A tough season on the field in 2023, gave the KangaRams plenty to learn from heading into 2024.
Senior Men’s
Ladder Position: 7th (1-15, 48.82%)
Leading Goalkicker: Jacob Crowe (24 goals from 13 games)
Summary:
2023 wasn’t the season the KangaRams had planned, finishing with just one win that came in their second last game of the year.
In what was Ben Oakes’ first season as senior coach of the side, the KangaRams couldn’t put their best side out on the field on a consistent basis, players such as Tom Galway who came across from Blackburn was only able to play eight games.
At their best, they showed that they could be competitive against most sides and had the ability to score quite freely. They’ll take some learnings from the season before having a look at their list, seeing what they need to target and improving on this year’s on-field performances.
Key Players:
Will Robinson recruited to the club over the off-season had an immediate effect on the playing group, in the best 11 times. Also coming across from Bayswater was Lachy Poli, improving as the year went on, finishing with 10 goals
Jacob Crowe was impressive with 24 goals, the leading goal kicker for the KangaRams. Crowe had a very interrupted year in 2022, this time managing 13 games from 16 rounds.
Daniel Butera was once again leading from the front, finishing with ten goals and listedin the best nine times from 15 matches.
Best Win: Round 16 – Croydon North MLOC 16.16 100 def. Nunawading 11.16 82 @Koonung Reserve
The side’s first win of the season came in Round 16 when they took on Nunawading at Koonung Reserve. The game was tight throughout all four quarters, the KangaRams leading at every change.
The contest turned into a shoot-out in the final quarter with both sides combining for 19 scoring shots. The winning margin was in favour of the visitors, Croydon North MLOC holding on for an 18-point win. Jake Crowe was impressive with four goals up forward while Sam Currie was listed as best on.
Off-Season Focus:
Prior to the 2022 season, the KangaRams had a massive recruiting haul, changing the list of the squad. It did prove to be valuable with the side having their best season since entering the EFNL. I’d expect that will be a key motive over the off-season, addressing what areas they need to improve in.
The recruits that did come to the club this year were all highly valuable, featuring in their best on most occasions.
So far, they’ve already announced the signing of Mitch Starling, a tall, athletic key forward who can also play in the ruck.
Senior Women’s
Ladder Position: 7th (2-12, 22.86%)
Best and Fairest: Yalleen Flahive
Leading Goalkicker: Brittany Grech (13 goals)
Summary:
A challenging year for the Croydon North MLOC Senior Women’s team, taking on a new Division after their 2022 Grand Final.
Missing a lot of their stars from the year prior, the side managed two wins, both coming against Heathmont.
This year was also the first time that Mark Hayhurst had been coach of the senior group, taking over from John Hayhurst.
Key Players:
Brittany Grech was outstanding once more, making the Division Two Senior Women’s Team of the Year, listed on the Wing.
Winning the club’s best and fairest was Yalleen Flahive, who took her game to a new level in 2023. She’s played plenty of time in the ruck over the last couple of years and was listed in the best a total of eight times this season. That included a couple of best-on-ground performances against some of the top sides of the division in East Ringwood, Waverley Blues and Surrey Park.
Flahive went on to win the club’s Best and Fairest award, with Jennifer Goldsworthy finishing as the runner-up.
Best Win: Round Five – Croydon North MLOC 5.10 40 def. Heathmont 2.7 19 @Hughes Park
The side’s first win of the 2023 season came in Round Five, in front of their home crowd against the Jets.
It was otherwise known as the Brittany Grech show as she kicked all five of the KangaRams goals and was listed as the side’s best player on the day. The win was set up off an impressive first half where all five of Grech’s goals came from.
They managed to hold off the Jets in the second half, going on to win their first game under Mark Hayhurst.
Off-Season Focus:
The club battled injuries and absences again this season, Natalie Laurie who was key for the club in 2022, played just three games at the back end of the season, kicking four goals in that time. The side also didn’t have Zappia or Jeeves this year, two of the best goal-kickers in their Grand Final year.
If they are to stay in Division Two in 2024, they’ll be looking to bring back or recruit a couple more big names to the side.
Netball
Croydon North MLOC’s first side of 2023 competed in Division Two, where they finished the year in fifth. They won ten games and only just missed out on a finals birth with Knox just above them with an extra draw. They finished off the season on a hot streak, winning eight of their last nine games.
Danielle Gazzola scored 142 goals for her side, scoring double digits in seven of her 16 matches.
The club’s second competing side was in Division Eight, finishing seventh, with three wins. Their top two goal shooters were Brooke Phillips and Gabriella Gunther, finishing the year with 88 and 82 goals each.
Veterans
Croydon North MLOC was also represented in the BJS Veterans Men’s competition. They had one of the stronger sides in the competition, finishing third on the ladder, and winning six of their eight matches.
They faced off in the finals against second-place Waverley Blues. At Half Time of the Semi-Final, there were just five points in it. Unfortunately for the KangaRams, they managed just the one behind in the second half as the Blues piled on the goals.
Benjamin Mullett was a star up forward, kicking 23 goals for the season, also having a bag of seven against Chirnside Park and a haul of six against Forest Hill-Scoresby. Meanwhile, Rhett Singer featured in the best in all nine games that he played in.
Juniors
Croydon North MLOC started their Junior Program with their first ever Under 8’s side,
The club will look to expand on that in season 2024, which will hopefully put the club in a great position going forward.