VAFA Team News

We are excited to announce the arrival of Aiden Yelland to the club. Our Senior men's coach Adrian McBean, who coached Aiden at the Northern Blues a few years ago, is rapt to have the classy midfielder at the club to complement our exciting young group of players. Welcome aboard Aiden from all the Tiger faithful.

It was a great first night on the track for the senior men's teams earlier tonight at Southern Rd. In what could only be described as very average conditions, the boys were up and about. Unlike many other clubs the rain and conditions did not deter the guys from putting in a full session. There was a solid session of fitness and ball work as the boys got back into the swing of things. There was no shortage of encouragement and effort in the trying conditions.

Anyone who was there would have seen a new look group with plenty of Under 19s from 2019 along with some other fresh faces. With the exit of some senior players, some new lateral recruits, Conan, many second to third year senior players, and the usual incredibly loyal core group of players who have been at the club for a few years (who know who they are), there was a lot of really good and refreshing stuff to see.

There were a couple of key observations from the first night.

Firstly, a number of players looked like they have spent a solid summer in the gym on the beach weights, as one of the attached photos will attest to. $50 in a pizza voucher for who is first to guess whose bicep is pictured in the photo of the arm.

Secondly, a couple of players observed that starting back at a football club post Xmas is right up there with one of those very enjoyable things that you can experience in your 20s and 30s. The Phantom would agree. Bodies are fresh, the weather is warm (except tonight !), there are no weekends games to worry about, you get to hang around with your friends a couple of extra times a week, you are getting fit, you are building new relationships and working to make your current ones better, you are trying to get the most out of each other, and you are playing the game which you have probably played since you were a kid and you are feeling that sense of desire to really want to have a successful and enjoyable year. On top of this, the club is opening a new facility very shortly and you are lining up in a competition this year where you are largely able to determine your own destiny on the ladder assuming you put the work in. That is a very lucky to place to be – there are a lot of Premier A clubs who are finding that for the past few seasons they are simply playing to see who finishes fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh etc given the perceived gap between the top two or three and the rest of the competition both on and off field.

Would be great to see everyone down again on Wednesday at Brindisi St, particularly those who didn't attend tonight.

St.Bede’s/Mentone Tigers are pleased to announce the appointment of Senior Women’s playing/ Assistant coach, Belinda Ousley for 2020. Belinda comes to us with a wealth of football skills and knowledge having represented Australia in an International rules match vs Ireland in 2006. In the same year, Belinda played a pivotal role in Geelong VFLW’s (country division) successful season as the leagues leading goal kicker. In 2012 Belinda came third runner up in the NFWL best and fairest, while she was a playing head coach at Altona football club from 2012 - 2013. More recently Belinda has been named in the SEWF interleague team in both 2018 and 2019, having been named captain in the 2019 side. Belinda has also been named in the SEWF 2018 and 2019 team of the year as well as league MVP in 2018.

St Bedes / Mentone Tigers AFC in “Premier B” of the VAFA is seeking expressions of interest for the position of Reserves Coach for the 2020 season. 

The role is a critically important one as the club moves into the second year of a three year plan. Whilst season 2019 was a consolidation and development year by the club both on and off field in Premier B after falling from Premier A at the end of season 2018, the club is desirous of a very strong 2020 season propelling the club into Premier A in 2021 where it expects to compete with the top teams. With high hopes that the senior team will have success in season 2020, critical to that success is for a very strong senior reserves and seniors thirds teams in 2020.

The reserves role in 2020 is a highly attractive one for a host of reasons including:

1. A refreshed playing list after having played over 50 players in the seniors in 2019, which will not only bode well for senior team success, but reserves team success in 2020.
2. A continued emphasis by the senior coaching group on reserves team success and importance to the club.
3. Strong numbers, evidenced by the fact that the club was able to field a senior thirds team in 2019, which it expects to do again in season 2020.
4. A large number of our 2019 Under 19 players to make the progression to the senior group in season 2020.
5. A large number of our 2019 Under 19 players having already experienced senior team football in 2019.
6. With a brand new facility and pavilion upgrade, we will be home to one of the premier facilities in the Bayside Area.
7. Mentoring and development by a group of four senior coaches, each of who are continuing on from the 2019 season. 

Applicants will need to demonstrate:

• A large focus on culture, leadership, demonstrating correct behaviours, positivity. 
• Strong communication and relationship skills.
• A strong desire to teach and develop players as footballers and young men.
• Positive attitude.
• Willingness to work collaboratively with our senior coach.
• Desire to take drills in training sessions according to training plans set up the senior coaches (after instruction and teaching by the senior coaching group if that is necessary). 

All applicants must have Level 1 coaching accreditation, or be prepared to complete it in early 2020.

Those with no prior coaching experience should feel free to apply so long as they display the attributes set out above. 

Applications to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Applications close 17 November.