What a glorious sunny day it was on Sunday, as we opened the gates at Oakes Oval and hosted teams from Tweed, Byron, Brunswick Heads, and welcoming for the first time in our part of the world, The Kingscliff Dolphins!
With brand new banners, breakfast burritos, coaches umpiring, and umpires playing, it was a spectacular day for all of those lucky enough to be a part of, or just witness the days events!
All the game day happenings follow, as our coaches and observers give first hand accounts and photos of each and every game as they unfolded. Enjoy!
If you have pics of the games and you would like to share them so we can post them here, please email media.lsjafc@gmail.com
Under U8s - Swans vs Kingscliff JAFC Orange
By Coach Peter
This week we headed to Oakes for our first time this season to welcome competition newbies, the Kingscliffe Dolphins, for our the last game of the season.
The kids were jumping out of their skins going into the change rooms and warming up like their idols do every week, then to run down the race and jump through the new Swans banner.
Thanks so much to Greg, Archer's Dad, for knocking it up in his spare time.
Finally on to the footy ! So with all the hype the kids started slowly and built into the game. The Dolphins certainly had skills and size and used this to the advantage.
The hot weather was taking it's toll with some of our fittest having a sit down in the 3rd quarter until the coach called out "watch out for green ants they're everywhere!" got them up and moving.
There were some great passages of play from both sides and the game was from one end to the other, it certainly was a great way to finish up the season. The kids belted out the song for one last time and that was it for Oakes 2019.
The development in both individuals and as a team has been fantastic through the season so well done kids and thanks for letting me coach the mighty up n coming Swans !
Voucher Winners Brayden Malloy Ben Ahrens Callum Harden
Under U10 Girls - Swans vs Byron Bay JAFC
By Corey Smith
What a difference a season can make. The girls took on the Byron team front and centre stage at Oakes oval on an early Sunday morning, and really turned it on for the many spectators gathered in the stands.
A couple of quick goals from the Byron girls were quickly countered by Neva and Lilah who then added a few more.
Djidji and Charlee gave many opportunities from the centre and Mihaela controlled the backline letting very little through.
Against a team that had got the better of us on our previous 3 meetings the girls came away with a different result this time.
The improvements just keep continuing.
Well done girls.
Voucher Winners
Charlee Condon
Mihaela Butcher
Under 10s Red - Swans vs Tweed Coast Yellow
By Coach John Trapp
Lismore under 10 Reds played Tweed Heads on Sunday and probably played the best game of the season. Sydney-Jack played a blinder and in the first quarter and kicked six goals. We held them pretty tight up until the last quarter until they came back and kicked a few but by then we had done enough for the game.
Django, William and Zach played great games in the centre. William definitely played his best game of the year. Zach has shown a lot of promise in the ruck and has made enormous progress since starting at the beginning of the year. Jet played one of his best games and Eli has also shown great improvement. Xavier played his best game of the year. Bowie played another good game in the back line with the aid of Steel and Jet. Eston and Davis were unavailable and sadly missed.
As coach of the team I want to say how pleased I have been with the progress of all of the boys in the team. They have all shown great endeavour and resolve. Their attitude to training and playing has been really satisfying. Warren and Scott were both missed on the weekend and they have been a great help throughout the year as has Robbie. The vouchers this week were awarded to Sydney-Jack for his excellent goal kicking performance in the forward line and great defence when he was in the backline and to Django for his all around performance. Congratulations under 10 reds.
Voucher Winners
Sydney-Jack Baker
Django Benning
Under U10s White - Swans vs Ballina Bombers
By Coach Robbie and Richard
The U’10 swannies really stepped it up for a big game at Oakes Oval. It was a furious but fair contest from the outset, with the boys and girls going in hard for the ball.
The game was an arm wrestle for three quarters, but our swans burst away from the Bulldogs in the last quarter led by Jonah’s four fantastic final quarter goals.
Other highlights included Callum, Archer and Max’s ferocious tackling, Fynn’s sizzling sidesteps, Xavier and Harvey’s run and carry, Lachlan and Keegan’s dominant ruck work, and Dean’s now trademark torpedo bombs
But the absolute highlight was Kypher’s wonderful gesture when instead of kicking a certain goal, he dodged an on-coming defender, and handpassed back to Josh so he could thump his first ever goal through the big sticks. It was brilliant to watch and capped off a great game!
P.S. And the umpiring was also superb ;-)
Voucher Winners
Kypher Dodds
Xavier Allman
Under U12s - Swan vs Brunswick Bulldogs
By Coach Shane
Under 12’s played Brunswick Heads at Oakes Oval.
From the start we looked the stronger side dominating the centre and getting it forward, the aim of the day was to get everyone that hasn’t kicked a goal this season a goal. We managed to do this successfully with Madison Power, Cheyanne O’Toole, James Collins-Bray, Harvey Power, Sydney-Jack Baker and Jonah Hudson-Sheaffe all kicking goals.
Congrats Tom Bowker on kicking 50+ goals for the season.
Great effort team
Lismore 11-6.72
Brunswick Heads 2.0.12
Goal kickers
Tom Bowker 10, Louis Ashby 3, Jonah Hudson-Sheaffe 2, Malachi Canning 2, Cheyanne O’Toole 2, Django Benning 2, Sydney-Jack Baker 1, Chris Barbierato 1, James Collins-Bray 1, Django Hudson-Sheaffe 1, Jai Leach 1, Caleb Maguire 1, Harvey Power 1, Madison Power 1, Bowie Robertson 1
Under U16 Girls - Twismore U16's Girls vs Under 12's Swans
The final game of the day initially was going to be between the 16’s girls from Lismore and Tweed. However with both sides a little short on numbers, and with our 12’s more than happy to play another game, it was decided to combine the girls against the 12’s!
The 12’s did have a ‘ring in’ in the guise of last years U15's premiership player and current umpire, James Ashby.
The girls in the second half had a kind of ‘ring in’ as well, as umpire Keenan Wilkinson joined in to even it up. However he found more comfort lying on the grass after umpiring the previous game, obviously fatigued!
The 12’s he umpired in that game however exhibited no such signs, as the game itself took centre stage.
It was a great hit out for the combined girls, as they came up against a very well drilled team of skilled kids who, if given the chance, would play games of footy til they drop!
What was evident was how fast hands and teamwork can break the lines and move the play forward at good speed.
The body work and positioning, attacking the ball, supporting, shepherding, chasing, getting in and under, and providing options are what makes teams more effective and dangerous to play against.
Game plans are effective and give direction, but as long as the players do the basics, and and fight for their team, the plans will take care of themselves.
Many thanks to Nadia and Jason, and the girls from Tweed for not only coming to Lismore on their home GameDay, but involving themselves wholly in the spirit of the game.
To Shawn “Dutchie” Holland for umpiring the second half, allowing Keenan to rest up.
And our Under 12’s for backing up directly after playing a full game on what was a pretty warm afternoon.
That concludes a brilliant day footy at the spiritual home of our senior counterparts, Oakes Oval.
Everything now focuses to next Sunday’s Festival Of Football at the Cavanbah Centre, Byron Bay.
From the Superstars and all age groups, all the way up to the Grand Finals for the Under 14’s and Under 16 Girls, so stick around to cheers the Swannies!
Every club and every team will play in this festive round of footy at Byron before the respective finals series kicks off for seasons end.
See you there!