The Singleton Greyhounds 2017 season came to a close last Friday evening at the club’s annual presentation night at Club Singleton.
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There was a good vibe in the air with the ladies league-tag team, and players partners, adding a touch of glamour into the event once again.
The big winner was 20-year old fullback Will Nieuwenhuise, who secured the Clubhouse Hotel ‘Player of Year’ Award after a brilliant season considering he was coming back from an ACL injury sustained in round 1 of last year, his rookie season.
Neiuwenhuise season had a strong year having won a place in the inaugural Group 21 Under 23 representative side earlier in the season. He became a crowd favourite showing some amazing attacking prowess and an uncanny ability to beat defenders. But his best attribute is his attitude which was best summed up by captain-coach Jye Bayley during an earlier award presentation.
Nieuwenhuise is just an outstanding young man and part of the culture of change driven by Bayley this year and adopted by the majority of the senior players within the club and a trend that must continue.
The One Agency Ladies ‘Player of the Year’ went to Maddy Sonter who scooped a number of awards on top of being recognised as one of the first ladies player to reach the 50 game milestone for the club the other being Casey Fernance who was on hand to receive her award also.
Rookie of the Year went to newcomer Nathan Sweeney. The former Macquarie scorpion was a shining light in the three-quarters this year scoring some great tries and playing above his weight in defence.
Pat Ling and Jake Smith were awarded Life memberships with both players giving their all over the past decade and are rewards that are richly deserved.
There was also a jersey auction for the ‘Where There’s a Will’ foundation which has been a great initiative with its origin deep in the roots of Group 21 community. Congratulations to club sponsor Malcolm Willis who paid top price for the jersey number worn by the late Will Carrigan.
It has been a season of change for the Greyhounds, a year where they celebrated their 70th season as a united entity. It was great to see the inclusiveness from the Singleton ‘Old Boys’ throughout the year linking the past with the present for pre-match jersey presentations to all the teams for home games. Usually success is only measured in terms of premierships and for the second year in succession the club came up just short following narrow losses to both Reserve Grade and Under 18’s in their respective grand-finals.
But this season’s success will be measured by change and change is afoot at the Greyhounds and the Jye Bayley/Ben Thorley combination did a great job in re-moulding the club culture and this has begun filtering through to all the other grades too.
For a while it looked like Singleton’s First Grade side were going to produce something very special following an unbeaten nine match streak however injuries, like they usually do, played a big part during an unsuccessful finals series with the Dog’s falling one game short of a grand-final appearance. It must be said that there were some courageous performances by the likes of Russell Richards and Craig Edwards during finals playing busted. It’s unfortunate it couldn’t be rewarded and if it is the stalwart pairs last season then they did the greyhounds and themselves very proud.
Hopefully the club can build on this momentum of change and bring along some of the juniors through into grade and keep the prying eyes of Newcastle clubs at bay. Leading that renewal will be keeping the likes of Max White Memorial Award winner James Bradley and Under 18’s Group 21 player of the year Zac Butler in Singleton colours.
2017 Team Award recipients:
- Most Dedicated- Casey Fernance, Hayden Bourke, Josh Rinkin, Jake Smith;
- Most Improved- Ebony Ford, Kyle Knight, Kyle Bailey, Thomas Johnson;
- Most Consistent- Nicki Taggart, Cody Palmer, Nick Howard, Zac Solman;
- Best Back- Holly Fisher-Webster, Morgan Amidy, Zac Howlett, Will Nieuwenhuise;
- Best Forward- Maddy Sonter, Jessy Slavin, Jake Willis, Josh Desmond;
- Best Defensive- Tyler Kersley, Zac Butler, Damien James, Luke Gardner;
- Best & Fairest- Maddy Sonter, Zac Butler, Lachlan Picton, Russell Richards;
- Player’s Player- Maddy Sonter, Cody Argent, Jay Ferrie & Lachlan Preston, Josh Desmond & Will Nieuwenhuise.
Special Trophies:
- 50 club games – Maddy Sonter/Casey Fernance;
- 100 club games – Jake Smith;
- Life Member Presentations – Pat Ling, Jake Smith;
- FAO - Chris Bryant, Doug Spencer, Scott Turnbull.
- Highest Point Scorer- Holly Fisher-Webster;
- Highest Try Scorer- Holly Fisher-Webster;
- Player of the Finals- Tyler Kersley, Lachlan Fry, Jake Mackaway, Will Niewenhuise;
- Club Person of the year– Jye Bayley;
- Max White Memorial Trophy– James Bradley;
- Rookie of the Year– Nathan Sweeney;
- Players of the Year – Maddy Sonter, Will Niewenhuise.
Coaching position’s in all grades are open for the 2018 season with applications closing on Friday, October 6 for interested parties.
The club’s AGM will be held at Pirtek Park at 10.00am on Sunday 15th October. Club President Scott Matthews has indicated he will be stepping down after two years at the helm and he and the rest of the club executive can be proud of the achievements made in that time. Another pair of safe hands is needed to see the club continue to evolve and be successful on and off the field.
Finally, a massive thanks to the club’s sponsors who allow the club to grow and prosper, your support is valued and appreciated.
