With multiple school teams across a breadth of sports, several achievements are worth celebrating this season - our Football and Netball teams in particular.
Following the pandemic, it is no surprise that our community was excited to get back out on the playing field.
Our major football highlights for the season include our Year 9/10 Girls team making School Sports Victoria State Finals and the Senior Boys team taking home the SSV Premier League flag in Ballarat.
Following state champs and qualifying for the highest knock-out football format in Victorian schools - the Senior Boys football team took on the semi-finals in the Herald Sun Shield.
Heading into the game as underdogs, the senior footballers knew the Herald Shield would be a challenge– up against St Patricks, Ballarat, who had made it to the final for 12 consecutive years.
Despite falling short to St Pat’s in the final term, the Senior Boys’ side gave a fantastic effort on the field.
Emmanuel College Sports Coordinator and Senior Assistant Football Coach, Alistair Templeton, said this season was a fantastic effort by our college, considering the pool of big schools and potential players.
“The Senior Boys team making the Herald Sun shield was a fantastic effort while winning the SSV State Final,” Alistair said.
“The other schools in that competition are filled with football scholarship kids who contribute to the AFL draft annually. All the other teams also play together weekly, whereas our lads play against each other most weekends coming together purely for the school games.
“The current success shown by the Senior Boys team, and many other football teams, is a direct reflection of the exceptional sports academies we have at Emmanuel.
“The time and effort particularly our Senior Football Coach and local Koroit Football Coach Chris McLaren put into our senior football program is also a huge factor in why we have been so successful this year. He has allowed the program to become far more professional, and the students have benefited from this immensely.”
We had a game against Box Hill Secondary School, and Jonathan Brown came to pep talk us for the game– this was my highlight of the whole experienceYear 12 student, Jamie Lloyd
Year 12 students, Jamie Lloyd and Ethan Boyd play for our College’s Senior Boys Football team while also playing for Koroit in the Hampden League and GWP Rebels in Ballarat.
Winning state championships and playing football again with friends after covid made Jamie Lloyds’ final year at Emmanuel one to remember.
“I am really proud of everyone. We’re such a tight group of mates,” Ethan said.
“We got out there, and this year we have a pretty good team; we are pretty confident in ourselves - we were pretty happy with how we contested around the year.”
A memory Jamie will never forget is Emmanuel College Inspiring Alumni and AFL star Jonathan Brown (Emmanuel 1999) giving the Senior Footballers a pep talk before a game.
“We had a game against Box Hill Secondary School, and Jonathan Brown came to pep talk us for the game– this was my highlight of the whole experience, Jamie said.
“He came up and spoke to us, took time out of his busy schedule and talked to us about country footy as opposed to more city-based footy, and how our country kids generally had the edge, and like, that chip on their shoulder.”
Under 15’s football was the last entire season Year 12 Senior Footballer Ethan Boyd played before returning to the field this season.
Playing up against some of the best in his league after lockdowns is an opportunity Ethan is grateful for.
“I think it was one of those things that you miss is playing with all your mates… So to miss almost two years of school footy was devastating. But we went out with a big bang this year, which was awesome.
“I guess you always want to achieve as much as you can. So pushing yourself and the team to see how far I can go is the beauty of it – just the opportunities that come around the corner.”
Our netballers had an impressive season, with all teams making it to a regional level in the School Sports Victoria stream.
The Year 7 netball team beat everyone convincingly and became the 2022 School Sports Victoria State Champions.
The Year 7 netballers coached by Kate Foster, Emma Stacey and Tori Monaghan (both Emmanuel 2021) were a side with natural stamina and strength this season.
With the team training twice a week at school and on the weekends in local leagues of netball and basketball, Year 7 players Stella Marris and Rosie Bowman said it is no surprise they had a good team this season.
“I think we’re pretty good,” Stella Marris said.
“We all kind of work really well together. It’s good playing with the people we’re normally up against and working with them.
Year 7 netballer and Koroit Hampden League player Rosie Bowman said the transition from lockdowns to motivating the team and winning comps was her highlight.
“[My highlight] was being able to go out and play and have fun.” Rosie said.
“What motivates our team is each other and the coaches, just encouraging each other . . . and being able to work together.”
What motivates our team is each other and the coaches, just encouraging each other . . . and being able to work togetherYear 7 student, Rosie Bowman
Mr Templeton reflects on the season, noting quality, friendship, and a focus on forefront tactics in coaching are the leading edge our students embraced.
“Our side’s strengths are definitely the depth. Every team in the college has terrific depth and quality players throughout the court and the field,” Alistair said.
“The students often mention being able to play with your school friends as being a driving factor and motivator for them.”
