GIPPSLAND POWER FOOTBALL CLUB 2010 YEAR BOOK SPONSORS Gippsland Power Football Club would like to thank and acknowledge the support and sponsorship of the following group of companies: Sponsor of AFL Victoria. TAC Cup T.A.C. INSURANCE GIPPSLAND POWER FOOTBALL CLUB SPONSORS MAJOR SPONSOR – INTERNATIONAL POWER LOY YANG B BENDIGO BANK MORWELL RSL WARRAGUL LINEN SERVICE COLIN WATSON HOLDEN PATTIES PIES SOUTHERN CROSS TEN MANNYS‟ MARKETS MORWELL HOTEL MOTEL MUSASHI COMMUNITY PARTNER – QUANTUM SUPPORT SERVICES GIPPSLAND POWER WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS: AFL VICTORIA – PETER SCHWAB, JOHN HOOK AND THEIR STAFF CITY OF LATROBE VICTORIAN COUNTRY FOOTBALL LEAGUE AFL VICTORIA DEVELOPMENT MORWELL FOOTBALL CLUB ALL THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE REGION COOPERS BUS LINES OF BAIRNSDALE - WARRAGUL HIRE AND DRIVE GIPPSLAND BUS SERVICES OF WONTHAGGI REGIONAL MANAGERS REPORT The year 2010 has seen a major change to the operation of Gippsland Power Football Club, with the completion of the Loy Yang B Changerooms and Bendigo Bank Centre Of Excellence Indoor Training Facility which has enable us to more effectively deliver all our programs. This has been made a reality through the generosity of International Power Loy Yang B, Bendigo Bank, AFL Victoria and a number of businesses throughout the Gippsland Region. Power produced one of its finest seasons finishing sixth on the TAC Cup ladder and then eventually playing off in the TAC Cup Grand Final. The boys gave us the ride of a lifetime, coming from six goals behind in two of the lead up finals too eventually grab a Grand Final berth. To me as the Region Manager I was very proud of the players and the coaching staff on how they went about the year. The players especially did very well given the extra travel demands placed on them at the end of the season and during the finals. Damian Carroll in his second season as a TAC Cup coach has achieved outstanding results with the team taking them to the TAC Cup Grand Final. I would like to thank him and his assistant‟s coaches Ashley Green, Wayne Butcher, Scott McDougal Max Papley and Jim Dear for their dedication throughout the season. Disappointingly, Damian Carroll after two very successful years has resigned his position as Gippsland Power Head Coach to take up a position as Development Coach with the Hawthorn Football Club and Coaching the Box Hill Hawks senior team, I have enjoyed working with Damian and seeing his talents as a Coach develop over that period. We were fortunate to gain someone of Damians stature to Coach Gippsland Power and his contribution to our programs has been greatly appreciated. We wish him, Kellie and Heath all the best in the future. Season 2010 saw Gippsland Power have five players represent Vic. Country in the National AFL Under 18 Championships. I also like to take the opportunity to congratulate those players Dyson Heppell, Jed Lamb, Tim Northe, Haydn Hector and Tomas Bugg. One of the most important aspects of our elite player program is our Under 15 Schoolboys and Under 16 squads participating in the State Championships. Rob Reid (Under 16 Coach), Darren Thain and Scott McDougal (Under 15 Schoolboys Coaches) understand the importance of the pathway through to the Under 18‟s and have been outstanding in their efforts to develop the young player in their care. Rob Reid Development Manager for East Gippsland and Gippsland Power Under 16 Coach continues to oversea Development within the East Gippsland Region. Rob has been in the Gippsland Power program for a number of years, successfully coaching our Latrobe Valley Under 15 Schoolboys team and assisting in several roles with Under 18 TAC Cup team. To Laurie Plunkett (Football Manager and Life Member), I would like to thank Laurie for his dedication and total support to me over the past 16 years and especially over the past 24 months while the new facility has been getting built. I would also like to thank our Medical team headed by Club Doctor Wayne Thompson, Physiotherapist Brendan McCarthy, and our team of trainers BobbieLee Blay, Darren Fox and Margaret Barrett-Poole for the professional way they carry out their duties. To Brain Kinder (Match Day Team Manager), thank-you for your hard work and dedication. Our Conditioning and Rehabilitation Coach Les Ponton who has maintained his high levels of professionalism and commitment we are indeed fortunate to have a person of his caliber as part of our coaching team. Thanks also to our statisticians, Bryan & Margaret Mitchell, Bryan also runs our Player Welfare Program, and is our media liaison officer. Bryan is a total professional in all areas. No club could be without people like Craig Backman (Rehab Coach), Nick Fawcett (Psychologist//Runner), Robbie Ross (Property Steward), Rob Brand and Len Ralph (Gate Keeper), Roger Smith (Scoreboard), Barbara Auldist (Timekeeper), Malcolm Neal (Interchange) and Peter Bates (Umpire‟s) and for the roles that they play on match days. Thank-you must go to Craig, Nick, Robbie, Malcolm, Rob, Len, Roger, Barbara, Paul, Peter and Robbie, and for your contribution to Gippsland Power. I would also like to acknowledge the support from VCFL Area Manager Ben O‟Brien. The local leagues and their affiliated clubs in the regions, this is greatly appreciated. A very special thank-you, to the parents and families of the players for their support and encouragement,of the boys. Our parents run aftermatch which is no doubt the best in the competition. A big thank-you must go to Margaret Plunkett for taking on the organization of this at each of our home games. Gippsland Power is indebted to the TAC for their generous sponsorship of the VFL. Our Major Support Sponsor‟s, INTERNATIONAL POWER/MITSUI, LOY YANG B POWER STATION, BENDIGO BANK and COLIN WATSON MOTORS along with the many others who support us. This support is invaluable to the on-going success of the competition and it development programs. I thank them sincerely and trust that they will continue their involvement in years to come. The support and cooperation offered to us by our landlords the Latrobe Shire and co-tenants the Morwell Football Club have had a significant contribution in the development of our players. The direction, guidance and leadership offered by Peter Schwab, John Hook, Michael Daniher, Leon Harris, Stephen Smith and their support staff from AFL Victoria and AFL Victoria Development is always greatly appreciated, and the Gippsland Power Football Club thanks them for the many hours they all devote to the promotion and development of our great game. In closing to those players and families who are leaving us this year, we hope you have enjoyed your time with us and wish you all the success in your future football. PETER FRANCIS GIPPSLAND SPORTS ACADEMY Gippstar Awards Following another impressive TAC Cup season Gippsland Power was named the first ever Gippsland Sporting Club of the Year A trophy was presented to the Club and was accepted by Peter Francis GIPPSLAND POWER FOOTBALL CLUB YEAR 2010 – STAFF REGION MANAGER Peter FRANCIS HEAD COACH/DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Damian CARROLL EAST GIPPSLAND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Robert REID FOOTBALL MANAGER Laurie PLUNKETT ASSISTANT COACHES Ashley GREEN, Jim DEAR, Wayne BUTCHER, Scott McDOUGALL FITNESS ADVISER Les PONTON Craig BACKMAN RUNNER/PSYCHOLOGIST Nicholas FAWCETT RUNNER Robert REID DOCTOR Wayne THOMPSON HEAD TRAINER Bobbie Lee BLAY TRAINERS Darren FOX, Kevin CURRAN Margaret BARRETT-POOLE STATISTICIAN/PRESS/PLAYER WELFARE Bryan MITCHELL Margaret MITCHELL PROPERTY STEWARD Robbie ROSS ASSISTANT PROPERTY STEWARDS Malcolm NEAL Len RALPH MATCH DAY TEAM MANAGER Brian KINDER PHYSIOTHERAPIST Brendon McCARTHY DIETITIAN Maria CLEMENS SCOREBOARD Roger SMITH GATE ATTENDANT Robert BRAND DIVISION 2 UNDER 15 COACH Scott McDOUGALL STAFF Stephen KEATING (Mgr) BobbieLee BLAY DIVISION 1 UNDER 15 COACH Darren THAIN STAFF Shaun MOONEY (Asst.Coach) Bryan MITCHELL (Mgr) UNDER 16 COACH Robert REID Dean HENDRIKSE (Asst Coach) Brian KINDER (Mgr) AUSKICK COORDINATOR LATROBE REGION Rod CONNELLY COACHES REPORT 2010 2010 was certainly a memorable season for all players and staff of Gippsland Power. Reaching the grand final was certainly the highlight of the year and a great reward for the hard work put in by all. This seemed highly unlikely after we lost the first 4 matches of the season. The character that the players displayed throughout the season was a great trademark from the group and showed the spirit of the club from the past that we hope will continue into the future. The finals series in itself was a surreal experience where we managed to consistently find „something extra‟ as evidenced against the Northern Knights and Oakleigh Chargers to record amazing victories after coming from behind. From where the boys progressed from at the start of the season until the conclusion demonstrated the great development in which they have undertaken through 2010. Once again it was tough job getting the initial squad of 110 down to the final list of 39 players. The boys demonstrated dedication and commitment towards the pre-season program with the aim of making the final list. Thanks to Les Ponton for his work as fitness advisor in creating this program which prepared the boys for the high standard of TAC Cup competition. His work with the pre-season and also throughout the year with the assistance of a new addition in Craig Backman was greatly appreciated. Also thanks to our satellite coaches prior to Christmas who set up our season. To Wayne Butcher, Ben Soumilas, Chris Dallinger, Tim McAuliffe, Damien Kerr and Rod Connelly who prepared the boys well for the season ahead, we thank you for your commitment. As coach I would like to thank the Gippsland Power Football Club for giving me the chance to coach the club again for 2010.