Dear Club Member,

This week we have six team competing in Grand Finals - a historic day for the club. Congratulations to all coaches and teams making it through - with premierships up for grabs, there may be disappointment for some, but there will be no losers.

Full draw below.

Greater Sydney Juniors Presentation Night - Monday 29th August

The Mosman Swan's record season was last night recognised with outstanding results at the annual presentation night, being voted:

Champion Club 2010

Champion Team - Under 14's division 1

Competition Best and Fairest, U13/1 - Nic Hurrell

Competition Best and Fairest Runners Up, U14/1 - Sudket Fraser-Kruase, Nick Foster

Competition Best and Fairest fourth Runner Up, U16/3 - Nicholas Brown

The Champion Club award recognises excellence and sportsmanship across a broad criteria. This is the fourth time in the past five seasons the Mosman Swans have earned this honour, a remarkable achievement and great tribute to the effort our volunteers put in, to grow the club from 4 teams to 14 in six years without compromising the quality of the experience we offer the kids.

The Champion Team is also a very special award, being voted on by umpires at the conclusion of every match, based on the sportsmanship shown by each teams playing, coaching and supporter group. Coach Mike Foster and all associated with this team are to be heartily congratulated - teams at or near the top of the ladder can often slip into "overcompetitive mode" which leads to behavioural issues. Sitting at top of the ladder, this group of 14's have proven they are not only winners, they are good winners. Wonderful.

The Competition Best and Fairest is voted on by the umpires in Under 13's and above on a 3,2,1 basis after each match. Its the Brownlow equivalent for kids. Nic Hurrell won the U13's count with 33 of a possible 36 votes. I'm biased of course, but thats a cracker result by any measure.

In the 14's Sudket and Nick did incredibly well, polling over 40 votes between them, to finish second and third by only a few votes respectively.

Nick Brown also did fantastically well to finish in top four in the 16's, in only his second season of football.

So a big congratulations and well done to everyone for these results and for making the club the success it is.

Week 2 Finals Results

U11 Mosman White def Willoughby 6.8 - 44 to 1.4 - 10

U12/3 Mosman def Manly 7.6 - 48 to 3.8 - 26

U13/1 Mosman def by Maroubra 5.8 - 38 to 10.5 - 65

U13/3 Mosman def by North Ryde 3.6 - 24 to 12.6 - 78

Our U11's carry on a very strong 'tradition', this being our six consecutive Grand Final appearance for the 11's age group. Anthony and Mark - long may the tradition continue!

By contrast we have never before had a 'second' team make a grand final, so its brilliant to see the 12 div 3 team make it through. This team very nearly did not exist 3 weeks before the season started, with only 27 odd players, being too few for two teams, and no coach. Six months later we have over 40 players - and they are all playing in a grand final, either in div 1 or div 3. Antoine I suspect playing both!. And the div 3 team without a coach now has two coaches - well done Justin Detheridge and Paul Wallbank.

The 13's bow out with div 1 coach Craig Langham having to console himself with "just" the two premierships after three years as coach. Craig has been a wonderful coach and mentor to this playing group and played a critical role in the development of our first ever competition best and fairest winner, so a very big thank you to Craig.

Gary Forster's 13 "Whites" have a tradition of their own, which is to make it to week 2 of finals. Gary's contribution to this team and the club and code generally is enormous, serving as coach, club committee member and regional committee member. As a coach, Gary has nurtured many players new to the game and his first goal is to get them all back the following season. It is easy to underestimate the difficulty in retaining a full squad through the high school transition, especially in 13/3's, but Gary's numbers actually grew this year. A champ.

Grand Final Draw

All Grand Final matches will be played this Sunday at Maquarie University playing fields. Drat link below

Finals Draw 2010

Events Calender

5 September Grand Final Day - Macquarie University

12 September Club Presentation Day (U11-U16's) at Mosman RSL 9 am to 10.30 am.

Good luck to all teams playing this Sunday and remember our finals theme:

"Winning is about taking responsibility under pressure, not looking for excuses, giving your best. Do this and your a winner, not always on the scoreboard, but always in life."

Andrew Hurrell

Club President

Mosman Swans JAFC