Eddie Maguire used to open the weekly Channel Nine footy show with the cry, “It’s been a big week in football!” It certainly has been at Sacred Heart this week.

Well done to Mr Josh Todd and the Senior football team who won the GISSA Seniors Grand Final on Wednesday. We wish them well as they move onto the Herald Sun Shield Competition in Melbourne next Term.

On Thursday, it was our Junior stars' turn to shine. Sacred Heart entered two teams in the Junior GISSA competition and both teams performed admirably.

SHC 2 scored a win, a draw and loss in their pool games before meeting SHC 1 in the Semi Finals. SHC 1 played some exciting footy in their pool games including big wins against both Iona and St Ignatius College: SHC 17.14.116 to Iona College 0.0.0 and SHC 8.9. 57 to St Ignatius College 0.0.1.

The Grand Final was a hard fought battle, but SHC 1 reigned supreme (to claim 'back to back’ flags) finishing ahead on 2.3.15 to Geelong College 0.1.1.

Harriet O’Dwyer and Addi Giles co-captained SHC 1 and led from the front all day. Harriet eventually claimed the medal for SHC 1’s best player, and Mia Mason claimed the medal for SHC 2’s best player. Ava Murphy won the sportsmanship award for SHC 1 and Amelia Doody took home this honour for SHC 2.

Other standout players at Year Eight included Violet Miers (her leap and hit outs at the centre bounce and around the ground set up many attacks for SHC 1), Frankie Van Galen who played in the centre and just kept winning the footy, Madeline Kennedy (a real terrier - phenomenal the way that she kept presenting), Grace Tolley - another who just keeps getting the ball out to her team mates and Emma Henderson who was on fire at full forward until receiving a head knock and having to be ruled out of the competition.

Some impressive debuts from Year Seven included Asha Albones who was a strong presence up forward, Milla Belcher (an absolute ‘rock’ at centre half back) who also when moved to the forward line kicked a couple of very telling goals, Luca Bode and Ava Beyer who held down the wings with skill and courage, Chilli Findling in the forward pocket and Ava Murphy who starred in attack and also on the ball. Ava took on every challenge I threw at her with aplomb.

It was great to get the win, but the most rewarding part of the day was witnessing players emerge who should not only go on and represent SHC in future years, but also hopefully, follow in the footsteps of some of our Alumni and aspire to play at the elite level.

A big thank you to my fellow coach Mr Mitch Brendel for all his hard work and leadership of SHC 2. Thanks to Ms Olivia Mairos (PE trainee) for her help today and all her work at our training sessions. Mr Darby Henderson deserves a special mention for his efforts looking after the concussion protocols with any of our players who received a head knock today and of course our Sport Co-ordinator Ms Bianca Cheever for all her behind the scenes organisation. Thanks also to the many parents who attended and supported our players.

Well done to both teams. I was very proud of all of you.

Carl Tracey - Junior Football coach