It has been an absolute pleasure to coach the future stars of the W11B-1s and the watch them grow, not only as players, but as inspiring young people.

The season began on the wind-swept fields of Anzac in late February, as the last rays of Summer threw their parting greetings across the sky. From four different teams these girls came together.  The majority of them had played Cs the year before, some had played As and Bs throughout their fledgling football journeys. Another arrived from a different club. It didn’t take long for her to become one of our own.

Into the Bs we were cast and it became quickly evident that these girls not only belonged, they excelled. They played with fierce determination, at times breathtaking skill, a healthy respect for their opponents and a willingness to learn and improve their game. Our backline was made of steel and our attack burst forward with pace and relentless energy.

There were plenty of wins, a handful of draws and a few losses. We grappled with injuries, illnesses, trips overseas and a wash-out or two. All said and done, I couldn’t have been happier with the way the girls approached training and games.

Now that the last whistle has blown on the season, it provides an opportunity to reflect, not only on a fantastic year, but the end of a chapter in these girls’ footballing lives, as they prepare to make the transition from mini-roos to competition on a full field.

We have a great group of girls in this age group, and a highlight of the season was getting together for a combined training session with all three teams, followed by a dinner in the clubhouse afterwards.

Another highlight was competing in the St George gala day, where the girls were joined by a couple of friends from the other Engadine Bs team. We went all the way to the final and the girls gained great experience testing themselves against players from different regions of Sydney.

I hope, in some small way, I’ve been able to help prepare them for the exciting journey ahead. A journey that will bring lifelong memories, friends and magic moments on the pitch. It’s been my privilege to have a little role in the development of these inspiring young people and to get to know their families a little better throughout the year.

And a huge thankyou to those families, their friends and supporters of our girls. Without your commitment, dedication and the sacrificing of Saturday mornings, there is no team. A massive shout-out to our manager, Leese, who kept the social calendar ticking over like a well-oiled machine. And of course, the unsung hero of the group, assistant coach Baz, who spent too much of his Winter lending a patient ear to my ramblings about line-ups, tactics, formations and opposition analysis.