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Article - whyalla.yourguide.com.au/...y=2003&m=4
Season 2003 - Whyalla Football League
Thursday, 24 April 2003
Burton confident of another finals berth
Central captain Richie Burton is confident his team can make the finals once again.
"Although we have lost seven or eight quality players, it has given the juniors an opportunity to play in the A grade,"
Burton said.
"We will see if they can step up to the challenge."
Coached this year by Ken Burton, the only recruit by the side was Shane Babiak from Central Augusta.
Burton said this year's pre season showed the closeness of skill between the league teams.
"This season will be a much closer competition," Burton said.
"Roopena have recruited well and both North and South have picked up a reasonable amount of players."
Dale Layton will be coach reserves and Steve Baulderstone under 18s, Burton said the A grade side will be concentrating on
getting the new group of players used to working as a team.
"There is a strong nucleus there in the team," Burton said.
"It will just be the newer guys getting used to the way the A grade playing style.
Young footballers to bolster West
An abundance of keen young footballers should see West Whyalla Football Club being very competitive this season.
The club have co-captains this year, with Jason Hage and Anthony Manfield sharing the honours.
With Tristan White, Bradley Sperling and Leigh Simons leaving the side due to work commitments, Damien Arbon and Anthony
Travers have returned to the West league side.
Both of these should be fit and ready to take on the challenge of the footy season.
Josh Siviour from Cleve is the side's one new recruit.
"We have a good spread of skilled guys this year and we had a big pre season so the team should all be fit," West coach
Darren Hage said.
The team ended last season fifth on the ladder so are looking to improve their performance in 2003.
Roopena aim for speed and skill
Roopena are hoping to have a good running game this year.
Coach Grant Sleep said the team concentrated on skills and quick movement of the ball during pre season, practice which will
help them as the football season starts.
"We are expecting much tighter competition this year, which will be good for us," Sleep said.
"The other clubs have recruited heavily which has made the teams a lot more even."
With a huge list of 10 2002 grand final players out of the side, it will be up to youngsters Sims, Zucker, Storic and Dawson
to step up and fill their shoes.
Sleep believes the Roopena squad will get better as the year goes on with recruits Bradley Page from South Augusta, the
Grundy brothers, Jace Horder, Michael Burbidge and Robert Yates helping to fill out the team.
"We should peak about mid season," Sleep said.
The league side have yet to name a captain, but Dave Lauby will be coaching the reserves and Bevan Kelly the under 18s.
"The standard of the competition should lift overall this year which will be good for the crowd at least."
Development the key for Bays
Weeroona will be concentrating on the development of their talented under 18s this season.
In keeping with their policy not to recruit but to promote the juniors, Zack Grantham, Rowan Mitchell, Nick Ward and Everett
Erneste will be developed and help to fill the ranks of the A grade.
Although Zack Grantham is currently out with a wrist injury and will be out of contention for the first games of the season,
Weeroona club president Dean Parish believes the club has a good mix of youth and experience.
Weeroona will take advantage of this mix, which will hopefully send them all the way to the grand final.
The league side has lost Adam Balnaves to Roxby Downs, Greg Warren to South and Nick Helliwell to North but are lucky to
retain Myles Carrigan, who will take the reins of captain for the 2003 season.
Finishing third in last seasons' A grade competition, the Weeroona league side has not missed a finals round since Russell
Sawford has been coach.
They are hoping to repeat the performance this season.
With 53 players regularly attending training, Parish said their season looks bright.
South set realistic goals after terrible 2002 season
South have a lot of hard work ahead of them this season.
After their terrible year in 2002 with lack of numbers, South coach Ian Bickley said their goal is to win their first game on
April 27.
"After last season we set up a senior football committee and decided we needed to actively recruit players in 2003," Bickley
said.
"The venture has been very successful with a variety of excellent recruits from Adelaide, Port Augusta and one from Perth."
At this time last year, South would have been lucky to have had 15 players in each of their grades in the West End Cup.
This year they had 27 players on average come out for each West End Cup game.
"We've seen a total turn around from last year," Bickley said.
The league side have seen some ex-players return to the ranks and there are some fantastic under 18s ready to take the next
step up into A grade.
"We've got a real fantastic group of guys that are keen to see the club do well both on and off the field," Bickley said.
With high morale around the club, South is confident they can reach the finals with a bit of hard work along the way.
Jason Hannan will take on the task of A grade captain for 2003, while Nigel Rattley will coach the under 18s and Robbie Law
the B grade.
"We did not win a game last year so all we have to do is improve on that," Bickley said.
"We plan to put in the hard yards this season and the club is feeling really good about itself and its chances."
North expect difficult year
North coach Daryl Spencer is expecting a hard season this year.
"All the football sides have improved this year so the competition is going to be a lot harder, even so we are looking to
make the finals," Spencer said.
League player Richard Grey is out of the side due to a knee injury, and both Chad Clothier and Wayne Dare have moved to
Adelaide for the year, so will only be playing occasional games throughout the season.
Joe Frusch will take the place of captain for this season.
The club has a long list of young players and recruits coming up through the ranks to fill the league side.
Kevin and Gilbert Taylor will make the journey to North from Central, while Chad Menzies, Scott Daly, Drew Koch, Mark Scott,
Jamie Briggs and Scott Salter will take their place in the A grade side, along with Leigh Rodgers and Brett Edwards.
"Our goal this year is to be a more consistent winning side," Spencer said.
Reserves coach for 2003 will be Greg Clothier while Shane Dupille will take charge of the under 18s.
Article - whyalla.yourguide.com.au/...y=2003&m=4
Season 2003 - Whyalla Football League
Thursday, 24 April 2003
Burton confident of another finals berth
Central captain Richie Burton is confident his team can make the finals once again.
"Although we have lost seven or eight quality players, it has given the juniors an opportunity to play in the A grade,"
Burton said.
"We will see if they can step up to the challenge."
Coached this year by Ken Burton, the only recruit by the side was Shane Babiak from Central Augusta.
Burton said this year's pre season showed the closeness of skill between the league teams.
"This season will be a much closer competition," Burton said.
"Roopena have recruited well and both North and South have picked up a reasonable amount of players."
Dale Layton will be coach reserves and Steve Baulderstone under 18s, Burton said the A grade side will be concentrating on
getting the new group of players used to working as a team.
"There is a strong nucleus there in the team," Burton said.
"It will just be the newer guys getting used to the way the A grade playing style.
Young footballers to bolster West
An abundance of keen young footballers should see West Whyalla Football Club being very competitive this season.
The club have co-captains this year, with Jason Hage and Anthony Manfield sharing the honours.
With Tristan White, Bradley Sperling and Leigh Simons leaving the side due to work commitments, Damien Arbon and Anthony
Travers have returned to the West league side.
Both of these should be fit and ready to take on the challenge of the footy season.
Josh Siviour from Cleve is the side's one new recruit.
"We have a good spread of skilled guys this year and we had a big pre season so the team should all be fit," West coach
Darren Hage said.
The team ended last season fifth on the ladder so are looking to improve their performance in 2003.
Roopena aim for speed and skill
Roopena are hoping to have a good running game this year.
Coach Grant Sleep said the team concentrated on skills and quick movement of the ball during pre season, practice which will
help them as the football season starts.
"We are expecting much tighter competition this year, which will be good for us," Sleep said.
"The other clubs have recruited heavily which has made the teams a lot more even."
With a huge list of 10 2002 grand final players out of the side, it will be up to youngsters Sims, Zucker, Storic and Dawson
to step up and fill their shoes.
Sleep believes the Roopena squad will get better as the year goes on with recruits Bradley Page from South Augusta, the
Grundy brothers, Jace Horder, Michael Burbidge and Robert Yates helping to fill out the team.
"We should peak about mid season," Sleep said.
The league side have yet to name a captain, but Dave Lauby will be coaching the reserves and Bevan Kelly the under 18s.
"The standard of the competition should lift overall this year which will be good for the crowd at least."
Development the key for Bays
Weeroona will be concentrating on the development of their talented under 18s this season.
In keeping with their policy not to recruit but to promote the juniors, Zack Grantham, Rowan Mitchell, Nick Ward and Everett
Erneste will be developed and help to fill the ranks of the A grade.
Although Zack Grantham is currently out with a wrist injury and will be out of contention for the first games of the season,
Weeroona club president Dean Parish believes the club has a good mix of youth and experience.
Weeroona will take advantage of this mix, which will hopefully send them all the way to the grand final.
The league side has lost Adam Balnaves to Roxby Downs, Greg Warren to South and Nick Helliwell to North but are lucky to
retain Myles Carrigan, who will take the reins of captain for the 2003 season.
Finishing third in last seasons' A grade competition, the Weeroona league side has not missed a finals round since Russell
Sawford has been coach.
They are hoping to repeat the performance this season.
With 53 players regularly attending training, Parish said their season looks bright.
South set realistic goals after terrible 2002 season
South have a lot of hard work ahead of them this season.
After their terrible year in 2002 with lack of numbers, South coach Ian Bickley said their goal is to win their first game on
April 27.
"After last season we set up a senior football committee and decided we needed to actively recruit players in 2003," Bickley
said.
"The venture has been very successful with a variety of excellent recruits from Adelaide, Port Augusta and one from Perth."
At this time last year, South would have been lucky to have had 15 players in each of their grades in the West End Cup.
This year they had 27 players on average come out for each West End Cup game.
"We've seen a total turn around from last year," Bickley said.
The league side have seen some ex-players return to the ranks and there are some fantastic under 18s ready to take the next
step up into A grade.
"We've got a real fantastic group of guys that are keen to see the club do well both on and off the field," Bickley said.
With high morale around the club, South is confident they can reach the finals with a bit of hard work along the way.
Jason Hannan will take on the task of A grade captain for 2003, while Nigel Rattley will coach the under 18s and Robbie Law
the B grade.
"We did not win a game last year so all we have to do is improve on that," Bickley said.
"We plan to put in the hard yards this season and the club is feeling really good about itself and its chances."
North expect difficult year
North coach Daryl Spencer is expecting a hard season this year.
"All the football sides have improved this year so the competition is going to be a lot harder, even so we are looking to
make the finals," Spencer said.
League player Richard Grey is out of the side due to a knee injury, and both Chad Clothier and Wayne Dare have moved to
Adelaide for the year, so will only be playing occasional games throughout the season.
Joe Frusch will take the place of captain for this season.
The club has a long list of young players and recruits coming up through the ranks to fill the league side.
Kevin and Gilbert Taylor will make the journey to North from Central, while Chad Menzies, Scott Daly, Drew Koch, Mark Scott,
Jamie Briggs and Scott Salter will take their place in the A grade side, along with Leigh Rodgers and Brett Edwards.
"Our goal this year is to be a more consistent winning side," Spencer said.
Reserves coach for 2003 will be Greg Clothier while Shane Dupille will take charge of the under 18s.
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