It’s pre-season for the Tigers
Cobram’s senior footballers were impressive last week during pre-season training. They worked hard and on the whole appear relatively fit despite a long break.
The younger ones appear to be bulking up and maturing and showed determination to fill the gaps opened up by the departure of several star players, offering each one their chance to grab a much-longed-for opportunity.
Even those on the sidelines were enjoying the pre-season with former stalwarts enjoying being back at the club, which is much like a second home for some.
Generally past players, dads of the current crop of players or past presidents like Peter Beasley share a love of the game and base it on a variety of experiences both as a player and parent.
Family-based, the culture at Cobram begins at junior level, where the young footballers are included in all club activities, together with their families and gain a rare passion and loyalty that is carried on through the years until they join senior ranks or retire.
Anthony (Tank) Zito, one of many familiar faces at the club, looks extremely fit and I am wondering if he is also vying for selection in this year’s senior side? Perhaps time will tell!
Barb’s brag book
Granddaughter Sammy Love, who turned 17 last November, has been selected to play a four-day series for the Australian under-21 women’s hockey team, aka the Jillaroos, against Japan at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre commencing Saturday.
It’s quite an achievement, being the youngest in the team, however she reads the play well, has great ball control and being relatively tenacious can be relied on to give her utmost for the team.
She has earned her spot despite her young age after playing for Victoria’s under-18s and under-21s in the Australian championships during the past year and obviously took the eye of Australian selectors. Her team took out the under-21 Australian Championship title.
Hockey talent runs in the family as Sammy and her big brother Tom, 18, appear to have inherited their talent from dad Simon, who played for the Goulburn Valley and Victorian under-21 team in the late 1980s and early 90s.
The brother and sister were taken along to the MCC Club by Simon at the ages of six and seven, and while older sibling Tom showed ability and was soon to play in a team, it wasn’t long before Sammy also indicated the family genes remained strong and she too gained selection in the MCC under-10s.
Over the years the brother and sister have gained selection for Victoria, with both acquitting themselves well at national level. Tom’s under-13s team won the Australian title in Perth.
Last year was a big year for the pair as each won MCC best-and-fairest awards for their teams, Sammy taking out the B&F Dobson trophy, named after the Dobson sisters who played for Australia and presented to a young female showing outstanding potential, and awarded for the first time in 1999.
Both the Dobson girls joined MCC during the climb upwards to gain selection for Australia and ultimately competed for Australia at Olympic level. Louise and her team brought gold medals home from the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 while Christine competed at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, the first female OIympian to hail from Shepparton and to play for the MCC hockey section.
Tom was voted best and fairest in MCC’s Premier League reserves team and co-captained MGS hockey firsts to win the APS Championship after a brilliant season where they were undefeated in 12 games and set a new record for the number of goals scored (more than 100 while conceding just six). Tom was then selected to captain the APS representative side, which won the 2022 trophy.
Sammy is nervous yet excited with her selection in the Jillaroos, who will play four matches against Japan. It will be a tough intro into wearing green-and-gold as she is the youngest team member by 12 months, a relatively long time in high-grade sport.
Coming up in March, Sam will head to Sydney for the national under-21s championships, offering an opportunity of possibly gaining a spot in the squad to compete at the Women’s Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile in December this year. A selection of capped and uncapped players will be chosen in the team of 20.
“I hope this Victorian under-21s team can do as well as last year and I will be trying my hardest to perform well and be considered for the Jillaroos’ campaign in Chile,” Sammy said.
However, our young talent has a big year ahead with plenty of hockey combined with Year 12 studies at St Catherine’s School in Toorak. So I guess it’s just one day at a time during 2023.
Emerson and Matilda on the right path
Emerson Webb and Matilda Hooper, VCE students at Cobram Secondary College, have been accepted into an accelerated program through the Centre for Higher Educational Studies, to study Psychology at Federation University as part of their VCE this year.
Emerson and Matilda will attend classes online after school hours and on-site during the school holidays. This will contribute towards their ATAR score at the end of the year and assist them to attend university full-time in the future.
Well done Emerson and Matilda, good on you both. There is always a way forward!
Jack’s on the right track
Eighteen-year-old Jack Beasley, who completed his VCE at Cobram Secondary College last year, will take a year off from further study before he takes up a sports science and psychological science degree in 2024 at the Australian Catholic University in Fitzroy, Melbourne.
The double degree will provide Jack with a specialised understanding of the human body and mind.
In the interim he has accepted a position at Cobram Primary School as a trainee or teachers’ aid and is thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Working alongside the classroom teacher with Grades 1 and 2 students, it has taken the 18-year-old back to his own early days at school. “I am really enjoying being at the school and with the kids, yet realise how tiring it can be,” Jack said.
This impressive and personable young man is an example to the young primary-aged children who are finding him great fun.
Jack was recently honoured with an achievement award by Moira Shire on Australia Day for his leadership ability both at school and within the community.
A passionate sportsman who excels in both cricket and football, the year off will give Jack some time to relax after a big year of study and to save some money before he heads off to begin the next exciting chapter in his life: career building.
Jack is the youngest son of proud parents Shara and Peter Beasley.