Glenvill Homes - QAFL Senior Leadership Group 2021

The Sherwood Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment the QAFL Senior leadership group for 2021.

A great mix of experience and youth, they are a fantastic set of young men to lead the club into what should be a fantastic QAFL competition in 2021.

Captain – Luca Winton

Vice Captain – Will Fletcher

Leadership Group – Jackson Allen, Riley Easton and Toara Marango

Luca Winton takes ownership of the captaincy role after a fantastic 3 seasons back at Sherwood including the 2019 Bill Peirce Medal after a runner up finish in 2018.  A Sherwood Junior since the u8s in 2006, Luca displays great passion for the black and white, sets high standards on and off the field for his teammates and is a true leader by example with his dedication to constant improvement through sheer hard work.  Upholding the values of the club and the 2021 senior squad, the club is great hands in 2021 under his leadership.

Will Fletcher has stepped into the role of Vice Captain for 2021, after a breakout 2020 season where he was able to settle into the senior midfield and consistently displayed the form everyone knew he was capable of.  Highlighted by being a runaway winner in the Bill Peirce Medal and Best in Finals after putting the team on his back in the final quarter against Maroochydore to charge home to a fantastic finals win.  Will is also another long term Sherwood junior and after stints in the NEAFL with the Brisbane Lions and Aspley, his full-time return to Sherwood in 2020 came with a level of maturity that sees him the ideal candidate to step into a senior leadership role.

Another local junior in Jackson Allen has returned to Sherwood where his senior career started when he debuted as a 16 year old in 2009 in Sherwood’s QAFL side.  Jackson went on to be drafted to the Gold Coast Suns where he made his AFL debut in 2012 and spent 3 seasons before moving to the SANFL in 2015 to play with Sturt.  He then returned to Brisbane in 2017 and played with Aspley in the NEAFL where he was Co-Captain.  Returning to Sherwood, Jackson brings with him a wealth of experience and leadership and will be a fantastic mentor for the young Sherwood team.  Riley Easton at just 22 is remarkably one of the most experienced players in the Sherwood lineup.  Much like Jackson Allen, he made his debut as a 16 year old in 2015 when he arrived at the club from Dalby as a promising prospect for Sherwood’s dominant u17 Division 1 side but quickly showed he was ready for the higher level.  Playing 10 games in his debut season, the diminutive player showed remarkable qualities as the side pushed into the finals, with a particularly ferocious attack on the ball and an appetite for the contest.  He was then the winner of the QAFL Rising Star Award in 2018 in his 4th season (after back to back years wrecked by 2 x ACL injuries) and continued his growth in form through 2019 and 2020, averaging in excess of 10 tackles per game during the 2020 season.  Riley is a natural leader at the club and will push the group to higher standards through the example he sets on and off the track.  Riley also fills the important role of chief of the fines committee!  Rounding out the 5 man leadership team is Toara Marango.  A Sunshine Coast junior, Toara started his footy at the Caloundra Panthers before making is way through various junior representative teams and then found himself in the Brisbane Lions Academy team, the Allies and the Lions NEAFL side, whilst also playing some QAFL football with the Sandgate Hawks.  Toara is a strong key defender with a genuine presence on and off the field that draws people.  Having recently turned 21 Toara is the youngest of the leadership group and the natural progression in his football journey will be to further enhance his already strong leadership credentials in the 2021 season.

CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT - Perpetual Round 1 Trophy & Best on Ground Medal vs Mt Gravatt

With the annual Round 1 clash with traditional rivals the Mt Gravatt Vultures – Sherwood AFC are delighted to announce that next weeks home game will see the inaugural contesting of the Pelly Selvage Cup, to be awarded to the winning team and the Butler Hammond Medal for the best player on the ground in the Round 1 encounter.

This perpetual trophy and perpetual medal recognise legends of both clubs in Warren Selvage, Dennis Pelly, Greg Butler and Mitch Hammond.    Pelly and Hammond represent the Vultures and were both highly respected opponents of the Magpies during decorated playing careers. In fact Dennis Pelly and Greg Butler were on field rivals, but remained firm friends for many years after their careers and Butler was one of many attendees at the funeral of Dennis Pelly in 2019. A quote from the ‘Vale Dennis Pelly’ article upon his passing referenced the strong rivalry with Butler.

“Many games against arch rivals Sherwood involved titanic centre man clashes between Denis and the Magpies Greg Butler. These clashes were season highlights and were as good as anything on offer in the QAFL at the time. These two tough, talented hard heads going at it hammer and tongs were always a delight to watch.”

Warren Selvage

Warren Selvage was a local Sherwood lad attending Sherwood State School when he began his footy journey with Sherwood.  He went onto attend Churchie, but continued to play footy at Sherwood progressing to the senior team for his first senior game in 1972.  His father Ian Selvage was President for 10 years, and his mother Ailsa was also a strong supporter of the club.  The club Honour Boards are known as the Ian & Ailsa Selvage Memorial Honour Boards after they were sadly lost in a car accident in the 1980’s.

After making his debut in 1972, Warren went on to have remarkable success in senior football with Sherwood, playing in 9 Premiership sides (1973 and 1975-82) playing Mt Gravatt in the Grand Final in 6 of those victories.  Selvage was also the Captain/Coach of the team for his final two Sherwood Senior Premierships in 1981 and 1982 before moving to North Queensland for work commitments.  Selvage continued his involvement in football in Townsville, Cairns and later on the Sunshine Coast as well.  He added a further 2 senior Premierships in Townsville playing for the Currajong Blues before also being part of the setup of the Northshore Jets on the Sunshine Coast, serving as a committee member of the Maroochydore Roos and was a member of the AFL Queensland Advisory Board for South East Queensland Juniors (President 2013-2016)  and in 2018 was awarded the AFLQ Merit Award, which  is the highest honour awarded to volunteers who have provided 10 or more years of outstanding service to community football.

One of three Selvage brothers to play at Sherwood, Warren was a tough, hard nosed and tight checking defender, able to shut down the absolute best players of his era, he was quick, strong, disciplined and described as the ultimate teammate by those who played with him, no finer compliment could be given.

Greg Butler

Greg Butler was the eldest of 10 children, all of whom played at Sherwood.  There were 7 brothers, while the 3 sisters also played in the Womens team in the 70s.  Greg was an absolute natural, representing QLD all through his junior career in u12s, u15s and u17s as well as in Senior Football.  After an illustrious junior career at Sherwood, he moved to Melbourne due to work commitments and played with Richmond u19s alongside the likes of Dale Weightman, Mark Lee and other future household names.

Returning to Brisbane in 1978, Butler was straight back to Sherwood where he played in the 1978,79 and 80 Senior Premierships, including winning the Best & Fairest in 1978 and 1979 in a champion Sherwood Team.  1980 was a most unusual year for many Sherwood Footballers, with many of them winning 3 Senior Premierships in the one season. For years both Sherwood and Mt Gravatt were continually denied entry in the QAFL, despite Mt Gravatt defeating Premiers Coorparoo in the pre-season competition, and Sherwood going one better and winning the QAFL Pre-Season competition accounting for all of the leading QAFL teams of the era.  In 1980, a quirk in the SQAFA and QAFL draw allowed for some players who were willing, able and good enough to play in both competitions and Kedron were smart enough to recruit 9 players from the champion Sherwood side who would play SQAFA Football for Sherwood on Saturday and QAFL for Kedron on Sunday.  As a result, Butler and 8 of his Sherwood teammates won the 1980 QAFL Pre-Season Cup for Sherwood, the SQAFA Senior Premiership for Sherwood and also played for Kedron to complete the trifecta and win the QAFL Premiership as well. In 1981 this loophole was closed and with Butler now residing in the northern suburbs, he went on to play a further 200 QAFL games for Kedron through the 1980s, continued to play for QLD and was a champion player of Queensland footy in the era.  Butler was widely respected by all he played with against, highly skilled and tough and carried himself with great character both on and off the field. 

Dennis Pelly and Mitch Hammond

Dennis Pelly was a close rival and great mate of Greg Butler during and after their playing careers, Pelly was widely respected by all at Sherwood and during his time at Mayne where he was a Runner Up in the Grogan Medal, he was also coached by Sherwood Legend Kevin Kluver and was a member of Mayne’s 1973 QAFL Premiership team. Mitch Hammond was one of the fiercest, yet most respected rivals of Warren Selvage and a quality representative of the Mt Gravatt Vultures.

Sherwood AFC welcomes Glenvill Homes as new Major Partner

The Sherwood Australian Football Club are delighted to welcome Glenvill Homes on board as our new Major Partner for 2021 and beyond. 

Glenvill Homes are part of a dynamic, multi-faceted company encompassing all aspects of design, development and construction. Beyond this core business, the group also has divisions active in multi-unit housing developments, house and land packages, investment packages, project construction and interior design consultancy. In addition to tens of thousands of homes, they have designed and built high-rise offices, luxury apartment towers and retirement villages both in Australia and in the United States.

The Glenvill Group is comprised of several individual yet complementary businesses; Glenvill Homes, Aplace, Glenvill Developments, Glenvill Projects  and Echo Townhomes. Each business operates completely independently and at arms length to one another.

This enables them to enjoy synergies, financial security and collective know-how that is derived from operating across interdependent disciplines and sectors.

In the most recent 12 months, Glenvill Homes via their Aplace housing division have expanded into South East Queensland.  Aplace by Glenvill has made a commitment to a long-term strategy in developing a centralised operational team along with improved business process technology. This ensures the have a highly scalable business which is able to deliver unparalleled levels of productivity and service. This centralised approach delivers significant leverage advantages and is the reason for their successful expansion.  The Glenvill Group via their Echo Townhomes, have become the largest builder of medium density development in Victoria and are now expanding into Queensland via their initial project at Aura on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland Manager, Paul Merritt recently visited the club to finalise the details and was impressed with fantastic community culture and hive of activity at the Magpie Nest.  “I love my sport and I’m looking forward to getting down to regular games to support the Magpies in what promises to be a fantastic 2021 season, we’re really excited to partner with such an innovative, and community driven organisation that align with our core values” he said.

Club President, Andrew Thomson was in regular contact during discussions in December with Glenvill’s General Manager of Housing, Leigh Squarci.  A deal was signed off just before Christmas.  Before the impacts of COVID-19, Mr Squarci was a regular visitor to QLD to oversee the business expansion and was looking for ways to further their reach and footprint in the local market.  As an avid footy fan, he was excited at the prospect of partnering with one of the biggest volunteer run community footy clubs in Brisbane.

“Aligning with an organisation that shares similar values of quality, affordability, sustainability and community is exciting, and we can’t wait to see this partnership grow” he said.

Andrew Thomson said “I’m excited to partner with a genuinely national business with a growth mindset looking to expand in our backyard.  We certainly believe partnering with the Magpies will be mutually beneficial to Glenvill Homes and our Magpie Community.  With their support we can continue to expand on programs to grow participation, support our current players and improve infrastructure – while Glenvill will certainly benefit from their association with a respected organisation that also offers a social media reach of 20,000+ impressions each month, a huge and loyal supporter base and strong business connections.”

Everyone at the Magpies is excited ahead of the 2021 Season, and we’re delighted to have Glenvill Homes to partner with us on the journey.

QFA (Woodsmen) - Coaching Appointment

Gareth Crawford has been appointed as the playing coach of the Woodsmen QFA Team.

'Crawf' is a veteran of over 350 Senior games throughout country Victoria and the QAFL with the Magpies. He played 169 games with Hamilton in the Western District as well as over 50 games with both Sherwood in the QAFL and Eaglehawk in the Bendigo Football League, as well as shorter stints with Palmerston in the NTFL and other Victorian clubs.

He is a Senior Best & Fairest winner at Sherwood in 2017 as well as a league medal winner in the Western Border League in Victoria, 5 times inter-league representative and Senior Best & Fairest winnner at both Eaglehawk and Hamilton.

He brings a wealth of experience to the table with over 20 years playing Senior Football and having previously held assistant coaching roles.

Having played with 9 clubs across his career, the consistent theme for 'Crawf' is to just play footy with his mates, and there is no more perfect place to do that than with the Woodies in the twilight of a wonderful career where he will guide the team on and off the field in his capacity as playing coach.

The Woodies hit the track for the first time on Wed 3 Feb at 630pm - come down and join them!

Junior Coaching Appointments - Season 2021

Sherwood Football Club are delighted to announce the head coaches for each confirmed junior age group for Season 2021. Once teams in each squad are better established, more coaches will be appointed for the additional teams in each of the age group.

Sean (Happy) Toohey has been appointed the head coach of the U11s for Season 2021.

Sean started playing football when he was 6 years of age for Jindalee Jags. He played from u8s through to U14s (playing up an age group) before changing clubs to Sherwood to play with his mates, also in the U14s.

His team made the grand final in his first year at the club, but unfortunately did not take home the flag.

Sean played in the Sherwood u17s undefeated Division 1 Premiership side coached by club legend Rob Mitchell. There was no senior team for him to play in at Sherwood the following year after the disbanding of the merger with Western Districts, so he pulled on the boots for Kenmore and played in their Division 3 premiership winning team

The following year, Sherwood fielded a Senior team and Sean quickly became an instrumental player. In 2006, he played in the team that won the clubs first senior flag in 10 years and 2nd since 1982 under coach Paul Grentell. He didn't play in the 2008 premiership team, but he was still on the park as the team runner.

In 2009, Sean was captain of the inaugural "Woodies" team (Previously 3rds, Low Rollers and Sherwood Old Boys) under coach and Grogan medalist, Bill Pierce. The team made the grand final and what a day it was for Sean. His wife gave birth to twins in the morning, and he ran out to lead the Woodies to the flag later in the day! He captained a 2nd Premiership undeated in 2014 and he still pulls the boots on for one game a year just to keep his career alive!

Sean has 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. Cooper is keeping the family Sherwood football tradition alive and has been playing at the club for several years. Sean also married into 'Magpie Royalty' when he married Kate, who is both the daughter and sister for former club Presidents from the Vowles family who were instrumental in making the Magpies the wonderful club it is today.

Sean was assistant coach to his teams in 2017, 18 & 19, before stepping up to be the head coach of the mighty U10s in 2020. He lives and breathes footy, and has stepped up for the club again in 2021 to take the role as head coach for the U11s.

Wil Ivinson has been appointed the head coach for the U10's for Season 2021.

Wil is a long time Sherwood AFC member, starting with the club as a junior way back in 1990, after arriving from Darwin. He had a successful playing career across 24 years through to 2014, culminating in a Premiership win with the Woodsmen in his last game.

Through that time, he also coached at the U16 and U18 level, winning two Division 1 grand finals and has been an integral part of the club over many years with his leadership and mentoring of countless future Senior players. He is also a qualified trainer and acted as a volunteer in this role across all senior grades, as well as having experience with several AFL clubs.

In 2016, the next generation Wil Ivinson (Jnr) started his footy career at Sherwood. With his son now playing at the club he loves, Wil became heavily involved in junior coaching - guiding U6s, U8s and U9s through 4 enjoyable seasons.

Wil brings a lot of structure and a lot of fun to his training sessions which brings out the best in all the kids he coaches and this was recognised in 2019 when he was deservedly awarded the Sherwood Junior Coach of the Year award. Wil took a break from coaching in 2020 and became the Junior Coaching Coordinator at the club, helping coaches and players across all age groups. The coaching bug kept biting Wil through 2020, and he decided early on that he wanted to get back into coaching 2021, so here he is, ready and raring to go for another exciting year!

Our u10 age group are incredibly lucky to have Wil at the helm for 2021 in what promises to be a fantastic season.

Hugo Gower has been appointed as the head coach of the u9s for Season 2021.

Hugo began playing Aussie Rules for the Walkerville Cats in South Australia at the age of 5 before going on to play senior football at St Peter’s College. He continued to play Old Scholars for St Peter’s whilst completing a medical degree at the University of Adelaide.

He spent many years working in Paediatric Emergency and continued to play senior football during this time. He finally hung up his boots at the age of 36.

Hugo moved to Brisbane from Darwin in 2011 and after enjoying being an assistant coach in 2019 at Sherwood Magpies under 8s he took on the role of head coach successfully in 2020, also earning the Sherwood Junior Coach of the year award.

Besides obviously improving all the children’s football skills Hugo’s background in paediatrics means that he works tirelessly to also help mature the children into great young adults.

When not involved in football he is working hard to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Sadly for him ( for now anyway), he is an avid Adelaide Crows supporter but he does support the Lions when the Crows aren’t playing.

He is super excited to get the season started after all the turmoil of 2020 and he will be greatly supported by an awesome collective of under 9s coaches, all of whom will bring different skill sets to the table.

Andy Veprek has been appointed as the head coach of the U8s for Season 2021.

Andy has been a western suburbs boy all of his life. He joined Sherwood as a 13yo in 1987 and played through to the Under 17s. In 1991, he joined the West Brisbane Warriors Under 19s (an amalgamation of Sherwood and Western Districtsin the QAFL) and played in the very first official game of the new club. Andy continued to play with West Brisbane until 1997 when the cmerger disbanded and Western Districts folded. One of his fondest memories and a highlight of his career was playing alongside older Sherwood stars like Billy Peirce, Grant Dalman, and Lee Barnes. In 1997 he moved to Yeronga Football Club and played through until 2010. He was fortunate enough to play in the senior premiership team in 2006.

Now Andy has two boys who love footy and it has seen him return to Sherwood where it all started for him. Both his boys started in Auskick and have been making their way through the ranks at Sherwood. Ben is playing in the U10s and Joshua is playing his second year in the U8s.

Since his boys have been back at the club, he has been heavily involved. In 2018, he was team manager and assistant coach for the U8s, in 2019 he took on a coaching role in the U8s. Last year he coached the U9s and he has put up his hand to do it all again in 2021.

Andy loves his coaching. He enjoys not only seeing his boys develop, but seeing all the boys and girls at the club enjoying footy and having fun, just like he did when he was a kid. He knows that the friendships, memories, and life skills that football will give them in the coming years will last them a lifetime.

u16 Training Commencement - Wed 20 Jan @ 5pm

All interested players are encouraged and invited to attend the first session of the 2021 u16 season on Wednesday 20 January from 5pm at Sherwood Football Club.

As our players have many demands on their time, especially with summer sport, we understand 100% attendance is difficult - however would encourage attendance at the first session of the year for those able to do so.

The evening will consist of a short meeting to outline expectations for the season, before a short and sharp training run.

Look forward to seeing all our Magpie families back at the club head of a big 2021 season.

Inquiries: Head Coach Stephen Hedge - Stephen Hedge - 0434 279 914

Youth Coaching Appointments - Season 2021

Sherwood Football Club are delighted to announce the head coaches for each confirmed youth age group for Season 2021. Once teams in each squad are better established, more coaches will be appointed for the additional teams in each of the age groups. Further to this, we are also hoping to confirm an u15 Girls team and once we have achieved sufficient numbers, a coach will be appointed for this team.

Stephen Hedge has been appointed the head coach of the u16 squad. 'Hedgey' has a long association with the Magpies, having commenced as a club junior in the 1970's before progressing to Senior Football in the 1980's where he played Senior Football for Sherwood in the QAFL. In 1988, he moved to Darwin and continued his footy with the Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL where he was a member of the 1988/89 Premiership Team.

Returning to Brisbane in 2006, he once again continued his footy with the 'Low Rollers' who then became the Sherwood Old Boys and now the Woodsmen playing up until 2008 where he finally completed a 30+ year playing career and became involved in coaching.

Assisting him will be Sherwood Life Member and former Captain, Michael Blackmore. 'Mousey' as he is known to most, played junior and senior football at Sherwood between 1980 and 2012, with some brief stints with Wests and Yeronga, including captaining the Magpies in 2002 and 2003. He played very good footy for the club well into his 40's. He was known for his fierce attack on the footy and loved to take a hanger. He is an experienced and accomplished coach and is a fantastic addition to the u16 coaching group.

Luke Mahoney has been appointed Head Coach of the u14 Squad. Luke was an accomplished player at Sherwood as a junior, and was also an elite track & field athlete in middle distance events. He then went on to play Senior Football at Wests and University and since his playing days finished has been involved with coaching at Sherwood, most recently as the head coach of u11s in 2020. Luke is passionate about developing junior footballers, with a focus on fitness, skill development and team camaraderie and is excited to take the reigns of a talented age group at Sherwood.

Assisting Luke will be Billy Bridge who is a multiple Division 1 Premiership player in the very strong WRFL in Victoria. Before commencing his junior footy coaching career, Billy spent 8 years as a representative basketball coach, he then coached 2 seasons of junior footy at Wyndhamvale FC prior to relocating to Queensland where he coached the Ipswich Cats u12 team. Billy believes that coaching young players is about making them better footballers, but also about instilling skills they can take beyond the football field in the future.

Also assisting will be Richard Harrison. Richard played approximately 200 amateur games in the Southern Football League in Adelaide, as well as 45 Senior Games for South Adelaide in the SANFL. He is passionate about coaching junior football and coached for 4 seasons in Adelaide for Reynella FC as well as a season with Sherwood u12s in 2019.

Paul McPhee will the head coach of the u13 girls. Paul played his junior football in country Victoria at the Horsham Tigers and Dimboola in the Wimmera League and then subsequently at Monivae College, Hamilton. Paul moved to Queensland in 1989 and played 17s, 19s and Senior football at Caloundra, and also represented the Sunshine Coast before hanging up his boots in 1994 to pursue his working life.

Paul arrived at Sherwood in the 2017 season when his son began to play football. Two seasons later his daughter also signed up to play in the Sherwood U11 Girls team. In his time at the club, Paul has volunteered for numerous roles including team manager, assistant coach and coach of the U8 & U9s.

Paul has a passion for teaching the fundamentals of football to young developing players and understands that the game is still growing in Queensland and does all he can to help promote our great game. He is looking forward to taking the reins and help lead the girls to a fun and successful season.

Assisting Paul will be Chris La Burniy. Chris played most of his junior football at Coorparoo where he also graduated to the senior ranks. Chris was also an elite basketballer and as a result, footy then took a backseat. After returning from several years living in the UK, he was recruited to Sherwood by a fellow parent in his daughters prep class in 2012 to play for the Woodsmen where he accumulated close to 100 games and was part of an undefeated Premiership team in 2014. Chris has coached the u8s for the past 2 seasons as well as assisting with the u11 girls and is exceptional at dealing with young athletes and passing on his knowledge and experience.

Damian Haber is the head coach of the u12 squad. Damian arrived at Sherwood in season 2020 assisting in the u11s after previously coaching at Moggill Mustangs in 2018 and 2019. He has over 20 years experience as a player and coach, playing all his junior football a Southport Sharks. He also played Senior Football at Southport before relocating to Melbourne where he attended Melbourne Uni and also continued playing Senior Football. He completed his senior footy career in his late 20's in order to focus on a thriving professional career where he worked as a lawyer and in property finance before establishing his own student accommodation business.

Following over 20 years of playing and coaching Aussie Rules, together with his professional experience in working with various teams, Damian has a key focus on developing and encouraging his players to strive to be their best individually and establishing a strong sense of team.

Assisting Damian will be Scott Boothey who brings over 250 games of playing experience across 4 states, as well a wealth of coaching experience with 3 years as a Senior Assistant in the WAAFL and assisting in Sherwood juniors for the last 5 seasons where he has been a valuable asset in the development of junior players at Sherwood.

Also assisting will be Andrew Thomson. "Thommo" is the current President of Sherwood Football Club and a Life Member, having played close to 200 games since 2007 and having coached various teams from Auskick to u12s in recent seasons. He has been involved in sport all his life, growing up in country Victoria where he was a Victorian representative in Aussie Rules, Cricket and Hockey before relocating to Queensland as a teenager and regrettably had a temporary (10 years..) code switch to Rugby Union! He has extensive junior coaching experience across multiple sports from a young age, having coached BBC Cricket & Rugby teams whilst at University, as well as junior representative teams in both sports from 2004-2007.

Senior Womens QFAW - Coaching Appointments

Sherwood Football Club are pleased to confirm the appointment of the Senior Women Coaching Team for Season 2021.

Senior Coach - Mitchell Merritt

Assistant Coach - Cam Bulley

Assistant Coach - Kieran Canning

Development Coach - Luke Mitchell

Team Manager & Player Welfare - Lahnie Cooper

Mitchell Merritt

Mitch is a Forest Lake & Sherwood Junior having played at the Magpies since 2004. Injuries forced a break from the game from 2008-2011 before catching the football bug again while studying at Griffith University, joining the University aligned team, Griffith Moorooka Roosters and going onto play 102 games from 2011 to 2017, alongside being an active member of the committee in the capacity of Football Manager and Vice-President 2016-2017.

Mitch then decided to return to Sherwood in 2018 when he was elected to the board and has been instrumental in the strategic planning for the club, including the return of Senor Womens football after a 5 year hiatus, where in 2020 he took the reigns as Senior Coach, taking the team all the way to the Preliminary Final and more importantly, fostering a wonderful team culture and learning environment. Mitch still enjoys having a kick on a Friday night with the Woodsmen and we are delighted to have Mitch return as the Senior Coach for Season 2021.

Cameron Bulley

Also returning from the 2020 season is local footy legend Cam Bulley. Cam was an assistant coach in 2020 and brings with him an illustrious playing career in the local area. Cam played 175 games for Wests Juniors, and was a Queensland Representative in u15s, u16s (Captain) and u17s Teal Cup. He trained with the Brisbane Bears in the 1988 pre-season and played Senior QAFL footy for Western Districts from 1987 to 1997 where he was a Best & Fairest Winner, Queensland Representative player and Captained the 1996 QAFL Premiership. After Western Districts folded, he spent two seasons with the Northern Eagles and also had a stint in the SANFL in 1992 with Woodville West Torrens.

Alongside his obviously strong playing and leadership credentials, Cam has coached over 100 games at Wests Juniors including a Division 1 u14 Premiership in 2016. We are delighted to have Cam on board again as part of our Senior Womens program in 2021.

Kieran Canning

Kieran returns to Sherwood where he played most of his junior and youth football, prior to playing and coaching over the hill at the Kenmore Bears. Kieran is set to be a fantastic asset to the QFAW program this year and is keen to contribute on many fronts particularly in the area of skill and game sense development. Kieran has two young daughters - a big reason for him wanting to contribute specifically to the women's space as a coach to ensure that his girls to see that women's footy is important and a viable option for them.

Lahnie Cooper

Lahnie Cooper is a familiar face at Sherwood, with her effervescent personality and contagious love of the game making her a key member of 2020 playing squad.  

While Lahnie has not retired from playing, injuries have taken their toll so when deciding how best to contribute in 2021, it quickly became apparent that there were multiple ways that she could add value beyond just playing. Lahnie will be a go-to person for player welfare, especially with younger playing group as well as helping to make our game day run smoothly as team manager. 

Lahnie was born with a Sherrin in her hand playing with Sunshine Heights Football Club and a burning dream to play for the Collingwood Magpies, Lahnie played junior football with the boys all the way through until like so many women, she was told that there was no team available continue playing in so had to give the game away. At the time, being given the news that her ability to play the game that she loved so much had to be taken away was a very bitter pill to swallow, however thankfully she never lost her interest in the game staying connected through her support of the Magpies. While her playing focus has been with soccer mostly with Palm Beach and Southport and other sports Lahnie has always been a football tragic so when women’s football made a resurgence and AFLW was announced, Lahnie was quick to get involved. Making her debut for Sherwood in 2020 was symbolic of how far the game has come. Fast forward to 2021, women’s football is booming and Lahnie is playing an important role in helping the game continue to flourish and the Magpies are delighted to have her on board for 2021.

Luke Mitchell

Luke Mitchell is a current senior men's footballer at Sherwood where has played 92 Senior QAFL Games. Luke is also a club junior and second generation Magpie, with his father Steve a multiple Premiership winner in the 70’s and life member of the club. Luke now follows in the footsteps of both Steve and older brother Drew, by giving back to the club as a coach, with Steve having coached many junior teams, the Reserves and Drew now coming into his second season as the QAFL Colts coach. He is keen to share his knowledge of the game as much as possible and will be a great help to anyone keen to put in some extra work to take their game to the next level.

Club Announcement - Assistant Coach QAFL

The Sherwood Football Club are delighted to welcome (back) Brett ‘Noodles’ McEvoy as Assistant Coach for the QAFL Seniors.

Brett is a highly experienced player and coach, playing all his junior football with Sherwood before graduating to the Senior side in the late 90’s.  He then moved to Moranbah for work reasons where he played a further 3 years of Senior footy, including two best & fairest medals for the Moranbah Bulldogs.

Brett then returned to Sherwood where he won the 2010 QAFL Reserves League Best & Fairest before ‘retiring’ to the Woodsmen where he achieved the elusive Premiership in 2014.

He began his coaching journey in 2009 as the Met North u12 coach and then Assistant to the QLD u12 side. He was then appointed head coach of the QLD u12 side in 2016 and has held numerous other development and youth representative coaching roles including Brisbane North u16s for 3 seasons.  In addition to his efforts in youth coaching, he was then appointed midfield coach for the Brisbane Lions Academy and was the runner for the Brisbane Lions NEAFL team. He also coached the Sherwood QAFL Colts in 2017 alongside Reid Dobson, taking them to the Grand Final.

Brett is a familiar face at Sherwood through his playing days, and importantly – he is a very familiar face to both our current and future playing group, having coached many of our senior squad in the Lions Academy and junior representative sides.  He is also an excellent conduit alongside Football Director Darren Resuggan into the Sherwood youth program where many of his current and former charges are eying a Senior debut in coming years.

It’s hugely exciting to have ‘Noodles’ back down at the club for season 2021 and beyond.

Club Announcement - Senior Football Director

The Sherwood Football Club are delighted to welcome Darren Resuggan to the club in the role of Senior Football Director.

Darren has been heavily involved in Australian Football all his life, including working for the AFL for the past 20 years in various roles, mostly related to talent ID and development.  For the past 8 years Darren has been employed by AFL Queensland running the South Brisbane Talent Program prior to that he also had involvement as a Colts, Reserves and Senior Coach in NSW.

Darren also spent time in WA where he was the Subiaco Lions country talent manager in the WAFL, helping build a triple premiership (consecutive) winning WAFL list.  He also worked as an assistant coach to future Collingwood Assistant and St Kilda Senior Coach Scott Watters and worked alongside Chris Waterman and Jarrod Schofield on game day.

He is a Brisbane local, having played state footy for Queensland and played Senior Footy at the Mayne Tigers and will be a valuable addition to the Sherwood Football Club.

We welcome Darren officially to the Sherwood Footy Club and should you wish to make contact you can get him on footballdirector@westernmagpies.com.au or 0438 850 993

2021 Season - Team Manager & First Aid Officer Nominations

All interested parties in being a Team Manager or First Aid Officer for Season 2021 are invited to register their interest via the forms below.

TEAM MANAGER Role Description

FIRST AID OFFICER Role Description

Junior & Youth Coaching - Expressions of Interest 2021 Season

All current and prospective coaches are invited to submit an expression of interest for Season 2021 via the button below.

Please ensure you have read the Junior Coaching Guidelines and you are prepared to agree to this policy and sign accordingly in addition to the AFLQ Code of Conduct

Please also see the Junior Coaching Selection Policy to understand the process.

Club Announcement - Senior Coach Appointment

The Sherwood Football Club Board of Directors are delighted to announce the appointment of Adrian Fletcher as Senior Coach for the 2021 QAFL Season and beyond.

The independent coaching recruitment and selection panel ran a strong process, and there were several outstanding applicants.

Adrian brings with him 30+ years of vast football experience both as player and coach throughout Australia at both the elite level, but also importantly in several talent ID and development programs in multiple states.

After a decorated playing career in the VFL/AFL including 231 games across 4 clubs including an AFL Club Best & Fairest and holding the captaincy of Fremantle Dockers for 2 seasons, he made the move into coaching at Collingwood as a Development Coach in 2002-2003.

Adrian then moved to Geelong Cats Football Club for 2 seasons, responsible for opposition analysis and player development before then returning to Collingwood for 3 seasons as the line coach for the Collingwood midfield.

During this time, Collingwood and Geelong contested multiple Grand Finals and Preliminary Finals at AFL level, with Fletcher as a key member of the coaching and player development structure.

In 2008, Adrian then moved to the Brisbane Lions where he was involved for 6 seasons in various coaching roles including (but not limited to) Line Coach (Midfield and Forwards), Strategy Coach (Midfield and Forwards), Opposition Analysis, Training Coordinator and Stand in Senior Coach,

Upon leaving the elite AFL coaching environment, Adrian then moved into a role with AFL Queensland and the AFL as High Performance Coach looking after QLD U16s and u18 Allies as Coach and overseeing the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns Academy Programs. During this time, 26 players coached and developed in programs designed and run by Adrian were drafted to AFL clubs, with 22 of them now having made a Senior AFL debut.

The coaching selection panel identified Adrian’s key skills as identification, recruitment, development and retention of players through a learning and decision making environment as a key factor in his appointment as Senior Coach at Sherwood. His ability to demand a culture of work ethic to achieve excellence, with all players judged on performance related actions and given individual feedback to make them the best player they can be within a team environment will be key to the development of Sherwood’s young playing list.

Given the Sherwood Senior QAFL Squad profile includes 75% of players aged 17-21, the extensive experience at both AFL level, but also overseeing talent development programs specifically for this demographic of player is a key driver in the appointment of Adrian Fletcher as the new Senior Coach for Sherwood Football Club.

We welcome Adrian to the Magpies and look forward to kickstarting the 2021 pre-season under his guidance.

Bill Peirce Medal - SEnior Best & Fairest Preview

TIGHT CONTEST PREDICTED IN BILL PEIRCE MEDAL COUNT

A tight contest is expected for the 2020 Bill Peirce Medal count to be held on Friday, October 23rd. In the Covid-19 shortened QAFL season, Sherwood had a number of fine players who will be in contention to win the prestigious medal.

Among the favourites will be our last two winners in reigning champion Luca Winton who was a runaway winner in 2019 after a runner up finish in 2018 and Ryan Harwood, the 2018 winner. Both had excellent seasons and should feature strongly. Strong midfielder Will Fletcher is also expected to poll well, and stayed injury free allowing him to maintain his form and did not play a bad game. Fletcher now has a fully mature body which enabled him to win plenty of hard contested football and he  provided plenty of run through the midfield.

Lanky ruckman Samson Ryan was tireless in ruck and his ruck work and strong marking around ground  puts him in the mix, he certainly had some standout games where he should poll well and put him in contention in a short season. Key defender/utility Aaron Highland and another youngster in Ethan Sivijs will also be in the mix, after consistent seasons. Both played good solid and consistent football in the 8 match shortened home and away season and should poll a few votes.

Key forward Liam Dawson also had an excellent year to be runner up in the QAFL goalkicking table with 31 goals, averaging over 3 goals per game and another half-back in Errin Wasley-Black was also a consistent player providing leadership in the back half and acting as a rebounding defender. Riley Easton and Caleb Franks should also poll well after doing a mountain of work in the clinches, with Easton regularly tackling himself to a standstill.

RESERVES JB MEDAL VERY OPEN CONTEST

The Reserves JB (John Burkill) Medal is an open contest with a number of players in contention.

With only 8 matches played it is expected to be a tight contest, especially with several players also making some senior appearances

Players in contention include skipper and 2019 winner Ben Jaenke-Cain who had another season where he was a prolific ball winner in the centre of the ground and ruckman Trystan Juffs-King was a workhorse all season and shouldered most of the ruck work and was also a good player around the ground.

Others in the mix include young half-back Sam Hartog who played well as an intercepting and rebounding  defender who often kept the Pies in matches  for longer than otherwise would be the case and  mid fielder Sam St John also had a good season but missing several games while playing in the Seniors and one with injury might cost him a real chance at the top honour. The same could also be said of Zach Collison who is a consistently good player, made his senior debut during the year before injury struck late.

COLTS MAURIE McNAMEE MEDAL

The Colts Maurie McNamee medal will be a tough contest in a strong field of consistent performers. John Baker was a late started, but was consistently good player to be rewarded with a senior debut late in the year. Tall forward Connor Culley started well, but then played some Reserves football and succumbed to injury making it hard to poll in such a shortened season. Also around the ball, ruckman Ethan Harris was a pillar of strength and the epitome of consistency, while Mitch Lake was also strong around the contest. Sean Ryan after an injury riddled 2019 returned to the sort of form we all know he is capable of, breaking lines, hitting targets and being a prolific ball-winner should hold him in good stead to poll well.

Also in the mix should be Lawson Campbell who was a top 3 finisher in 2019, Lamont Kalolo who was a consistent performer and Xavier Knight and Will Cruice are also expected to feature strongly.

Deidre Jakavicius Medal - Senior Womens Best & Fairest Preview

Deidre Jakavicius Medal – Preview

With the first DJ Medal up for grabs since 2015, the count is shaping up to be a tightly contested affair with such an even spread of talent across the QFAW Senior Womens team in 2020.

In anticipation of tonights count, let’s take a closer look at some of the main contenders;

Jaimee Newton-Smith (VC) – #3

Jaimee Newton-Smith spent significant minutes as a defender which isn’t the typical spot to collect votes, however she is expected to poll strongly given her exceptional rebound from half-back while also being versatile and playing pivotal roles across the midfield and forward-line. In her first season of senior football, Newton-Smith has established herself as one of the most effective tacklers in the league, frequently utilising her athleticism to mow down opponents and win back the ball for the team.

Selina Prevolsek #10

The sort of player you would love to have on your team but hate to play against, Selina Prevolsek was a major contributor in all of the games that she played. When the going got tough, Prevolsek got to work with her bullish inside work helping the team to secure two consecutive 1-point wins against Jimboomba and Morningside. Prevolsek was dominant across the field with her marking, penetrating kicking and tackling invaluable. Selina was incredibly unfortunate to have her season cut short in Round 5 suffering a broken finger against Beenleigh which kept her in the runners uniform for the remainder of the year.

Samantha Chisholm (C) #14

Captain, Sammy Chisholm had a stellar first season at Sherwood. Chisholm led from the front, missing just the one game with injury it was her trademark run and carry that broke the lines and got the crowd (even the opposition at times) excited. Chisholm’s ability to break a game open meant that opposition coaches would attempt to put a tag on her each week. Despite the significant attention, Chisholm worked exceptionally hard to break these tags and also hit the scoreboard finishing 3rd in the league goal kicking.   

Tina Higginson #32

Tina Higginson was another consistent performer this season following her relocation to Brisbane just prior to the transfer window from Kew Bears. Tina was able to contribute much needed experience and polish around the ground and forged a reputation as a mercurial goal sneak in some clutch moments. Growing in confidence week on week, Tina was one of the best performers in the preliminary final and was a deceptively strong contested mark for her size.  

Samara Mahoney (DVC) #8

Reigning 2 x QFAW league medallist Samara Mahoney is expected to be right into the mix for a maiden DJ Medal given her ultra-consistent season. Mahoney played all 9 matches and hit the scoreboard with 6 goals alternating time between the midfield and then resting as a dangerous small forward. Mahoney is a contested ball weapon with clean skills on both sides and excellent speed. She took her game to another level this year with more composed ball use and also finished off her hard work hitting the scoreboard with regularity. 

Renee King #38

The neutral observer wouldn’t pick it, but this was Renee King’s first year of senior football. The ultimate utility, King came to the club late arriving after round 1 due to her work schedule and then proceeded to set the training track alight before earning her stripes on permit with Moorooka before finally making her debut for Sherwood in a standout Round 4 performance against Jimboomba. After impressing on the half-back flank, King pushed into the midfield and forward line earning a reputation as a no-nonsense player capable of causing damage from anywhere on the field.  

The board has also commissioned the Cherie Morrison Medal for the first time. Cherie was a tireless volunteer and servant of the Sherwood Magpies and her primary focus at all times was the welfare of the players, so it was fitting that the the award is selected by the players to the teammate that best personifies values of selflessness, dedication and courage.

APPLY NOW - QFAW SENIOR WOMENS COACH & ASSISTANTS

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Sherwood Football Club are seeking expressions of interest for Senior Coach & Assistants (Playing or non-playing) to head up the QFAW Senior Football Program for Season 2021 and beyond.

After making the preliminary final in 2020, the incoming coach will retain a playing list that is very committed to developing their level of football while at the same time embracing a fun and supportive off-field culture.

ABOUT YOU 

Highly collaborative and an effective communicator, you understand how to cater to all levels of football experience and background to create a fun and development focused environment.

You play a key role in driving an inclusive club culture where respect, accountability and enjoyment for the game is not compromised. You will bring a proven record of forging and maintaining positive relationships with a multitude of stakeholders in the wider football community.

An emphasis on fostering positive working relationships with youth pathways will be required including; mentorship of Youth Coaches within the football club, fostering whole of club integration between youth and senior players and collaboration with Sherwood Youth Girls Coaches & Managers.

OVERVIEW  

• Coach the QFAW Senior Football Team (match day, training sessions, pre-season). 

• Create a learning environment that develops the player's technical skills, physical attributes and overall football knowledge.

• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders of different backgrounds

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to deliver innovative solutions

• Excellent planning, time management and organisational skills

MANDATORY

• Minimum of Level I or Level II coaching accreditation (or willingness to complete Level II)

• Demonstrated leadership acumen 

• Capability to nurture an inclusive club culture 

• Demonstrated ability to identify and support progression of talent

DESIRABLE

• Previous senior coaching experience advantageous (male or female) 

• Capacity to attract support staff and players that align with club values

APPLY NOW 

An experienced panel has been formed to conduct interviews and assess interested candidates but in the first instance for further information or a confidential discussion please contact; Andrew Thomson (President), 0403 066 382.

To apply please submit your football CV to president@westernmagpies.com.au 

Applications Close: Friday 30th of October, 2020.

JUNIOR & YOUTH PRESENTATIONS - SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7

IT’S TIME TO PARTYYYYY!

Schedule of Events, Saturday November 7

1:00pm - 1:20pm - Super Stars

1:20pm - 2:15pm - Under 8’s

2:30pm - 3:00pm - Under 9’s

3:00pm - 3:30pm - Under 10’s

3:30pm - 4:00pm - Club Awards

• Coach of the Year

• Junior Club Person of the Year

• President’s Award

4:15pm - 4:45pm - Under 11 Girls

4:45pm - 5:15pm - Under 11 Mixed

• Tom Laurence Spirit Award

5:30pm - 6:00pm - Under 12s

6:00pm - 6:30pm - Under 14s

6:30pm - 7:00pm - Under 16s

APPLY NOW - QAFL SENIOR COACH

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Sherwood Football Club are now seeking a Senior Coach to head up the QAFL Senior Football Program for Season 2021 and beyond.

After making the preliminary final in 2020, the incoming senior coach will inherit a talented playing list comprised of emerging talent produced largely through the local club junior pathway, complimented by a host of impressive senior footballers with experience at AFL, NEAFL, Vic Metro & Country leagues.

ABOUT YOU 

Highly trusted and collaborative in your approach, you are capable of leveraging your impressive technical knowledge of football and first-class soft skills to empower high standards across the QAFL football program. 

You will play a key role in driving an inclusive club culture where respect, accountability and enjoyment for the game is not compromised. You will bring a proven record of forging and maintaining strong relationships with a multitude of stakeholders in the football community. You will enjoy overcoming challenges with players who are highly motivated to take their football to the next level and achieve premiership success, whilst also providing a strong development program for players who are destined for higher honours. 

An emphasis on fostering positive working relationships with youth pathways will be required including; mentorship of Junior Coaches within the football club, fostering whole of club integration between junior and senior players as well as consistent two-way feedback with the Talent Academies and any pathway clubs pending the final structure of QLD football in 2021. 

OVERVIEW  

• Coach the QAFL Senior Football Team (match day, training sessions, pre-season). 

• Create a learning environment that develops the player's technical skills, physical attributes and overall football knowledge.

• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders of different backgrounds

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to deliver innovative solutions

• Excellent planning, time management and organisational skills

MANDATORY

• Minimum of Level I or Level II coaching accreditation (or willingness to complete Level II)

• Demonstrated leadership acumen 

• Capability to nurture an inclusive club culture 

• Demonstrated ability to identify and support progression of youth talent

DESIRABLE

• Previous senior coaching experience at state-league level or similar

• Demonstrated knowledge of talent development programs

• Capacity to attract support staff and players that align with club values

APPLY NOW 

An experienced panel has been formed to conduct interviews and assess interested candidates but in the first instance for further information or a confidential discussion please contact; Andrew Thomson (President), 0403 066 382.

To apply please submit your football CV to president@westernmagpies.com.au 

Applications Close: Friday 16th of October, 2020.

Sherwood Spring AFL9s is back!

Sherwood Spring AFL9s is back for 2020!

In the months of October and November, Mc Carthy Homes Oval turns into the home of AFL9s in the western suburbs on Monday Night.

The competition is able to go ahead thanks to AFL Queensland and the Sherwood Football Club’s covid safe plan.

AFL9s is a modified touch game of Aussie Rules, which is all about fun, fitness, and participation. There are 9 players on each team. This year, the Sherwood Football Club is offering three competitions: mixed (males and females 14+) , men’s (males 14+) and youth (12-16 year olds).

All matches will be played on Monday Nights at the club, between 6:15pm and 9:15 pm.

Registrations are open, and will close soon. Last year, the competition reached capacity, so it is important to register as soon as possible, so you don’t miss out.

All competitions will start October 12, but team payment is not due till October 30. The competition will run for 8 weeks and is due to finish November 3.

Team payment is $800, and can be paid online or through direct debit.

If you have any questions, please get in contact with the Sherwood AFL9s Competition Manager - Cameron Smith (0459 475 817 - camsmith.5@hotmail.com)

To register please click this link - https://afl9s.com.au/venues/details/?associd=18586&assocpc=4068

Carter Capner Law - QFAW Preliminary Final Preview

After finishing the regular season in 2nd position Sherwood will host 3rd placed Jimboomba on Saturday afternoon in what is shaping up to be a terrific contest.

Last time they played it was an absolute thriller at McCarthy Homes Oval with Sherwood making a 4th quarter comeback to win by the solitary 1 point, courtesy of an Emily Convery behind with only 2 minutes remaining.  

Since the return fixture, the Magpies have been in strong form dropping just the one game against ladder leaders Beenleigh, while Jimboomba are also playing quality football and have a very talented playing list including a number of Gold Coast Suns Academy products and are well coached.

Sherwood should go into the fixture with a certain level of confidence fielding a settled, full-strength team bolstered by the return of Jaidyn Eastaughffe and Nikki Hancock.

The versatile Eastaughffe has had an impressive debut season since transitioning from rugby union and is a crucial cog in the team utilising her mobility to provide a fierce contest at ground level as well as giving first use to the midfielders with her tap work. Eastaughffe will be eager to be unleashed after missing last week with a university exam (despite offering to sit the exam in the change rooms and run out as a super sub in the 2nd half to give an insight into her level of dedication).

Hancock has pieced together an ultra-consistent season and her composure will bolster the defensive unit after missing last week with pre-existing family commitments in Mackay.

“The focus doesn’t shift, it’s just another week for the girls to enjoy the game. There is no magic bullet, we train and prepare for a contested, high pressure style of football and think this gives us a reasonable opportunity of doing well regardless of who we are playing,”

“It’s been remarkable to see this team come together, they bring a real hunger to improve and are sincere about playing for each other,” said Coach, Mitchell Merritt.

First bounce - 4:45PM @ McCarthy Homes Oval.

FF: R. Hart, K. Lencz,  C. Bulley

HF: T. Potts, J. Stallard

C: J. Carlsen, S. Mahoney, T. Higginson

HB: J. Newton-Smith (VC), T. Sinclair

FB: N. Hancock, E. Convery, C. Markey

Foll: S. Chisholm (C), R. King, J. Eastaughffe

Int: E. Robinson, S. Mobley, T. Peters, L. Archer, J. Power, E. McCrae

E: T. Bougoure, T. Blair, S. Prevolšek