by AFL Sydney. • The representative program stepped up another level this year and all involved are to be congratulated. It is our desire to maintain that momentum. 2 AFL Sydney 2008 Annual Report • Going forward we will be presented with the challenges that stem from the Western Sydney license initiative. The positive impacts on AFL Sydney are likely to evolve as increased resource levels to support the foundation, again at all levels of football become apparent. That said, our eye has not been taken off the ball right across the Sydney region. • A substantial amount of analysis and engagement has taken place around the competition structure review this year. Whilst this has been a subject that has been raised previously we now have better access to historical information, much of which formed the basis of the review. The level of detail and analysis has provided a compelling case for introducing a more effective structure for AFL Sydney in 2009 and beyond. Finally, all these initiatives and positive outcomes do not just happen. We thank the Clubs for their increased engagement and support. The effort of the Competition & Club Development team in supporting AFL Sydney has been outstanding. I would like to personally thank Garry Burkinshaw, Alana Shackleton and Chris Mintern for their efforts in raising the quality of support and leadership for AFL Sydney. Bob Robinson Competition Management & Club Development Manager 3 AFL Sydney 2008 Annual Report SENIOR FOOTBALL OPERATIONS OFFICER’S REPORT The 2008 season has come and gone and it is now time to review the year and prepare for 2009. Congratulations to the 2008 Premiers; Pennant Hills in Premier Division Seniors, East Coast Eagles in Premier Division Reserves, UTS in First Division Seniors & Reserves, North Shore Bombers in Under 18’s Premier Cup, UNSW/ES in Under 18’s Challenge Cup and Pennant Hills in Second Division. All Grand Finals were well contested and played in the right spirit and it was pleasing to see the number of people who turned out to support their team, not only in the finals but throughout the season. Congratulations also to UNSW/ES and UTS on winning the Club Championship award in Premier Division and First Division, respectively. This is a fantastic achievement and recognises the on-field performance of a club as a whole, as opposed to individual teams. The Club Championship Award was introduced as part of the restructure of the Club of the Year program. In past years a clubs on field and off field performances were combined to establish the Club of the Year. 2008 saw the Club Championship Award introduced to reward on field performance whilst the Club of the Year Incentive Scheme was implemented to reward clubs who achieved excellence in administration and other off field areas. This year $31,467.00 was returned to the clubs under the new Club of the Year program. Preparing for the 2008 season commenced whilst the 2007 season was still in progress with all clubs requested to participate in a process called “Towards 2008”. This involved all clubs making suggestions on ways AFL Sydney could be improved in areas such as Competition Structure, Administration, Under 18’s, Umpires, Representative Football etc. Once the clubs made their suggestions these were then collated and sent to the clubs for comment. Clubs then responded to this request, the responses were summarised and sent to clubs. The major issues identified were placed on the agenda for the Annual Planning Meeting which was held in October. Aside from the Towards 2008 items, a number of issues were discussed that aimed at improving AFL Sydney. Some of the major changes included introducing a rule which restricted the number of Under 16’s players who could play in the Under 18’s competitions to four (4) per team per game. Players who were on scholarship or selected in the Under 16’s Talented Player Program were exempt from this rule. The aim of the rule was to keep Under 16’s footballers in the junior system for a longer period of time and hopefully strengthen the Under 16’s competitions. There was also a slight amendment to the rule regarding the minimum number of on field players for the Under 18’s competitions. Whilst the minimum number remained at 16 on field players, if both sides had more than 18 players named on their team list, the game had to be played with 18 on field players, as opposed to 2007 when both clubs had to agree to play more than 16 on field players. These changes were well managed and proved quite beneficial to both Under 18’s competitions. 4 AFL Sydney 2008 Annual Report Other changes included the introduction of a final five for the Premier Division and Under 18 Premier Cup competitions, time on was introduced for all finals matches and amendments to the send off rule which enabled players who receive a red card to be replaced only after a period of 15 minutes had elapsed. All these changes worked well.