Wallsend West-Newcastle Senior Club Review

The Wallsend West-Newcastle Swans were successful in developing the club in 2019, with a significant increase in player numbers. This year we were able to have two competitive teams (both men’s and women’s), with both teams improving in their on-ground performance and both teams placing well on the ladder.

Our club was proud to wear the Indigenous jerseys designed by a local Aboriginal artist (Maree Bisby) during the Indigenous round this year. This year also saw the Hunter/Central Coast’s inaugural Pride Cup, as Wallsend West-Newcastle partnered with Newcastle Pride to put on a very successful day. WWN was proud to host this event against Wyong AFC, being the first Pride Cup in Regional NSW. The crowds that turned up on the day were a testament to its success, and the passion behind the event.

Wallsend West-Newcastle was well represented at the Regional Awards this year, making President Steve Lewer a very happy camper. WWN Swans won Region (and State) Coach of the Year, Women’s Best and Fairest Player, Women’s Coaches MVP award, and Volunteer of the Year. Plus, two of our players, Kate Booth and Amy Pitman, made the HCC AFL Team of the Year.

This year has been a successful year for the Wallsend West-Newcastle Swans, with intention to continue development into 2020.

Top 5 Women’s Best and Fairest
1. Kate Booth
2. Amy Pittman
3. Abbey Main
4. Emily Curtis
5. Lisa Morales

Top 5 Plate Best and Fairest
1. Kaiden Hudson
2. Henry Gore
3. Mark Lim
4. Ryan Osborne
5. Blake Carpenter & Jackson Tisdell

Other Medal Winners
Women’s:
Best and Fairest – Kate Booth
Coaches Choice – Rebecca Garside
Most Improved – Emily Curtis
Golden Boot – Amy Pittman
Player’s Player – Kate Booth

Plate
Best and Fairest – Kaiden Hudson
Coaches Choice – Rhys McGrorey-Clark
Most Improved – Blake Carpenter
Golden Boot – Murray Younger
Player’s Player – Hayden Spark

WWN Perpetual Trophy – Senior Club Person – Mel Nelson

Elliot Davey Medal Winners
• Regional and State Coach (NSW) of the Year – Darren Bird
• Women’s Best and Fairest – Kate Booth
• Women’s Coaches MVP – Kate Booth
• Volunteer of the Year – Micheal Livesey
• HCC AFL ‘Team of the Year’ – Kate Booth & Amy Pittman

Coaching Announcements
Coaches Darren Bird and Ryan Davies retired from senior coaching in 2019; though Darren Bird will act in a support / mentor role and is also WWN’s U15 coach and Junior Football Manager. The Club is extremely thankful to both Darren and Ryan, for coaching the two teams in their first two years. Their commitment to football development and the future of the Club has place these two teams well into the future.

New coaches: Brad Stummer (men’s) and Brian Gaston (women’s).

Volunteer Spotlight – Michael Livesey
Michael won the HCC Volunteer of the Year award in 2019. Below is what he has achieved for our club:

Michael was the Senior Football Operations Manager, to which he engages with great enthusiasm. Despite only two years of service has become an integral part of the Club. He is the Senior Club Umpire, is member of the Club’s Committee structure, helps set up game day (Seniors), helps with U9s, helps in canteen, marks out the ground for both Senior and Junior game days, volunteers for delegates meeting and also is on the Competitive Structures working group for the league.

He does all this for the Club and lives over an hour away up the valley at Branxton… so this results in many hours of volunteer time. Just within two years Michael has become an integral member of the Club and the Club Committee, ensuring that it runs every week without a hitch. He optimizes what community support is about through leading by example.

Thanks for all your hard work, Michael.

Big thank you to our Sponsors for a great 2019:
The Family Hotel
Wallsend Diggers
Bodyworx
Wallsend McDonalds
Newcastle Pride
Veolia
Pride Cup
Highlite
Bunnings Wallsend
Alti-Fit