2009 will be another big season at Brighton, and for our most popular age groups of U10, U11 and U12 Boys, we'll soon be holding the first of our selection trials:

• Boys U10 - Sunday 30 Nov, 11:00am (enquiries: Liz Palumbo 0407 365 986)
• Boys U11 - Sunday 30 Nov, 12:30pm (enquiries: Arthur Karayannis 0417 526 357)
• Boys U12 - Sunday 30 Nov, 2:00pm (enquiries: David Efron 0431 644 424)

The venue for each of the above trials is Mentone Grammar playing fields in Keysborough, (i.e. not Dendy Park).  Entrance to the grounds is on Springvale Rd, opposite Haileybury College, near the corner of Lower Dandenong Rd (Melways Map 88, J10).

Notes:

1. There will be a 2nd and probably a 3rd trial prior to Xmas. The dates for these subsequent trials will be communicated once ground availability is confirmed.
2. At each of the above age groups, our aim is to put together 2 graded teams for season 2009.  The trials are not compulsory.  Those kids who do not want to play in a graded team do not need to attend the trials.

As in the past two or three summers, we don't have access to Dendy Park between winter seasons.  As a result we are unable to host any practice games until early April 2009.

Coaches & managers will be aware from previous correspondence that all are required to complete a Working with Children Check by 30 June 2009.  Click here for the FFV's recently released policy document outlining the obligations for clubs and their members under this mandatory system.  For practical reasons, it is the club's strong preference that all WWC Checks are completed prior to the start of next season.  Copies of the Working with Children Check form can be obtained from post offices.  If you have any queries in relation to this, please contact Claire in club administration.

2008 was the club's most successful season ever, in terms of number of pennants won.  In all we won Five championship pennants and Five Runners-Up pennants, including at least one at every junior age level!

Congratulations to our Champions: U18 Boys, U16A Boys, U13C Boys, U11A Boys, U11A Girls

...and to our teams which finished Runners-up: U16 Girls, U15B Boys, U14A Boys, U12A Boys, U12B Boys

Special mention also to our U13A Girls and U11B Boys who had outstanding seasons and finished third in their respective divisions.

Brighton also captured the Castlefield Shield for the first time.  This is an annual tournament run very successfully by Sandringham JSC, providing an end-of-season tournament for U8, U9 and U10 age levels.  Brighton won both the U8 and U9 age levels on their way to the overall prize.

For the U9s, this win was their 2nd year in a row and this age group has now won their last 6 tournaments spanning over 3 years, without being beaten.  Meanwhile, our U8s survived a 14-team competition and defeated Sandringham 6:1 in the final.  These victories clearly show how successful our U8/U9 Academy programs have been since their inception at the club 3 years ago.