CLUB NEWS

2015 Presentation Dinner

6.30pm Saturday 31st October 2015 MCC Members Dining Room, MCG Canapes & 3 Course Dinner $70 per person (No increase in 4 years!) Book Now @ www.tinyurl.com/2015mccdinner B&F Trophies, Club Awards, Season Review All welcome and encouraged to attend

Summer Hockey 2015/16

Men’s and Women’s team entries have now been

confirmed with HV for the Tues/Weds

Competitions.

We are now finalising Masters team entries and

so we need your registrations by September 20th

online at: www.tinyurl.com/mccsummer2015

More details are further on in this newsletter.

GRAND FINAL: WRAP-UP

Women’s Pennant B having had week 2 off, were fresh to play against TEM in their Grand Final. The team brought the glory back to the clubrooms with a 2-0 win and proudly hung the Premiership flag on the wall #GoDees

Women’s Premier League Reserves missed out against Hawthorn at the SNHC, ending the game in penalty shootouts, 5-2 down.

Women’s Pennant A played against Doncaster, also finishing up in penalty shootouts, after 1-1 at the end of regular time. They lost in the 2nd round of shootouts, 4-5. Men’s Pennant B took on Camberwell and just missed out on the flag, 1-2 in regular time. Women’s Metro B played final MCCHS Grand Final against Hawthorn Red, hopes were high but sadly it wasn’t meant be, ending up 1-2 down.

Janelle Bond & Rhiannon Murrie represented

MCC in the Women’s Premier League Grand

Final at the SNHC, as the appointed umpires.

During the 2015 season, Janelle & Rhiannon

have officiated at National and International level.

Looking good in their new black and pink HV

umpire tops for the Grand Final.

THANK YOU

We would like to thank all players, coaches,

managers, volunteers, committees, parents and

supporters for their contribution to MCC Hockey

during the 2015 season. We look forward to

celebrating the 3 Premierships at the

Presentation Dinner, and hope to see many of

you there on October 31st.

Season Final 21th Edition – 18th Sep

Finals Series: 18th Edition – 29

8h Aug

Season Final 21st Edition – 18

th Sep

Finals Series: 18th Edition – 29

8h Aug

MILESTONES

Bec Dyball played her 300th game for MCC Hockey in the WPLR Grand Final, congratulations Bec!

A big shout out to Kate Matthews for reaching her 200th game in the WPB Grand Final and to top it off she able to celebrate as part of the Premiership winning team.

GRAND FINAL MATCH REPORTS

WPB vs TEM – 2015 Premiers!!!!

After a week off the team was refreshed and ready to rumble!! On Saturday at Footscray Hockey ground some of the ladies came along to support WPA & MPB in the earlier games, Well-done team!!

The team made their way to the change rooms as WPA were in penalty shootouts (what an intense game to watch). The team were getting ready, Ness deodorising her playing top, the beatbox pumping up the room “Lady Gaga – Edge of Glory”, red & blue victory ribbons were tied in our hais, Haouch throwing around a Lacrosse ball to get the team in game mode and Rose made a surprise entrance to wishing the team well. Thanks Rose!!

Kylie got down to business, giving us the layout and momentum to play this game, she got us to strand in one big group circle to get us fired up for the game and Kate was told that she was playing her 200th game. Once this was over we then head out to warm up. During our warm up we cheered on WPA as they were still in shootouts.

After the warm up the team stood in the goal for a team photo, we were standing or kneeling for 5 minutess waiting for Kylie to come back with Lexi who had been the extra goalie for WPA.

We finally then hit the field and started off with pushes/hits between players, whilst Kate had her photo with the 200th MCC milestone banner. Orla

mentioned one thing to the team before the game started “Ladies turn the butterflies into F&^% DRAGONS!!!” this got the team fired up for the game.

The first half of the game was intense with TEM getting physical and pushy towards the team, but we ignored it and played our game. Eleanor scored in the 7th minute after coming off the bench. Tammy helped out with the bench rotations. Thanks Tammy!!! We also had an excellent MCC crowd turn out to support us.

At the halftime break Kylie, Tammy and Orla talked business and the team listened and replenished. Orla once again fired up the team with the butterflies and dragon speech.

The second half began with TEM trying to keep the ball in our defence but we broke through the line of attack and continued to dominate the game. In the last 8 minutes of the game, Laura sealed the win with a goal, marking our victory over TEM.

Straight after the game we shook hands with the TEM players and the team sang the MCC song with pride. We then made our way to the MCC crowd and thanked them for supporting us in such an epic game. Both teams gathered in front of the crowd for the medal ceremony, Orla presented the medals to each player, with the team feeling like celebrities receiving their medals. Amy Coshan and Mary Lofthouse from HV presented the team with the 2015 Premiership flag. Later on we headed to the clubrooms to celebrate our victory over TEM.

Excellent win team, let’s do it again next season!!!

WPLR vs Hawthorn

And finally it is Grand Final Day for WPLR… the game plan was explained, the warm-up thorough and the team were fully focused...our opponents were Hawthorn – the season results were 1 win a piece. The game started at a high tempo – both sides showing some nerves but both highly competitive with game plans to disrupt their opponents. The MCC defence of Janelle Bond, Deb Adams, Shelley George, Anna Ritchie and Eliza Petit settled very quickly and thwarted any attacking attempts by Hawthorn. The MCC midfield combination of Sandy Vertigan, Elly Lawry, Frankie Carr and Madi Sterling demonstrated their intentions against their more experienced counterparts, giving them no space to create and unsettling their flow. This game was going to be close. Hawthorn broke the deadlock mid-way through the first half from a penalty corner but this just inspired MCC to raise their game, and a slick attacking move resulted in a free hit outside the circle. Frankie pulled wide into space – entered the circle on the right and passed the ball to Bec Dyball (playing her 300th game for MCC) positioned on the right post who stepped in front of the GK and deflected the ball into the Hawthorn goal. Confidence was high at half-time and the team were inspired by the words of Dee, Briana and Adi and attended to by team managers Nat Lynch and Vicki Thompson, who had rushed across from the Pen A Grand Final with Emily Wardeiner as the back-up goalkeeper.

MCC attacked from the start of the second half and the attacking opportunities were beginning to open for Ash Wilson, Eddie Carr, V Collins, Madi Kenihan and Bec, and MCC were unlucky to not go ahead early in the second half. However it was Hawthorn who took the initiative and scored from a field goal mid-way through the second half. But in true MCC fashion, the PLR girls found a new level, started to play with greater confidence and move the ball. MCC won their first penalty corner of the game. JB stepped up, and with a trademark strike the sound of the ball striking the backboard was loud and clear – MCC were back in the game. As the game entered the last 10 minutes it was frantic. Evelein Weenen stood tall in the MCC goal and marshalled the troops to prevent a number of Hawthorn attacks but it was MCC who had the best chance with the ball cleared off the line after having been pushed past the GK after an attacking move down the left…another goal was a step too far for both teams. The final whistle went – the score 2-2 – it was shoot out time. Unfortunately the shoot-out did not go our way…what a gutting end to the season. But on reflection what a season it has been – who would have thought that when assembled as a team in round 1 that we would go on to be Minor Premiers and undefeated, play in the Grand Final, score 60 goals and concede 12, the least number of goals for the league? As a team we had improved in every aspect of the game as displayed in a quality Grand Final. As a team PLR are determined to go one step further next year.

WPA vs Doncaster

Ours was not the most successful of seasons - I recall a terrible loss to Melbourne University (who finished bottom) as our lowest game of the season. But we had certainly ended with a run of successful results and our momentum seemed to be building. And then we managed to get into the final where we all believed we could beat Doncaster.

The game prep started with half the team stuck on the Westgate - not the best start. But this didn't stress us out too much (except Sarah!), and the game started at a furious pace which didn't let up for the whole of the first half. Doncaster piled on the pressure but the defence held firm and there was no goals at half time.

The second half saw much of the same - whenever Doncaster battled into our circle we were able to regain possession and pile on a similar amount of pressure in their circle. The game was an epic battle of end to end play which seemed to last forever. One of the defence was bound to crumble and let in a goal and it was Doncaster. Rachel Harris took the ball into the circle and tried to round the keeper but was taken down - surely it's a corner. But the umpire played the advantage which was put into the goal by Alex. We all ran back to the middle to restart the game - only for the other umpire to disallow the goal - NOOOOO! Rach was deemed to have obstructed the GK - no way!

With only 10 mins to go Doncaster got a penalty corner - which was well rehearsed and they took their chance and we were 1-0 down. But we weren't going down that easily. From almost the

push back we attacked and gained a corner of our own - which was possibly the worst corner seen this year. The drag out wasn't accurate by Kat, Jackie miss-hit the strike from the top which was somehow knocked into the goal by Kat, 1-1 with only 2mins to go. The final whistle went - penalty shoot-outs!

The first 5 shoot-outs were taken by Rach H, El, Kat, Fiona and Rach M. With El and 1 from Doncaster the only players to score it was 1-1 after the first round - was this battle ever going to end? The second round of sudden death shoot-outs came. Emily came out again with some fantastic saves to keep us in the game. With El and Rach M scoring their second shoot outs, and Doncaster scoring 1 more in the second round the score was 4-4 with Doncaster ready to take their last one - they score - game over.

A devastating way to end a game - especially as we had all played so well during the game. One of the best games of hockey I've played in - tough, end to end non-stop pressure - from both teams. It's a shame someone had to win - especially Doncaster!

Well played girls - a fantastic end to the season. We'll get them next year.

WMB vs Hawthorn Red

The MCC Women's Metro B team was at full strength for our Grand Final appearance against the top side Hawthorn Red. The day was a warm one in contrast to the many cold days that made up our season. Who could forget that wet freezing 5 degree C Sunday when we played at Knox? The Grand Final was the culmination of all of our efforts across the season. Despite some team members missing in action during the season we

were a united team ready to take it up to Hawthorn Red.

We applied the club colour ribbons and Mel B sported a red and blue Mohawk - most impressive. And then the game began. It was a tight affair and a low scoring game. Hawthorn scored first and then again - we were 2 nil down but then after half time we scored a cracking goal that was later disallowed due to a MCC foot and so we pressed on determined not to give up and then with about 10 minutes to go we scored a goal - 2-1. We kept at it determined to go down fighting to the end. Sadly we did not bring home the prize but we can say for sure we did everything we could to make it happen.

Congratulations to the whole team for a stellar season!!

NOTICE BOARD

Team Photos Thank you to all the teams who have sent in their team photos, however there are still a few to come. Please make sure to get those missing photos in now. Please send to: hao039@hotmail.com Team Equipment The Committees would very much appreciate it if all practice balls, match balls and first aid kits are returned to the pavilion, ASAP. This will save having to chase them and you up, and also you having to find space at home or in your car over summer. Summer Hockey Another reminder for Summer Hockey 2015/16 - yes already! Register online at: www.tinyurl.com/mccsummer2015 Feedback Please drop an email to Sarah Haouchar if there are any issues in regards to the “Off the Bench” newsletter or other social media (Facebook or Instagram). All feedback welcomed. Email: hao039@hotmail.com

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hockeyroo-free-clinic-4th-october-tickets-18031934000

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http://www.tinyurl.com/2015mccdinner

Contact - Joanne Maglieri Branch Manager- St Kilda, 161-163 Acland Street

P: 03 9032 6300 E: stkilda@bankofmelbourne.com.au

www.bankofmelbourne.com.au

279-283 Burke Road

GLEN IRIS VIC 3146

Ph: (03) 9885 7050