Friday April 16th
A relaxed start to the day and then we headed to a big shopping centre for a few last minute purchases and gifts. Northlands is one very big shopping centre, well worth a visit. Our first glorious blue sky day in Melbourne. All prepared Google Maps had been re consulted and we set off arriving in plenty of time…but it was another Darebin football place not the one we needed. A few circuits then some directions from someone else and we were off arriving a few minutes before kick-off time. Warm up consisted of running out on the artificial pitch. No complaints about the condition of the field. A fairly even competition over the whole game where both sides had chances, Ivanhoe was unlucky hitting the wood work a couple of times and missing an open goal. The goal they scored was a great strike form just outside the box. We managed equalise in the dying minutes of the game when Josh broke away passed to Jared S who crossed it back and Josh managed to will the ball in to the net, hooray a 1-1 draw to finish the tour. Back to the Big4 and some instructions on packing and maximising load weights before some of the boys took a plunge in the pool and began packing. We are leaving the Big4 at 6.30am! Hopefully I will have us going to the correct airport tomorrow. Over and out.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Post Fourteen
Thursday April 15th
All packed up and an easy trip across town to our other Big4 park. No Google Map issues today. Once at the park we had to wait a short time until all of our units were ready. A little more compact than our last Big4 and no flat screen TV, oh no, how will the boys cope? We headed in to central Melbourne again after a short walk to the nearest tram. The boys split and visited various corners of the city. I headed to the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) in the new square opposite Flinder’s Street Station, a great facility. We met again at 5pm after waiting briefly for me after I found a great DVD shop. We all piled on the tram during rush hour got to the end of the line and discovered we were on the wrong one! Apparently the coach and his son were here last year with the golf and new what they were doing, not! After a brisk walk and a bus ride we got back to the Big4, gathered BBQ material and had tea. The BBQ patties have been superb in Australia. The boys have amused themselves with the table tennis table, table football, video games and television.
All packed up and an easy trip across town to our other Big4 park. No Google Map issues today. Once at the park we had to wait a short time until all of our units were ready. A little more compact than our last Big4 and no flat screen TV, oh no, how will the boys cope? We headed in to central Melbourne again after a short walk to the nearest tram. The boys split and visited various corners of the city. I headed to the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) in the new square opposite Flinder’s Street Station, a great facility. We met again at 5pm after waiting briefly for me after I found a great DVD shop. We all piled on the tram during rush hour got to the end of the line and discovered we were on the wrong one! Apparently the coach and his son were here last year with the golf and new what they were doing, not! After a brisk walk and a bus ride we got back to the Big4, gathered BBQ material and had tea. The BBQ patties have been superb in Australia. The boys have amused themselves with the table tennis table, table football, video games and television.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Post Thirteen
Wednesday April 14th
The interesting thing this morning was one cabin of boys having their bags packed and out on their decking ready to leave… except we don’t move out until tomorrow! Well done Shamus, Anu, Jared S, Lachlan and Michael. The boys had a sleep in as we didn’t practice this morning. Google maps lets us down today as it suggested a road joins up with another one but it didn’t! It’s always a sinking feeling when that happens. Caleb found a local and after some translation we got the right directions that then caught up with our map directions. The field is part of the Berwick City Soccer Club and was being set up when we arrived. Hallam arrived soon after as they were bussed from their school. The field was big and in okay condition. The referee gave us a little hiccup declaring that most of the boys’ shin guards were too small under FIFA and Australian regulations, after a phone call he said he would still be able to referee the game. He said a number of court cases against referees are underway in Australia where refs have allowed players to play with inadequately sized shin guards, the players have been injured and are then suing the ref as he or she let them play! Not just shin guards but even potholes in the field! Hallam has a football academy but the big sport at the school is AFL then Rugby League. They have an arrangement with the Melbourne Storm. We were presented a souvenir pennant of the game before hand and our player of the game received a shirt afterwards. Everything was in place for a good game but unfortunately we didn’t bring our best performance of the tour. Jared C was able to start today as he has had a thigh strain which has hindered his involvement in the last two games. The opposition showed high skills and an ability to read the game very well. We put ourselves under pressure by giving the ball away and not being able to capitalise when we got close to their goal. One observation from this and the last game is how quickly they take their opportunities in front of goal; there is very little hesitation or an extra touch. We were one down at half-time and ultimately lost 3-0. Afterwards we were hosted in the club rooms for a sausage and drink. Caleb was given a shirt for player of our team and we have arranged for them to pick up a spare shirt of ours at the office of the Big4 tomorrow. If we had been on form today I think the game would have been a lot closer. No map problems on the way home and we had fish and chips for tea. Something one of the students yesterday got me to say and then turned to her friend said “see, I told you so”; I thought I sound the same as them! A lack of photos today as the camera was left behind. Peter from the opposition took a couple of team shots and I will get him to send them. Change of Big4s tomorrow and then only one more game to go and we are almost home.
The interesting thing this morning was one cabin of boys having their bags packed and out on their decking ready to leave… except we don’t move out until tomorrow! Well done Shamus, Anu, Jared S, Lachlan and Michael. The boys had a sleep in as we didn’t practice this morning. Google maps lets us down today as it suggested a road joins up with another one but it didn’t! It’s always a sinking feeling when that happens. Caleb found a local and after some translation we got the right directions that then caught up with our map directions. The field is part of the Berwick City Soccer Club and was being set up when we arrived. Hallam arrived soon after as they were bussed from their school. The field was big and in okay condition. The referee gave us a little hiccup declaring that most of the boys’ shin guards were too small under FIFA and Australian regulations, after a phone call he said he would still be able to referee the game. He said a number of court cases against referees are underway in Australia where refs have allowed players to play with inadequately sized shin guards, the players have been injured and are then suing the ref as he or she let them play! Not just shin guards but even potholes in the field! Hallam has a football academy but the big sport at the school is AFL then Rugby League. They have an arrangement with the Melbourne Storm. We were presented a souvenir pennant of the game before hand and our player of the game received a shirt afterwards. Everything was in place for a good game but unfortunately we didn’t bring our best performance of the tour. Jared C was able to start today as he has had a thigh strain which has hindered his involvement in the last two games. The opposition showed high skills and an ability to read the game very well. We put ourselves under pressure by giving the ball away and not being able to capitalise when we got close to their goal. One observation from this and the last game is how quickly they take their opportunities in front of goal; there is very little hesitation or an extra touch. We were one down at half-time and ultimately lost 3-0. Afterwards we were hosted in the club rooms for a sausage and drink. Caleb was given a shirt for player of our team and we have arranged for them to pick up a spare shirt of ours at the office of the Big4 tomorrow. If we had been on form today I think the game would have been a lot closer. No map problems on the way home and we had fish and chips for tea. Something one of the students yesterday got me to say and then turned to her friend said “see, I told you so”; I thought I sound the same as them! A lack of photos today as the camera was left behind. Peter from the opposition took a couple of team shots and I will get him to send them. Change of Big4s tomorrow and then only one more game to go and we are almost home.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Post Twelve
Tuesday April 13th
Although it was only Saturday since our last game it seems longer. To get the boys back in to the swing of things we had a light practice from 10-11 before our game this afternoon at 1.30pm. Rowville’s Western Campus was easy to find and only 15-20 minutes away ably guided by our top map reader Caleb. The whole school has close to 2000 students from Year 7-12. The Eastern Campus contains the sports academy which has about 350 students involved in Football, Golf, Netball and Basketball. There is also an Institute of the Arts there with a Performing Arts Centre that seats 500. Check out www.rowvillesc.vic.edu.au for more detail. Their football academy has 10 hours per week football related such as conditioning and training. The rest is academic and they must meet a grade point average of 3.0 to remain in the programme. There are about 100 in the football programme and pay $950 each to help fund it. They have professional coaches, a physiotherapist three days a week on campus, testing at Monash University etc. Some of these boys have been involved in this programme since Year 7 and it certainly shows. You could tell from their pre game preparation that this was going to be a tough game. It certainly turned to be a game that our goalie Jono benefited from. Their speed on and off the ball, anticipation, touch and finishing was all superb and certainly superior to our boys at the moment. At half-time the score was 0-5 and there was a nagging worry that this score could only get higher. The second half was a little more even and they scored two more goals to complete the game winning 7-0. Jono had to make some good saves in both halves. This was certainly a well disciplined and talented side. The boys all received a school key ring and there was an afternoon tea in the library afterwards. Rowville were talking about a possible tour to New Zealand next year with their Sports Academy first teams. Tonight the boys are cooking for themselves with the menus ranging from; burritos to chicken/vegetable stir-fry to nachos along with dessert for all. It doesn’t get any easier tomorrow with the Hallam game.
Although it was only Saturday since our last game it seems longer. To get the boys back in to the swing of things we had a light practice from 10-11 before our game this afternoon at 1.30pm. Rowville’s Western Campus was easy to find and only 15-20 minutes away ably guided by our top map reader Caleb. The whole school has close to 2000 students from Year 7-12. The Eastern Campus contains the sports academy which has about 350 students involved in Football, Golf, Netball and Basketball. There is also an Institute of the Arts there with a Performing Arts Centre that seats 500. Check out www.rowvillesc.vic.edu.au for more detail. Their football academy has 10 hours per week football related such as conditioning and training. The rest is academic and they must meet a grade point average of 3.0 to remain in the programme. There are about 100 in the football programme and pay $950 each to help fund it. They have professional coaches, a physiotherapist three days a week on campus, testing at Monash University etc. Some of these boys have been involved in this programme since Year 7 and it certainly shows. You could tell from their pre game preparation that this was going to be a tough game. It certainly turned to be a game that our goalie Jono benefited from. Their speed on and off the ball, anticipation, touch and finishing was all superb and certainly superior to our boys at the moment. At half-time the score was 0-5 and there was a nagging worry that this score could only get higher. The second half was a little more even and they scored two more goals to complete the game winning 7-0. Jono had to make some good saves in both halves. This was certainly a well disciplined and talented side. The boys all received a school key ring and there was an afternoon tea in the library afterwards. Rowville were talking about a possible tour to New Zealand next year with their Sports Academy first teams. Tonight the boys are cooking for themselves with the menus ranging from; burritos to chicken/vegetable stir-fry to nachos along with dessert for all. It doesn’t get any easier tomorrow with the Hallam game.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Post Eleven
Sunday April 11th
Good news Billy is able to make his own way into the airport and should be able to play at some stage this week once we monitor his recovery. The manager’s knee locked up last night even after having an operation in Jan to stop this happening. Since I was in a motel by myself I was stuck. I tried to convince Greg from Brisbane Grammar to manipulate my knee to unlock it but he didn’t look keen. I waited for Billy’s doctor to come along and there and then on the airport floor he was able to manipulate the joint open and out popped whatever was causing the jam, hooray I can walk. A very simple group check in procedure saw us all set to go. A pleasant two hour flight saw most boys choose the pie option rather than the sandwich (it’s a slow news day). We picked up the vans and once we did an obligatory one circuit of the airport we were off along the various toll roads, motorways and highways to Big 4 Dandenong. Very nice accommodation with a double bed in one room and two rooms with two bunk beds in each. There is a large lounge/kitchen area with an L-shaped lounge suite taking up one and a half walls. Once settled we went to the supermarket and two cabins of boys decided to cook butter chicken for themselves! The others stuck with the Burnley BBQ. The temperature is much like home cool outside and no real humidity unlike Brisbane which was sweltering this morning. The boys have the heat pump on in their rooms. A visit to Melbourne city is on for tomorrow.
Good news Billy is able to make his own way into the airport and should be able to play at some stage this week once we monitor his recovery. The manager’s knee locked up last night even after having an operation in Jan to stop this happening. Since I was in a motel by myself I was stuck. I tried to convince Greg from Brisbane Grammar to manipulate my knee to unlock it but he didn’t look keen. I waited for Billy’s doctor to come along and there and then on the airport floor he was able to manipulate the joint open and out popped whatever was causing the jam, hooray I can walk. A very simple group check in procedure saw us all set to go. A pleasant two hour flight saw most boys choose the pie option rather than the sandwich (it’s a slow news day). We picked up the vans and once we did an obligatory one circuit of the airport we were off along the various toll roads, motorways and highways to Big 4 Dandenong. Very nice accommodation with a double bed in one room and two rooms with two bunk beds in each. There is a large lounge/kitchen area with an L-shaped lounge suite taking up one and a half walls. Once settled we went to the supermarket and two cabins of boys decided to cook butter chicken for themselves! The others stuck with the Burnley BBQ. The temperature is much like home cool outside and no real humidity unlike Brisbane which was sweltering this morning. The boys have the heat pump on in their rooms. A visit to Melbourne city is on for tomorrow.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Post Ten
Saturday April 10th
I’m sure some of the boys will want to join the ‘backpacking culture’ after their stay at Mooloolaba. The sights and experiences at the backpackers will be probably something the boys will be talking about for a while. We travelled in a full size greyhound bus to Brisbane and if I had remembered we were playing at the Brisbane Grammar School playing fields rather than the school itself we would have been there very early. My planning gave us a brief tour of; part of the city, the various new road/flyover/tunnel constructions, and the outside of Brisbane Grammar School. Their playing fields are about 15 minutes from their school which consists of about 1600 pupils from age 11-17. There was a rugby carnival on at the fields with a large number of teams including two from New Zealand. Our field is the main football field and it has just been converted from a cricket block which meant it was a little bouncy in the middle. Luckily cloud cover did give us some respite from the hot conditions; I just saw the weather on TV which gave a high of 31 for Brisbane. Possibility of some rain in Melbourne tomorrow. We were looking for a huge improvement from yesterday’s game and we got it. The boys played one of their better games on tour and considering this was their fourth game in a row they did very well. We played four 20 minute periods to enable two drinks breaks as we have done previously. Although we lost 1-0 it was a very good game of football and the boys retained more possession than yesterday. They scored in the 35th minute and had a goal disallowed due to an offside call. The linesman was the player’s father! We had a number of free kick opportunities and made a number of good attacking moves. The best one was a ball delivered by Jarred S into the box and Shamus had made a perfect run but unfortunately couldn’t get it on target in the end, great run though. Billy had a bad foot clash towards the end of the game and had to be helped from the field. Luckily the linesman is also a doctor and was able to do a quick check. Billy is now at their house as they were taking one of the team as a billet, he is in very capable hands, and hopefully nothing is broken. After the game the Brisbane parents put on a BBQ under the trees beside the field and it was gratefully received. From what the parents were saying I think the boys are in for a good time tonight with some going on the Harbour Cat, others going to Sizzler and some going to the movies, more on this tomorrow. The second stage of our journey starts with our flight to Melbourne in the morning.
I’m sure some of the boys will want to join the ‘backpacking culture’ after their stay at Mooloolaba. The sights and experiences at the backpackers will be probably something the boys will be talking about for a while. We travelled in a full size greyhound bus to Brisbane and if I had remembered we were playing at the Brisbane Grammar School playing fields rather than the school itself we would have been there very early. My planning gave us a brief tour of; part of the city, the various new road/flyover/tunnel constructions, and the outside of Brisbane Grammar School. Their playing fields are about 15 minutes from their school which consists of about 1600 pupils from age 11-17. There was a rugby carnival on at the fields with a large number of teams including two from New Zealand. Our field is the main football field and it has just been converted from a cricket block which meant it was a little bouncy in the middle. Luckily cloud cover did give us some respite from the hot conditions; I just saw the weather on TV which gave a high of 31 for Brisbane. Possibility of some rain in Melbourne tomorrow. We were looking for a huge improvement from yesterday’s game and we got it. The boys played one of their better games on tour and considering this was their fourth game in a row they did very well. We played four 20 minute periods to enable two drinks breaks as we have done previously. Although we lost 1-0 it was a very good game of football and the boys retained more possession than yesterday. They scored in the 35th minute and had a goal disallowed due to an offside call. The linesman was the player’s father! We had a number of free kick opportunities and made a number of good attacking moves. The best one was a ball delivered by Jarred S into the box and Shamus had made a perfect run but unfortunately couldn’t get it on target in the end, great run though. Billy had a bad foot clash towards the end of the game and had to be helped from the field. Luckily the linesman is also a doctor and was able to do a quick check. Billy is now at their house as they were taking one of the team as a billet, he is in very capable hands, and hopefully nothing is broken. After the game the Brisbane parents put on a BBQ under the trees beside the field and it was gratefully received. From what the parents were saying I think the boys are in for a good time tonight with some going on the Harbour Cat, others going to Sizzler and some going to the movies, more on this tomorrow. The second stage of our journey starts with our flight to Melbourne in the morning.
Post Nine
Friday April 9th
After four relatively even games we found ourselves up a well organised and disciplined side in Brisbane Boys’ College. We played three 30 minute sections and were able to contain them in the first period holding them to 0-0. The rest of the game saw their control of the ball dominate us and we unfortunately could not hold possession often running around chasing, something Mr Burnley had pointed out to the boys would happen. The final score was 6-1 which left the boys tired, hot and a little despondent. Jarred S scored our only goal after a couple of nice touches and delivery from Shamus. Jono had plenty to do in this game, making a number of saves under pressure. This game was worthwhile in letting the boys know what to expect of a well-disciplined side. BBC has coaching programmes in place from Year 5 and has 30 football teams in their school of 1600. After this the boys were able to chill out for the rest of the day before a real Australian BBQ put on by the Backpackers down beside the harbour. The boys were able to taste kangaroo and croc along with the usual sausages etc. One of the biggest things they will miss from the Mooloolaba Backpackers is the pool table which they fairly much commandeered as soon as they arrived. Things don’t get easier with probably our toughest game tomorrow; hopefully we can rise to the occasion.
After four relatively even games we found ourselves up a well organised and disciplined side in Brisbane Boys’ College. We played three 30 minute sections and were able to contain them in the first period holding them to 0-0. The rest of the game saw their control of the ball dominate us and we unfortunately could not hold possession often running around chasing, something Mr Burnley had pointed out to the boys would happen. The final score was 6-1 which left the boys tired, hot and a little despondent. Jarred S scored our only goal after a couple of nice touches and delivery from Shamus. Jono had plenty to do in this game, making a number of saves under pressure. This game was worthwhile in letting the boys know what to expect of a well-disciplined side. BBC has coaching programmes in place from Year 5 and has 30 football teams in their school of 1600. After this the boys were able to chill out for the rest of the day before a real Australian BBQ put on by the Backpackers down beside the harbour. The boys were able to taste kangaroo and croc along with the usual sausages etc. One of the biggest things they will miss from the Mooloolaba Backpackers is the pool table which they fairly much commandeered as soon as they arrived. Things don’t get easier with probably our toughest game tomorrow; hopefully we can rise to the occasion.
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