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Over 85 players have rocked up for the first three training sessions of the year. Pleasing to see some new faces amongst the group and a good number of last years under 19 players looking keen. Coach Shane Keogh introduced the new blokes before handing over to Fitness Coach Gary McAllister who put the boys through their paces prior to some ball work with the new BOAGS sherrins.
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Keogh stressed the importance of the pre season program to all players .. "With a number of new players, senior players returning and U19 boys pushing up competition for spots will be high, the pre-season program will balance fitness and conditioning with lots of skills work .. there are 16 sessions before practice matches begin so it is essential that players work hard in that time to give themselves the best possible preparation"
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"We will mix up training sessions and are planning an interesting pre-season camp in late Feb. While we intend to make pre-season enjoyable there is no doubt that we will focus on lifting skill levels and building harder bodies and minds that can take the club to the next level. Training sessions are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the club, 6.00pm sharp!

Shane Keogh addresses the players this week after attending the AFL Adelaide Conference

Senior Coach Shane Keogh travelled to Adelaide last weekend where many of Australia's elite coaches  gathered for the AFL'S 2010 National Coaching Conference.
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Commenting on the Conference AFL Chief Andrew Demetriou said .. "The conference at AAMI Stadium was aimed at giving Australian Football coaches an opportunity to access the most up-to-date coaching methods and practices. The program provided the latest information on coaching, presented  by the top coaches and specialists in the game including practical sessions and formal presentations from experts in their areas of coaching and gave coaches at all levels of football access to some world-class presenters"

Welcome back to all players, committee, support staff and members. We all look to season 2010 with much optimism. Training has now resumed and the numbers at our first training night were very pleasing. There were a number of new faces (particularly in the Under 18 & 19 age groups). Shane Keogh as Senior Coach was very encouraged by not just the numbers at training but also the enthusiasm and vibrancy from both players and coaching staff.
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With our first game only nine weeks away (St. Kevins – away) and our first practise match six weeks away (Uni Blues), there is much to be done over the next two months to ensure we are as prepared as we should be for 2010.
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To ensure we are the best we can be, both in our preparation for the season and during the season we need more involvement from more people. With this in mind I ask you to consider how you might be of service to the club, in whatever role, in whatever regularity. Please let me know how you are able to assist in 2010 via telephone 9375 4286 (work) or email: john.hughes@hoc.com.au

John Hughes

 

Club President John Hughes last night announced the appointment of Shane Keogh as Senior coach for 2010. Hughes confirmed the appointment after the full board met to finalise coaching positions for next season.

“Shane co-coached with Rock Iannello last year .. we were very happy with the results and had reappointed Shane and Rocky but Rocky’s family circumstances changed in December and he was not able to commit to next season”

“The club felt that given the change in circumstance we needed to advertise the role which placed Shane in the position of re-applying for the job .. we had to be sure of appointing the best person for the job and did attract a quality field of candidates but in the process Shane clearly demonstrated why he should lead our 2010 campaign"

“It has been a difficult period for Shane but he has conducted himself very professionally throughout .. It was pleasing to see Shane receive the full support of the board and he is very excited about taking the club to the next level in 2010”

"Our first training is next Wed 27th Jan and we are looking forward to some new recruits hitting the track and seeing our young players developing their potential in VAFA ranks"

Shane Keogh is one of the most successful senior coaches in the region having won four A Grade premierships in the tough WRFL competition.

Before taking on coaching Shane was a talented Strathmore junior who progressed to the Western Bulldogs list playing Under 19 and Reserves before joining Yarraville in the VFL where he carved a reputation as a talented and fearless backman in the clubs most succesful period. Shane then went on to Captain Coach Albion where he won two premierships and later coached Spotswood to another two premierships. He also coached Strathmore into finals and the struggling East Keilor in the EDFL.

Shane joined St Bernards in 2008 and after his first year in the senior role has warmed to the challenge of VAFA footy. "While it was great to have some success in District footy I felt you also learnt a lot coaching sides that are struggling, it reveals character .. but there are some concerns that many football people have with District and Country footy .. too many clubs have moved away from developing players through their Junior programs and simply looked to paying outsiders to prop up their sides which has created a gulf in results in the major competitions"

The great thing about amateur footy is that players get to play with their mates, the blokes that they have grown up with, which was the way district and country footy operated but is no longer the case. It might be ok for some to get a few bucks but many will miss out on a real footy club experience and the life long relationships that come from that involvement.

Aside from his extensive 'hands-on' senior coaching experience, Shane keeps abreast of changes in the game via his executive role in the regions coaching association and his strong network of AFL /VFL coaches. "The game is forever evolving, young players have different perspectives, players need consistent feedback from all of the coaching staff and in fact it's an area we identified in last seasons review that we will develop .. I am really looking forward to building on the work we commenced last year with the leadership group and working closely with Nick Smith and new U19 coach Damien Sullivan on taking St Bernards to the next level"

"We have terrific assistance from our fitness coach Gary McAllister, boxing coach Rio and of course the experienced support of Garry Foulds. Garry will take on a different role this season and we are looking at a specialist assistant coach to take over from Matt Mulkearns. Our first training is next Wed 27th Jan and we are looking forward to some new recruits hitting the track and seeing our young players developing"

Reserves Coach

Sully carved out a strong reputation in his playing days at 'the Pit' and before last year was heavily involved with the Junior program and assisting Steve Wallis side where son Tom played enjoying great success with 3 flags
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Damo did a terrific job with the U18s in 09 making the GF and more importantly developing young players into future senior players.

Libba, Mick Perrett and proud mum Jane Liberatore

. All Jane's Boys Add To The Trophy Cabinet! It was a big day for footy mum Jane Liberatore with all three sons taking trophies on the same night. Before Christopher's B&F win, younger brother Tom starred in Calder Cannons Premiership victory at Etihad Stadium and even youngest son Oliver got in the action when Wheel's named eight year old Ollie a winner in the Rectinol award  for being the youngest ever player to claim a groin injury! .

 
             

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Congratulations to the Bernard's boys (& Joy) who won the "Most Laps Swum" at yesterday's Super Swim .. 37kilometers over 12 hours = 3k's per hour! We raised $3,150 with 100% going towards the worthy local cause 'Young Stroke Survivors', so that life may be a little easier for a specific individuals.

McAllister brothers & Paul Iannazzo took over the hardest time slot of 6-8am and set up "score board pressure" on the opposition teams from the start followed by an unrelenting Steve Snazza. Mick & Paddy Comerford tore up the pool (gee I'm a great recruiter!) and Mick "chook" Ryan just flew through the water to further shatter opposition hopes.

Mick & Joy Perrett, Johnny Hughes, Mick Overman & Patrick Crabb demonstrated that maturity & experience can still pour on the laps. Jordy Schroder, Jack Wheeler, Harry and Isaac Madden tag teamed "running" the most laps. Dane Evans, Johnny Harvey, Tim Raffle, Drew Stapo, Nick Hughes & Salva proved that a heavy Saturday night has no effect on your physical endurance the next day and when a final serious challenge looked like being mounted against us .. enter Andrew & Jake Van Mel .. they smashed it!

Our youngest swimmer, Mick Comeford 10 years old, our oldest 64.

"Most Lollies Eaten"- Jake Van Meel
"Most Time spent playing with Pool Toys" Equal Winners - John Harvey & Harry Overman
"Best Lap Counter" Equal Winners - my mum Sadie Wheeler & Johny Raffle
"Best Effort after a Big Saturday Night" - Dane Evans

The spirit in which our people took to the pool to raise money for a worthy, outside cause is to be commended. The way our players, supporters, parents & officials pulled together demonstrates the strength of S.B.O.C.F.C., lets draw on this further, on the footy track in 2010
Once again .. thanks for your terrific support & interest, Ian Wheeler

John Raffle

Chris Liberatore

Tom Sullivan

A very young St Bernards side found the last hurdle a little high against an older, bigger opponent in the innagural VAFA U18 Grand Final held in windy conditions at Waverley.

Simon Caven led the way in defence and was our best on the day, Tommy Sullivan roved brilliantly, Keiren Farell was also terrific on ball and Brad Cooper, Nick Shultz and Luke Sullivan were also amongst Bernards best while 'our man Pigga' Joe Pignataro and Sam Jones were the multiple goalkickers with two each, Jamie White and Brad Cooper slottede singles.

Despite the loss this is a talented and close knit group, which will no doubt come through Under 18 and 19 ranks and produce a number of future senior stars for the club.

Simon Caven

Joe Pignataro

First Semi Final .. the planning was precise, training and build up spot on, each players role clear and there was an air of optimism that the boys could bounce back by outrunning Trinity on the big ground but it was all to no avail.

After a poor first quarter where Trinity banged on 7.7 to 3.3 with the breeze St Bernards managed only 2.2 with the breeze while Trinity piled on 6.2 and as the game progressed it was clear that the opposition were simply too big, too strong and too good on the day.

Captain Damien McLaughlin's late withdrawel added to concerns over our lack of size and experience and the young Bernards side with 11 players aged 18 - 20 struggled to get our running game going.

Rio fires up Sammy Scott in the warm up

Goals: C. Liberatore 3, T. Caven 2, S. Cave 2, M. Sullivan 2, B. Jordan 2, L. O''Sullivan, N. Cook, M. Church Best: J. Stapleton, L. O''Sullivan, S. Cave, N. Cook, B. Jordan, A. Singleton

A dejected 3/4 time huddle as Bernards trail Trinity

the banner says it all ..

.. and they did

Our apologies for the delay in getting the legends day pics up .. problem with the old blokes is that it takes a while to get the film out of the box brownie and off to the chemist for development.
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In any case it was a great day, congrats again to organiser Vinnie and many thanks to Phil Hannah and Sportsbet for their fantastic sponsorship. Now that the soreness has worn off we look forward to seeing many of the old fellas down at our last home game and at the finals. Legends Day Pics:  CLICK HERE

Simon Caven, Luke Larsen, Jarrod Bye, Isaac Madden

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Well done to Macca, Viddo, helpers and parents on a great year for the kids

Its a feature question in our Hogi on the Couch Column ... 'Have you seen or heard what has happened to FOXY HUGHES?  ... well he was spotted in Dublin at 'the Curragh' last week by Garthy who was at the Irish Derby along with a bunch of Bernards fans ... from left: Garthy, Aidy and Bridgette Hughes, George, 'the Fox', Chick Ryan, Bernie, Annie and Damo Ryan, Chook, Johnny Hughes, Maree Garth and Porky Mahoney. Pictured below: George, Annie, Chick, 'the Fox' and Chook with Vintage Crop ... and starting to get messy after they got news of Bernards nail biting win over Carey!

One of the VAFA and VCFL most decorated players BJ led St Bernards to our last Grand Final victory in 2002 and is now leading the way for the young Bernards group ... well done BJ!

Evo and his cheer squad from the U/9s

Many thanks to Ascot Vale Leisure Centre for helping out with their generous donation of two gym bikes to be used in ‘the Kennel’

Alex Jolley organized the bikes with the Centre’s management last week. Jossa is one of a number of players who have worked at AVLC in recent years. We now have 4 bikes in the kennel so injured players can do rehab etc to keep up fitness levels when they are off the track.

D Mac is also looking to procure three heart rate monitors to add to the gym shortly. If you know someone that could help out let D Mac know this week.

 

Strathmore Community Bank® Branch

337 Napier Street
 Strathmore
Phone: 03 9374 2607 
Fax: 03 9374 3542



Strathmore Community Bank Branch Bendigo Bank are committed to building strong, successful communities. The Bank returns a portion of profits to the local community so far contributing $1 million to local clubs, schools, town fairs, community organisations and festivals.

Chairman Mark Burgin says "We’re keen to increase this amount and that’s where you come in. You see the amount we’re able to give back depends on the amount of banking the community does with Strathmore Community Bank Branch Bendigo Bank.

Of course, we are much like any other bank – with loans, branches, ATMs, credit cards, interest bearing accounts, all the usual stuff. The one blinding difference between us and our competitors is our local insight.

A long time ago we recognised that successful individuals are the living heart of successful communities. So we have built a bank service stocked with products designed for individuals, then placed this resource at the heart of communities across Australia.

We deliver great service and competitive banking products equal to those of our competitors, but with one important difference. We recognise U, as in us, as in community. We invite U to find out more. Call in and compare the difference today"

St Bernards is the biggest and most successful VAFA club in the region and is on the look out for new recruits for the 2010 season ... some of the key benefits in representing St Bernards include:

If you are interested in joining one of the great football clubs in Victoria contact Football Director
Paul Garth 0412 533 314 just pop down to training at the College in Beryl Street West Essendon
where you will be made most welcome!

'Miracle' Mel Beyer celebrated his 50th birthday at the Snakepit in style on Sunday after he coached the U16's to a win earlier in the day. Aside from coaching the 16's Mel is Team Manager of the Reserves and Statistician for the Seniors and of course drives the famous Bernards van with all the gear every Saturday ... what would we do without Mel on the weekends? In a great tribute to Mel's popularity amongst his players twelve of Mel's Captains starting from Luke Rogers (1992) through to Luke Larsen (2008) donned the Bernards colours for the pic below.

From left Will Overman, Kyle Dalmau, Steve Harris, Tim Harvey, Luke Rogers, Adriano Mastropasqua, Mel, Sinclair Johansen, Luke Larsen, Shaun Matthews, Frank Staltaro, Ben Loughlin and James Mount

Congrats to Trevor Lancaster who was recently asked to officiate at the VAFA State game. Trev has had his hand on the button at 'the Pit' for years doing both Reserves and Senior games every Saturday.

If you've ever wondered why Bernards quarters seem to go a bit longer its because Trevor is ever the perfectionist adding every milli second of time on something his AFL counterparts could learn from. Its blokes like Trev that make Bernards match days operate so professionally.

A familiar sight at every St Bernards game is Barry McAntee. Barry is one of a number of characters at 'the Pit' that do more than just turn up at games.
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Whether its filling the water bottles, jumping in as interchange steward or escorting the umpires Barry does every job with an enthusiastic smile.
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Each game Bazz arrives early with master timekeeper Trevor Lancaster and reports straight to Garthy to ask “what do you need me to do first boss?”
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Theres a lot to be done on match days and its blokes like Barry McAntree that make it happen.

Keep up the great work Baz!

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