Welcome to Season 2022
To all in Fieldsnation, welcome to the 2022 season, one with which we approach with quiet confidence. Preseason has gone brilliantly and our new staff and coaches have fitted in well with their respective groups. Thank you to all of our 2021 members who have signed on again for 2022, your support, along with our commercial and community partners, is the lifeblood our club needs to flourish and provides the opportunity for our young men and women to play our native game. If you haven’t signed on yet, please do so, and if you are interested in sponsoring a player for the 2022 season please reach out to Jason Smith or myself and we can find you a player that suits. Your memberships can be purchased simply through our club website.
This season sees the return of many of our commercial and community partners and also a new major sponsor in McGrath Real Estate. McGrath’s are the dominant agent in the St Kilda/Elwood area and one of their principal’s, Michael Townsend, is a former player. Australian Venue Company has also significantly increased their support and we look forward to frequenting their venues even more in 2022. Scholten Collins McKissock, Matias Group and HTA are existing partners who have also increased their support and we thank all our partners for their commitment to our club.
A huge amount of work has gone into the planning of this season and I would like to thank the club's committee for all their efforts thus far. We have identified some areas we are still needing some further assistance in for the committee for events and club development. Please check here for further information.
Our men’s program heads into our 7th season under Simon Williams, and we are blessed to have such a wonderful man and football mentor guiding our young men. Joining Simon’s coaching group are former premiership player, Clay Johnston, as our Development Coach and Nick Ruhl, our new strength and conditioning coach. Our playing ranks have been strengthened by the full time commitment of Tate Short, Angus Styles, Nick Baltas, Lachie Stephens and Fraser Robertson, who have all left their VFL clubs to focus their efforts exclusively on the Fields. We will also hopefully get to see former Giant Matt Buntine and young gun Hugh Hamilton for a few games, when Casey or Carlton have a bye. We are just as thrilled to have our top 3 in last year’s Under 19’s B&F fully commit and can’t wait to see what Jack Elwood, Will Bainbridge and Gus Burley achieve at a senior level.
In our women’s program we have had a senior coaching change with inaugural Carlton AFLW coach Damien Keeping signing on to lead our women into the 2021 season. Damien has fitted in beautifully and brought a new standard to our program, which the girls have embraced with vigour. We have also, for the first time, brought in a strength and conditioning coach for our women’s teams and Jordan Love has been fantastic in physically preparing the girls. Our 2021 Reserves coach Deb Konopnicki has stepped up into a senior assistant’s position and we are blessed to have Alix Kearney replace her for 2022. Our player numbers have swelled again from last year and there will be plenty of competition for spots. Almost all of our senior squad is returning for 2022, lead by Premier Competition best & fairest winner Irena Malliaris.
Round 1 is nearly upon us and this year our men’s team will host Collegians at Glenhuntly on April 2nd. The opening home game luncheon is already filling up, however there are still tables and tickets available through our website. Our Centenary Celebration event celebrating 100 years of our club is scheduled to finally occur on Saturday the 21st may at Zinc at fed Square and we look forward to this being the biggest night in our great club's history. Tickets are also still available for this event. It has been a rough few years for community sport and in particular our beloved game of football. However this year is shaping up as a another step towards normality and you’d want to be part of the ride Grammarians will give you in 2022. See you at Glenhuntly.
Go Fields
Will Bowes
President - Caulfield Grammarians Football Club