News from ‘’The Port’’
Almost 100 players, partners, members and supporters enjoyed the Cygnet ‘Community Bank’
Football Club’s Annual Dinner and Trophy presentation at the Clubrooms last Saturday night. This was
an opportunity for the Club to get together to wrap up the season and to acknowledge the individual
contribution of players, committee and members through the 2015 season.
MC, Brendan Dare welcomed everyone and entertained all with his humour, causing many a laugh
throughout the evening. A heart meal prepared by our Major Sponsor, the Cygnet Hotel (The Top
Pub) and our great band of volunteers was enjoyed by all in attendance.
Club President, Dave O’Neill spoke of the many challenges the Club faced following the retirement
and loss of key players after the 2014 season, the difficulties in attracting players where travel is
involved and the extremely hard decision not to field an Under 18 side in 2015. Despite these
challenges the Club is looking forward to the future, with the building of new change room facilities
to commence during the off season. The Club has also assembled an excellent Under 18 Coaching and
support group for 2016 to get a Colt’s team back on the park, headed by Head Coach, Matty Brereton
and Assistants, Squid Gordon and Brayden Hayes. Gavin Quirk, who did an excellent job in his first
year as Senior Coach, will again take on the reins during 2016.
Dave also acknowledged our local sponsors, for without their generous financial support and
assistance our club would not survive. He also thanked the many trophy donors for their generosity
and all those volunteers who had assisted during the season. A full version of Dave’s President’s
Report can be viewed on the club’s website (cygnetfc.com.au).
Reserves Coach, Shane Clark was then welcomed to the stage to present the Reserve team awards,
which were won by Aaron Dance (Best & Fairest), Tommy Bannister (Runner-up B&F), Brad Carver
(Leading Goalkicker), Josh Mazur (Most Consistent), Tom Slevin (Best Backman), Sam Reinmuth (Most
Improved) and Luke Smith (Coaches Award). Shane also acknowledged and presented gifts to several
people who had helped out with the Reserves during the season, including a framed photograph of
her with her Reserve Boys to the Club’s No. 1 supporter, Therese Donohoe.
The Senior team presentations then took place with Coach, Gavin Quirk thanking those who had
assisted him greatly since his move to The Port. He thanked Co-Captains Mitch Direen and Rhys
Jennings for their ongoing support and efforts, Brayden Hayes and Greg Watson for their help
coaching and working with him, Dave Bone and others for helping out in getting our players fit and
ready, his runners and match managers and ‘Sticks’ Clark for his help and always being on the same
page and happy to push any players forward for senior selection. He thanked the Club Board for
being 100 per cent behind him, and also all the many volunteers and helpers behind the scene that
keep the club afloat.
He mentioned that the senior player group were missing 17 players from 2014 who had played senior
football, and then unfortunately suffered season ending injuries to key players in Kye Apted and Brad
Watson. The team faced a big challenge and an uphill battle to get wins on the board and to be
competitive. The Seniors won four games for the year, compared with one win in 2014, and were
highly competitive in another four matches, including a narrow 4 point loss to third-placed,
Lindisfarne. On a positive note, six under 18 players were blooded into senior football, with two of
them playing every game, while other younger and less experienced players also gained considerable
senior football exposure.
Gavin had an extremely positive message for the pre-season and season 2016 and told all players
that the club would need a much greater commitment and more consistent effort. He was most
excited to mention that it looks like we will re-commit almost every player and are already very busy
on the recruiting front, with a couple of big announcements likely in the coming weeks.
The Senior Awards then took place with Brayden Hayes winning the Gladys Sculthorpe Memorial Best
and Fairest Award as well as the prestigious Synnott Bros. and Micheal ‘Pud’ Darcy Leading Goalkicker
Awards. Gavin congratulated Brayden on his huge individual performance throughout the season and
also his significant personal sacrifice and commitment in moving down to Hobart from the NW Coast.
Gavin was then presented with his Lew Gordon Memorial Runner-up Best & Fairest Award. Other
awards were presented to Kane Nielsen (Mick Direen Memorial Best Backman), Ollie Burke (Best
Team Player) and Paddy O’Neill (Greg Gordon Rising Star).
The incomparable Vorne Graham’s humorous introduction of himself was greeted with much
laughter before presenting the Lyle Graham Memorial Award to Brayden Hayes. This is an important
award of his peers, as it is voted on by each senior players after all games.
Senior & Reserve Trophy Winners – Back Row (L-R) Brayden Hayes, Gavin Quirk, Aaron Dance. Front Row (L-R) Sam
Reinmuth, Ollie Burke, Luke Smith and Paddy O’Neill
The Port’s Number 1 supporter Therese Donohoe with two of ‘her boys’, Brayden Hayes and Gavin Quirk
The EM ‘Boysie’ Direen Memorial Best Clubman Award was awarded to a very deserving winner in
Shane Clark. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Shane was also personally instrumental in
organising several major social events during the season, including the hugely successful Sportsman’s
and Ladies Night, Quiz and iPod nights, which were not only were important socially but also raised
much-needed finances for the Club.
Shane Clark receiving the E.M. ‘Boysie’ Direen Memorial Best Clubman Award from Life Member Jack Synnott
Congratulations to the Burnett family, who were awarded the Kathryn Hodgman Club Spirit Award in
recognition of their excellent contribution to the club in so many ways during the season, and which
are too many to mention here. Many thanks guys.
Heather, Jacob and Damian Burnett and their Kathryn Hodgman Club Spirit Award
Dave Bone was presented with a Cygnet Football Club 300 Games Achievement Award. Dave retired
following the 2014 season and this belated award recognised Dave’s significant playing achievements
in The Port jumper over many years, including as a member of the 2003 Senior and 2004 Reserve
Premiership teams.
Thanks to everyone!!
To all our players, coaches, hard-working committee members, our most generous sponsors and
award donors and to all our great volunteers and anyone else who has helped The Port in any way
during season 2015, a sincere thanks is extended. Your on-going support enables our Club to remain
viable every season and we look forward to your valued and continued support as part of Club’s big
plans for 2016, including the construction of new Change rooms.
Major Sponsor: Cygnet ‘’Top’’ Hotel
Naming Rights Sponsor: The Huon Valley Community Bendigo Bank
Associate Sponsors: Tascon, Duggans Pty Ltd, Southern Smash Repairs, Abel Labels, Cowen’s Drapery,
Cygnet Water Cartage, Cygnet Newsagency, Farah’s IGA Everyday and Mal’s Hire & Hardware
Weekly Award Donors: Phillip & Loretta Wilcox [Wilcox Electrical], Bill Cribbin’s BP Cygnet, Roys Bits
of Old Pizza, R & D Meats and Devour Takeaway
‘’Support the Port in 2016’’