On Field Blog

Apology

Personally I was shocked and then felt a little ill when hearing the news of how Joel Coombes and his family were to initially find out of his dismissal from the Norwood Football Club yesterday.

I do empathize as to how they must be feeling at this moment and time and although writing a formal apology on our club website is probably seen as a small token gesture; I am generally sorry in what I can only describe as an unsatisfactory mix up on my part when sending off an information blog that I had wanted to be posted later that evening.

For this news to break and Joel & his family to hear prior to the organized meeting is unprofessional and not how the Norwood Football Club wish to be seen. I take full responsibility for what occurred and I sincerely apologise to all who have been hurt or annoyed by the situation.

Yours Sincerely

Mark Ross

Joel Coombes

Ladies & Gentleman

It is with great disappointment that I inform you all of the Club’s decision today to terminate Joel Coombes playing contract.

Joel had a meeting with the leadership group on Monday night and then with the match committee this afternoon and it was then that Joel was informed that his services at the Club would no longer be required.

It is unfortunate for Joel that he has had some difficulties in understanding what we as a football club require him to fulfill off the field, and not just on it.

Joel was recruited from the Box Hill football club at the beginning of the 2008 season.

Joel was unable to manage a league game in 2009 due to injuries however he did play 4 senior games in 2008 including our 1^st semi final loss to Sturt.

Joel is a gifted & tenacious footballer with good skills & a hard approach to the game. There is no doubt he has the talent to succeed at senior level.

We wish Joel well in his future endeavors.

 

Mark Ross

Football Operations Manager

Round 6 v The Dogs

Ladies & Gentleman

We go into our Round 6 clash with league leaders Central District as massive underdogs and rightly so after our very disappointing performances of late.

To be seven goals up against any team and lose the game in the last few minutes can only be described as Poor! Not to mention gut wrenching.

Needless to say the coaches & playing group have had to do a lot of soul searching this week both on and off the track.

As a club we can talk about what we are going to do until the cows come home however we all know there is no point in talking the talk if you are not then prepared to go out and walk the walk?

Nick Lower returns from the Power whilst Aaron Kite & Nick Jackman have been added to a 23 man squad after impressive performances in the Reserves of late.

Luke Jericho has dropped out after slightly hurting his hamstring on the training track on Wednesday evening.

Our Reserves will take the field this week without Brady Dawe (knee) & Roland Ah Chee (State U18 duties with NT) whilst two from the named 23 man league team will drop back.

 

Mark Ross

Football Operations Manager

Round 5 vs West Adelaide

It’s Round 5 and we play a fast improving & super confident West Adelaide football club at City Mazda Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Jamie Vlatko will play his 100^th SANFL League game,  whilst Will Young (selected in the SANFL mini draft from the Adelaide FC) will don the Norwood jumper for the first time if he survives the final cut from our 23 man squad after training on Friday evening.

Jesse Aish & Roland Ah Chee have joined Will as possible inns?

Nick Lower has been selected to play his first game of AFL football for 2009 after some outstanding performances in the first four rounds of the season.

No doubt our performance against North in Round 4 was more than disappointing and we look forward to seeing how the coaching group & players react to the loss this coming Sunday.

Norwood members & supporters are well known for their passion and voice and the Norwood Football Club and its players need all of you to continue to show plenty of that inner voice on Sunday.

So! For those of you who can make it to the game?

Let’s get behind the boys and bring home two very valuable premiership points.

 

Mark Ross

Football Operations Manager

Round 4 vs The Roosters

After our impressive win against South Adelaide at Encounter Bay last Saturday we go into our Round 4 clash with the Roosters with some terrific form & confidence. 

North are playing good footy with a gutsy win over Port Adelaide in Round 3 after just going down to Centrals in Round 1.

Stephen Doyle returns after recovering from a calf injury whilst Josh Donohue has been rushed straight back into the 21 for the first time in season 2009. Josh has been working incredibly hard on the training track after recovering from off season shoulder surgery & we wish him well in his return game.

David Trotter could not be considered due to a hamstring injury that will keep him out of action until after the bye whilst the very unlucky Brady Dawe was dropped back to the reserves.

 

Mark Ross

Football Operations Manager

Round 3 vs The Panthers

After a very disappointing loss to Sturt in Round 2 the players will be looking to rebound quickly when we take on a confident South Adelaide team at Encounter Bay on Saturday.

A squad of 23 has been named and will be trimmed back to 21 after training on Friday morning at Coopers Stadium.

Bryce Campbell (Shoulder) could not be considered whilst Matthew Thomas (Power) is to be given another opportunity at AFL level after his 39 possessions game last weekend.

Good news is the return of Luke Jericho (knee), David Trotter (groin) & Stephen Doyle (calf) whilst David Rodan (Power) will don the Red & Blue jumper for the very first time.

Hope to see you at the game?

 

Mark Ross

Football Operations Manager

Round 2 vs the Blues

After a hard fought Round 1 win against our old enemy Port Adelaide, we go into the Round 2 Clash against the Double blues with high expectations.

David Trotter will miss 1 week with a slight groin complaint whilst Matthew Thomas has been recalled by the Power.

Best wishes go out to Roland Ah Chee who will play his first league game in Norwood colors.

We would also like to acknowledge Toby Schulz who may play his first senior game if lucky enough to be selected ahead of Luke Nitschke or Aaron Kite.

Hope to see you at the game.

Mark Ross

Football Operations Manager

Round 1 vs Magpies

With less than 24 hours left before our big game against our old enemy Port Adelaide, there is know doubt that many of you will be starting to get that feeling of excitement running threw your body.

The preseason is complete, most of our squad are fit, game plans are in place and it is now time to play.

Best wishes to Andy Lee & Dean Terlich who will both don the Norwood jumper for the first time while it's welcome back to Gavin Hughes, Kieran McGunniess, Kris Massie & Bryce Campbell.

Plenty of pressure has been placed on the senior side to perform well with Toby Schulz, Luke Nitschke, Brady Dawe, Alex Stopp, Joel Coombes, Roland Ah Chee & Aaron Kite being just a few of the terribly unlucky players to miss league selection for round 1. As a club this is a great position to be in and we look forward to seeing how the boys respond.

Don't miss this game folks! "It's going to be a cracker".

See you at the footy.

Mark Ross

Football Operations Manager

Internal Trial & Leaderhip Group

The boys were put through their first practice match last Friday evening - an internal trial at Coopers Stadium.

Although the teams were initially split into Probable’s v Possible there were many swapping of jumpers & changes made as the game wore on.

We had a number of players who are currently injured and unable to play – Campbell, Jackman, Pfitzner, Fuller, Massie, Donohue, Muster, Schild, Douglas, Hughes, Phillips, Zorzi, Jenkin, O’Malley, Borlace, Marshall, Aish, Holm & Duigan all sat the game out. Of this group only Borlace & Marshall (both midyear) are unlikely to be available Round 1 with the rest likely to show their faces over the trial period in the next four weeks.

Pleasing on the night was the performance of new recruits Terlich (HFF/Mid) – used the ball well & got plenty of it, Lee (FP/CHF/FF) – took some good marks, lead well and always looked dangerous, Dawe (Ruck) – very light in build but jumped high at the centre bounce & did well around the ground & Gunning (Midfield) – Won plenty of 50/50 ball & his kicking was excellent. You can then throw in the performances of Doyle (Ruck), Jericho (W/HFF), Puopolo (BP), Skinner (FF) & Hanna (Mid) with whom all showed patches of what they will bring to the table in 2009.

 Also extremely encouraging was the performance of Kieran McGuinness who has not played for 12 months and who has had aninterrupted pre-season with illness. To once again see Kieran control the defense as though he never left the game put a smile on the faces of a number of people on the night.

Friday night’s game was followed with a recovery session at 8.30am on Saturday morning and then a player information day. The day was designed to go through our 2009 game plans, style of play, communication, administration matters, team bonding & select our leadership group.

I am pleased to announce that James Gallagher was clearly favored to continue in his role as Captain of the Norwood Football Club whilst Brett Zorzi, David Trotter, Kris Massie, Bryce Campbell Nick Duigan & Stephen Doyle were all selected by the playing group to support James as leaders in the upcoming season.

Our Saturday ended with a couple of very exiting if not different at times games of 20/20 cricket. As supporters you will be happy to hear that we won’t be losing any of our boys to the hard ball game although Weatherald, Terlich, Lee, Puopolo, Trotter, Zorzi, Arbon & Stopp (to name a few) all believe they showed enough to have a few of the Australian team watching their backs.

We received no serious injuries, only a couple of bruises from our internal so all looks good for our trial match this coming Friday against last year’s Grand Finalists Glenelg at Coopers Stadium.

Due to the expected weather conditions (41 degrees) the Reserves game will now commence at 6.00pm (2 x 20 min quarters in the first half) with the League starting as close to 7.45pm as possible. Please come along and show your support to the boys as they build towards Round one & our clash with arch enemy Port Adelaide.

Mark Ross

Football Operations Manager

Alwan & McLean

Ladies & Gentleman

Just a quick note to inform you all that both Ziggie Alwan & Luke McLean will not be playing with the Norwood Football Club in season 2009.

An emotional Ziggie spoke to the players, coaches & staff on Monday evening informing them of his desire to return home for family, work & personal reasons.

Ziggie has praised all within the club for the opportunity he was given & sincerely thanked all involved in making his time here enjoyable.

We are disappointed to lose Ziggie but are respectful of his decision & wish him all the best in the future.

After a lengthy discussion between the Club & Luke Mclean it was decided that it would be in the best interest of Luke if he was to find another Club to play at in season 2009.

We thank Luke for his contribution to our Club & wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mark Ross

Football Operation Manager