MSA Alumni WE 21/08/22

No week is ever boring when it comes to following our MSA Alumni and their quests. Let’s have a look at what they achieved this week.

Football/Soccer

MSA Alumni Naomi Chinnama started in all 3 games for the Young Matildas who were knocked out of the U20 Women’s world cup with a final game 3-0 loss to Spain.  The Young Matilda’s finished 3rd in their ground having beaten the home side Costa Rica in their first game then losses to the might of Brazil and Spain.

Also Polly Doran has arrived at Crystal Place in the UK and started in the team’s first game of the Championship season.  Crystal Palace defeated London City 1-0. 

Cycling

Lucas Plapp has kicked off his Grand Tour Debut for Ineos Grenadier at the La Vuelta a Espana.  Lucas currently sits 13 seconds off the pace in 11th place.  The Vuelta a Espana is a 21 stage 3 week tour.

AFL

We have 5 MSA Alumni that could take part in their teams tilt for the 2022 AFL premiership this year.  We would like to wish Cam Rayner, Luke Ryan, Joel Smith, Rylee West, Buku Khamis good luck as their teams finals campaign kick-off in two weeks’ time.

AFLW preview guide

The AFLW season kicks off this Thursday when old foes Carlton and Collingwood play the season opener on a Thursday night.  This season we have our biggest amount of players in the AFLW and look forward to seeing how they all go.  Here is a list of our MSA Alumni in the AFLW so you can follow their season

Aliesha Newman has had an off season move to Sydney from Collingwood.  Aliesha started her career at the Melbourne football club in 2017 before a move to the Pies in 2021.  A small forward she has kicked 16 goals in her 39 game career.

Charlotte Baskaran was drafted to Hawthorn in this year’s 2022 AFLW Draft. Charlotte is an elite midfielder who makes great decisions.  Expect her delivery to the forward line to be exceptional.

Georgia Patrikios will resume her AFLW with the Saints after missing last year.  In her 3 years since being drafted she has won 2 St Kilda Best and Fairest and has been named all Australian.  She was also nominated for the rising star in round 1, 2020.

Libby Birch is in her 4th season at the Melbourne FC.  Libby started her season at the Bulldogs and has played a total of 52 AFLW Games.  An AFLW rising star nominee in 2018, her work in defence is tireless.

Amy Smith was drafted to Nth Melbourne in 2021 and has played in 6 AFLW games.  She was the first father/daughter selection in the AFL following in her fathers Shaun’s footsteps. We look forward to her quick runs down the wing of Arden Street.

Monique Conti and Ellie McKenzie at Richmond.  What can be said about these 2 AFLW Superstars.  Monique gave up a very promising Basketball Career to focus on the AFLW.  After winning a premiership with the Bulldogs and being named best on ground in that 2018 Grand Final Monique has won her clubs best and fairest every year since.  The Bulldogs in 2019 and Richmond’s in 20,21 and 22.  While Ellie is in her 3rd season at Richmond after being the drafted with the number 1 pick in 2020.  Her penetrating left foot kicks are regarded as the best in the competition

Georgie Prespakis is at the Cats after being drafter with pick 2 in the 2021 draft.  She played 10 games in her first season and was named on the wing in the AFLW 22under22 Team of the year

Jess Fitzgerald was taken with pick 2 in the 2020 draft by the Bulldogs and has proven herself to be great ball winner. She earned a rising star nomination in 2021 and was named in the AFLW 22under22 team that year also.

We also congratulate Calvin Payne who has been appointed as head of Strength and Conditioning for the Bulldogs Women’s program.  Cal was Head of S and C here at MSA also our former Physio Megan Smith has been appointed as head of medical for the Essendon AFLW program.

MSA Alumni - WE 14/08/22

Once again our MSA Alumni have been working hard on the local and International stage. Here’s how they have been going

Football/Soccer

Naomi Chinnama has represented Australia in the first two of games in the FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup in Costa Rica.  Australia beat the home team 3-1 and lost to Brazil 2-0.  Naomi started in both games. Australia’s next 1st round game is against Spain which they will need to win to be in contention to move into the next round.  Catch Naomi talking about National Team life in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uGdEtUGRRo

AFLW

Our AFLW players started off their season with practice matches over the weekend.  Monique Conti, Elle McKenzie, Charlotte Baskaran and Libby Birch all got the opportunity to play a practice match prior to the AFL Men’s games on the MCG.  Stay tuned for our AFLW Season preview next week.  The AFLW Season starts on Thursday the 25th of August.

AFL

St Kilda v Brisbane – Cam Rayner kicked 4 goals and had 18 touches in Brisbane’s win over the Saints, ending their finals hopes.

Western Bulldogs v GWS – Rhylee West had 13 touches in the Bulldogs narrow defeat of the Giants.  The Bulldogs now need to beat Hawthorn in Tassie and hope Carlton lose to Collingwood so they can make the finals.

Adelaide v Nth Melbourne – Paul Curtis gathered 8 possessions and 4 tackles in Nth Melbourne loss to the Crows.

Geelong v Gold Coast – Touk Miller continued his fantastic form amassing 36 possessions and 5 Clearances in the Suns loss to the AFL Minor Premiers and McClelland Trophy winners Geelong.

Fremantle v West Coast – Luke Ryan had 14 touches as the Dockers defeated the Eagles in the Derby.

Richmond v Hawthorn – Emerson Jeka continues his good form with 10 touches and 3 marks in the Hawks loss to the finals bound Tigers.

Essendon v Port Adelaide – Zak Butters had another solid game for the Power claiming 25 possessions, 6 clearances and kicking 3 goals in Port’s massive win over the Bombers who had Massimo D’Ambrosio with 9 possessions 5 marks, 3 tackles and 2 goals, while Peter Wright had 8 touches and 1 goal in a game where the ball didn’t go into Essendon’s forward line much.

Basketball.

Congratulations to former MSA teacher and Basketball Coach Shane McDonald who has been appointed the inaugural head coach of the West Australian Institute of Sport women’s basketball team.  McDonald telling the West Australian Newspaper  “My philosophy and approach to coaching is based on creating optimal learning environments enabling athletes to strive for personal excellence.  Player development is at the core of my coaching experiences and expertise. I enjoy assisting athletes chase their goals by optimising their strengths and building positive habits that leverage their talents.”

https://wais.org.au/news-archive/shane-mcdonald-appointed-wais-womens-basketball-head-coach/

MSA Alumni - WE 07/08/22

It’s been an action packed week for past and present students and also some of our past and present coaches have been in the lime light as well.  Let’s have a look at all they have done.

Commonwealth Games

Lucas Plapp became MSA’s first duel Olympic and Commonwealth games medal holder adding a Bronze in the 400m Team Pursuit at Birmingham to the Bronze won in Tokyo last year.  Lucas also competed in and placed highly in the Individual Pursuit, Points Race, Road race and Time trial.

Gronya Somerville and her partner finished 4th in the Women’s doubles losing the Bronze medal match 2-0 to India.  Gronya also made the round of 16 in the Mixed Doubles

Jacob Schueler made the quarter finals with his partner in the Men’s doubles

Celeste Mucci placed 7th in the final of the Women’s 100m hurdles in what was considered to be a World class field.  Celeste ran a Personal Best in the Semi’s.

And Lushavel Stickland competed for Samoa in the 50m Freestyle and Backstroke, the 100m Freestyle and relay events

Also congratulations to Nicole Richardson a former Marby Netball coach on her Commonwealth Games Gold as an Assistant coach of the Australian Netball Team. Brett Valance coached  Jemima Montag to a Gold medal in the 10km walk, while our own Darren Clarke coached Celeste Mucci to the final in the 100m Hurdles.

We Congratulate all on their amazing efforts.

Football/Soccer

We have had some amazing news in the past week in the World Game

2019 Graduate Polly Doran has signed a contract to play in the English WSL2 with Crystal Palace.  The Melbourne Victory fullback played 42 with Victory including back to back premierships in her 3 years with the club.  Polly has signed for the 22/23 season.

And Alana Cortellino was a part of the Junior Matilda’s team which won the Asian Football Federation U18 Championships over the weekend – Came on in 67 min

AFL

In the game between Gold Coast Suns and Hawthorn, Suns superstar Touk Miller had 21 touches and 7 clearances – Meanwhile for Hawthorn Emerson Jeka had 16 touches and 7 marks playing off a half back flank.

Essendon tall Peter Wright had 11 touches and kicked 2 goals in their defeat to the Giants.

Bulldogs v Dockers – Luke Ryan had 32 touches and 15 marks in Fremantle’s win over the Bulldogs with Rhylee West getting 6 Possessions.

Zak Butters had 28 touches and 8 tackles and kicked a goal in Port Adelaide’s loss to Richmond

Paul Curtis had 11 disposals and 5 tackles in Norths loss to the Swans

And Cam Rayner has had 16 touches and 6 Marks in the Lions defeat of the Blues