Nelson Bay Junior Club, 2019 Season Review
2019 Highlights:
- U/14 YGs Grand Final Winners
- U/17 Boys in Major Semi Final
- 17 players in various Hunter Representative Teams
- Auskickers visit SCG – Swans vs GC Suns
- U/17 Boys celebrate Indigenous Round
- Consists of 9 teams plus Auskick
- An impressive 8 qualified Umpires
- Nicole Mulder awarded Hunter Volunteer of the Year
- Pre season Gala match with Marlins, Port Power and Kellyville Magpies
- Hosted Paul Kelly Cup, U/15’s CHS, Regional Semi finals, Hunter Academy Trials
Nelson Bay Best & Fairest Awards:
- U9 Blue – Thomas Lynch
- U9 Gold – Jack Costello
- U11 – Hudson Roche
- U12YG – Amelia Nicholas
- U13 Blue – Patrick McGrath
- U14YG – Sophie Elliott
- U15 – Jack Denahy
- U17YG – Bella Diamond
- U17- Noah Connick
Hunter Award Night
U13 Swans Division Best & Fairest
3rd Place – Patrick McGrath
U17 Best & Fairest
3rd Place – Noah Connick
Regional Achievement Award winners
- U9 Blue – Thomas Munro
- U9 Gold – Byron Horvath
- U11 – Logan Williams
- U12YG – Milla Gainsford
- U13 Blue – Tyler McLean
- U14YG – Mackenzie Roche
- U15 – Kayden Leeson
- U17YG – Lilly Partridge
- U17 Jayden Cathcart
Hunter Volunteer of the Year
Nicole Mulder
Special Mention
Finnbarr Hurley represented Polding at AFL PSSA
Club Sponsors:
- Choices Flooring – Flooring at Port Stephens
- Nelson Bay Health Foods
- A & J Auto Repairs
- Blue Water Stainless
- Soldiers Point Bowling Club
- Clean Eats & Healthy Treats
- Hogs Breath – Nelson Bay for our Player of the Match award.
Volunteer spotlight:
Josh Horvath stepped up into the President’s role in 2019 and has been voted in to lead our club once again for the 2020 season. Apart from taking on the President’s position, Josh has also coached the U/9’s gold team in 2018 & 2019 as well as the Senior Reserves in 2018. Josh graduated from being an Auskick coach in 2016 & 2017.
A player himself, Josh has enjoyed pulling on the AFL boots for the Senior Marlins as well as for the Masters team.
We have welcomed Josh’s passion and enthusiasm. Josh has worked tirelessly over the 2019 season being a voice for our players. We are very excited to have Josh once again in a President’s role for 2020.
Player spotlight:
Noah Connick is a talented all round player. His AFL journey started with the Junior Marlins & Hunter Academy. Noah has represented our club, region and school (PSSA & CHS) at numerous Representative Carnivals. Noah has many times received the B & F at a club level and Hunter Regional level. A highlight being selected to train in the Swans Academy.
According to his team-mates “He can mark anything, kick accurate, and works hard. He is also really humble and only tries to do his job, never boasts or shows off. He is a great guy,
A 100 game junior, Noah is admired by many clubs and players within our Hunter Region for his leadership, AFL skills and sportsman like nature.
The Junior Marlins wish Noah all the best as he progresses into the Senior Marlins Club
The Nelson Bay Junior Marlins AFL club encourages a spirit of sportsmanship, loyalty and support. The club also develops a culture of respect for the club, other players, the jumper and importantly, the umpires. We have a proud history of teaching young boys and girls to play in a safe and fun environment. This has resulted in us having a strong and growing uptake of players at all ages. Our Club has also worked tirelessly to promote and develop AFL football within regional NSW since 2000.
In 2019 we were honoured to host Week One of the final series, this was very significant for us as a club as we had 3 out of our 7 eligible teams playing at home in the first week. Our Under 14YG were undefeated all season but the final series saw some awesome football and they came from behind to book their spot in the Grand Final, while our under 17 boys took a huge step towards a Grand Final berth, downing Cardiff to progress through. Sadly our under 11 boys were not successful, they put in an outstanding effort to make the finals, and are a credit to Coaches, Managers and Parents.
Sadly in week two of the finals our 17 boys were knocked out of a Grand Final race by Newcastle City. These boys put in a very tough and brave performance but sadly we did not get the win.
Our 14YG went on to play Wallsend/West Newcastle in the Grand Final, and in a tough and physical game, our brave and talented girls came away with the win to make it 3 in a row for coach Matt Gray and his Girls. Great effort by all.
We were excited for the first time ever to hosted a pre season gala evening for our under 9’s and 11’s, in which we saw teams from Port Power and Kellyville Magpies join us, for what looks to be an annual event, in which we will be looking to grow in 2020.
