Overall the 2016 U15 Div 1 merged team from Hampton and East Sandy was very much a success, on a number of levels. Here we had two teams coming together, one in Hampton who played Div 2 last year and the other in East Sandy, who were bottom team in Div 1 last year. To finish the season in third spot in a very strong Div 1 competition was a tremendous achievement by all the boys.
There were some great victories, and also some courageous losses throughout the journey. To lose to East Malvern early in the year by less than a kick, when we outscored them by 10 scoring shots, and who with the same team last season beat both East Sandy and Hampton by more than 100 points on each occasion, I think stunned all who were at that game. To only go down to Beaumaris by 4 goals who had won the past 4 premierships and I think had only lost 1 or 2 games over that period, really gave our boys the belief we could match it with anyone.
To beat Cheltenham/Highett twice, who bullied both our teams last season, was also a defining moment in our season, particularly the last victory which was our first final, which was a cracking game. It was very unfortunate that in our prelim match against Beaumaris, we had 5 of our best players out, which was always going to make it extremely difficult to beat one of the best U15 junior teams in the state. The improvement of all our players throughout the season was sensational to witness, by both myself and my coaching partner Ralph Bergman. As in any season where a team finishes third there will always be outstanding individual performances.
Co captains Josh Le Grice and Chris Perkins, were inspirational all year, and really lifted others with them to that next level. A millimetre behind them was Louis Butler, who with his poise injected that real class the team needed. After a slowish start to his season Miles Bergman really hit his straps in the second half of the season particularly when some of our better players were missing. Jack bell, and Tom Maginness shared the ruck work tirelessly, all year. The tenacious Jack Saunders never knew how to play a bad game, and the phenomenal improvement in Zac Watson from the first few games to the last 8 had to be seen to be believed.
Not sure what is going to happen next year, but if this same group is together again, I think they will give it an almighty shake. Overall Ralph Bergman and myself were extremely proud of all the boys efforts on and off the field.
Mil Hanna
U15 DIV 1 COACH
