South Barwon Football and Netball Club
2012 – Year in Focus
The 2012 football and netball season has drawn to a close and what a year it
has been. This year we fielded 20 football and 20 netball teams across all
competitions junior and senior. This included a girls footy team in a Sunday
morning competition and an all abilities netball team in a newly created
competition.
The growth and development of our club could not occur without the
dedication of so many volunteers who tirelessly contribute to our success both
on and off the field.
This year also saw the commencement of the long awaited facilities upgrade
which will be ready early in the new year. This upgrade will provide our club
with a facility that should serve our community for many years to come.
Senior Football Section
Following a disappointing loss in the 2011 grand final our season started with
a certain amount of trepidation. Could we sustain our impressive
performances of the past few years or would we slip back a cog? After a few
games into the season and knocking off some of the top sides there was no
doubt the Swans would continue to be a force in one of the best leagues in
country Victoria. After finishing on top of the ladder in the home and away
games we triumphed in the finals with a 51 point win in the grand final against
our great rival Bell Park.
The strength of our club was also evident with the reserves team having a
good year but missing out on the finals after losing the last home and away
game. We fielded teams in both U/18 Colts competitions but were not strong
enough to make it through to the finals. Judging by the quality of football
played at Colts level this year our senior section will again be rewarded by
some very talented graduates.
The following players graduated from the Colts competitions of 2011 and
played in our senior team in 2012: Darcy Hansen, Darcy Fort, Taylor
Buchanan-Huhn, Daniel Phillips, Jake Dubbeldam and Trent Richards. Two
of these players, Taylor Buchanan–Huhn and Trent Richards, played in the
senior premiership team whilst Darcy Fort was whisked off to the Falcons
early in the season and appears bound for greater things.
The overall strength of the club was again evident when we once again won
the Geelong Football League Club Championship (Mal McArthur Cup). The
club has won this award for the past eight years in a row.
Josh McCann, one of our successful 2012 co-coaches, has stood down and
the club is pleased to announce that Casey Tutungi will take the reins as a
senior co-coach alongside James Garvey for the 2013 season. Other
coaching appointments for 2013 are as follows:
Assistant Coach: Adam Wiseman
Development Coach: Jason Kerby
Reserves Coach: James Maas
U/18A Coach: David DiGiusto
U/18B Coach: Roger Box
Pre-season training for 2013 kicked off on 26 November with many new faces
including Geelong and AFL legend Matthew Scarlett. With the facilities
upgrade, Scarlo running around in the red, white and blue together with our
other recruits, 2013 promises to be once again an exciting year at McDonald’s
Reserve.
Premiership captain and ex coach Paul Corrigan retired after the grand final
but his involvement away from football has been short lived. Paul has now
been appointed development coach at Essendon. This is a huge
acknowledgement of Paul’s coaching and personal attributes and we are all
so very proud of him. We wish him every success at the Bombers.
Netball Section
2012 has certainly been an incredibly successful season again for the Netball
Section. Our A Grade team were premiers once again, making it 8 wins in the
past 9 years. Other premierships went to our u/19, u/17 and u/13 Division 1
teams and our u/17 and u/13 Division 2 teams.
We are thrilled to be again season 2012 GFL Club Champion, this, the tenth
consecutive championship. As a club we are duly proud of this effort as
collectively it rewards everyone from players, coaches, executive, team
managers and supporters of South Barwon Netball.
Success is not measured on premiership and individual glory alone. It is also
measured by participation levels and the continual growth and development of
our junior base. This was so evident at the Junior Presentation night with
passion and enthusiasm emanating from our young members who all had a
great time together.
Another huge highlight for our club was past player Madison Browne
“scooping the pool” at the Australian Netball presentations in November.
Madison was named Australian International Player of the Year, Australian
ANZ Player of the Year and was awarded the Liz Ellis Diamond for the best
netball player in Australia. Only a few years ago she was racing around the
court at McDonald’s Reserve. We congratulate Madison and wish her many
stellar years at the apex of Australian netball.
Junior Football Section
Our junior section is increasing in size every year. This season we fielded 4 x
u/10 teams, 4 x u/12 teams, 4 x u/14 teams, 3 x u/16 teams and a girls team.
There are just over 300 kids registered and most teams were very competitive
in their respective competitions. To field so many teams requires a massive
amount of planning and support. Each weekend there are approximately 100
volunteers involved in making our junior section tick. We congratulate and
thank the amazing Scott Edwards and his band of helpers for ensuring that
South Barwon is recognized as one of the best junior section programs in
Geelong.
Many of our teams played in the finals with the U/16C team winning their
section’s premiership and our u/14A team making the grand final.
Auskick
The local Auskick program is now under the South Barwon banner and is
conducted at the club each Sunday morning during the winter months.
Matches at half time during senior home games are a highlight for the kids
and great photo opportunities for proud parents. This year there were
approximately 190 boys and girls registered in the program which is a
fantastic launching pad for those wishing to take the next step into club
football.
The Auskick program is managed by Darren Meadows who won the Regional
Auskick co-ordinator of the year award in a ceremony at the MCG in August of
this year. We congratulate Darren on his award and thank him for his efforts
in managing the program.
Social Awareness
The club, under the Swans Community leadership program, is committed to
programs that will help in the development of our 14-18 youth age groups
(male and female).
Our club has identified, and continues to identify, major life issues away from
football and netball. Due to the lack of accessibility of the social rooms and
other factors our social awareness programs were much reduced this year
however, it is intended for the programs to be ramped up again in 2013.
Resources & Facilities Development
Construction is underway for an extension to existing community space at the
McDonald Reserve facility to enable partner clubs (South Barwon Football
and Netball Club and Highton Cricket Club) to effectively undertake its current
and future activities. The facility will provide the clubs with the ability to
increase active participation and provide a facility for other sporting groups,
educational institutions and other community users. The upgrade will include
more kitchen space, extension of the main room, additional storage, bar
upgrade and additional toilets.
Funding for this development has been provided by:
 Australian Government
 Sports and Recreation Victoria
 City of Greater Geelong
The project will be of great benefit to the running of the South Barwon FNC,
and also benefit to the Highton Cricket Club.
This is a fantastic result for the clubs and will meet the demands of the growth
of the area for many years to come.
Another off season project will be the completion of bottom oval lighting
through the installation of a fourth light tower.
Volunteer Management
The volunteers range from all the people who act as team mangers, coaches,
scoreboard attendants, ground preparation, line marking facility maintenance,
preparing meals to a host of tasks that are onerous, difficult, time consuming
and when done well are rarely noticed. The club recognises its volunteers by
providing a volunteers’ evening at the commencement of each season and
also by awarding monthly awards for outstanding service.
Clinton Wells - New Life Member
At our presentation night held in October, life membership was awarded to
current player Clinton Wells.
With the exception of one year in Queensland, Clinton has played all his
football at South Barwon and, without a doubt, he is our most decorated
footballer.
Some of Clinton’s achievements are as follows:
 Played 270 games for South Barwon.
 Kicked 543 goals including 77 this year.
 Has played in all 7 of South Barwon’s premierships.
 Has made the Geelong Football League Team of the Year on 8
occasions.
Congratulations Clinton on a magnificent record.
2012 – MILESTONES & AWARDS
Football Section
 Senior Football Section Club Championship: Mal McArthur Cup
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. 2012.
 2012 GFL Team of the Year: Clinton Wells, Mitchell Herbison & Casey
Tutungi. Josh McCann & James Garvey (Co-coaches.)
 GFL U/18 Colts Best & Fairest: Mathew Di Giusto
Netball Section
 Netball Section, Club Championship: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
Football Premierships
Seniors
2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012
Reserves
1998
U18
1997, 2008, 2010
U18 B
2008, 2009
U17
1990, 1991, 1995
U16 Div 1
2007, 2009
U16 Div 4
2009, 2012
U15
1990, 2000
U14 Div 1
2007
U14 Div 6
2008
Netball Premierships
A Grade
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
B Grade
2005,2006, 2008, 2009, 2010.
C Grade
2006, 2008, 2009
D Grade
2007, 2008, 2009
U/19
2012
U17
2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012.
U15
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 2010
U13
2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012.
Netball Division Two Premierships
U17
2008, 2011, 2012.
U15
2006, 2008, 2009,
U13
2005,2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012
Netball Division Three Premierships
U15
2010