Senior Men’s Training (Suitable for all players 14 years and older) starts thisMonday the 20th of February at Eltham Lower Park. Please bring all equipment and runners for training and running. Training will occur on all Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7.00 pm at this location with the exception of Wednesday 22nd of February at the request of the cricket club. Information will be forwarded about training on the 22nd of February closer to the event.

Sunday Morning Social Competition - Interested in dusting the cobwebs off the stick in March? Never even played before? Well our Sunday Morning Social Competition (SMSC) might be just for you.

Starting on the 25^th of Feb through to the 18^th of March between 9.30 and 11 am.

Suitable for all ages, genders and skill levels modified rules will be used.
Click on the link https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHVXY0dwNTVqSTRSaE9JUERjNFA2ZHc6MQ and enter your details, teams will be randomly selected.

Camberwell Lacrosse Club will be holding a two evening coaching course for mentors in all sporting divisions on Feb. 29 and March 6 at 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Dorothy Laver Reserve clubrooms.  Limited places - further details:

http://www.clclax.org.au/news/camberwell-hosting-coaches-course-480

Get more out of lacrosse, become a junior coach.

Coaching provides a huge opportunity to be a bigger part of the club, gain insights from viewing the game from a different perspective and developing your own skills.  So, put your hand up and have a go.  It is essential that a strong coaching team is developed for the future of our players and our club.

Please contact Pauline Maher (Juniordirector@elthamlax.com or 9432 0769) to join the 2012 coaching team.

Please note the Eltham Lacrosse Club’s Annual General Meeting will be
held on Monday the 28th of November at the Eltham Lacrosse Clubrooms
at 7.30 pm.

Considering a position…

Please note nominations have been received for President, Secretary,
Senior Men’s Director, Junior Director, Vice President…

Feel free to nominate for one of these positions or consider another.

Feeling like a hamburger this festive season??? Head to Grill’d
Doncaster (Westfield) to help our club win some bucks.

More details below.

Buy a burger, get a counter and drop it in the Eltham Lacrosse Bucket.

Congratulations! The nominations for December Local Matters at Grill’d
Doncaster are in… and we’re pleased to say you’re up!

The lucky nominees are:

- Connections UnitingCare
- Riding for the Disabled Association Victoria
- Eltham Lacrosse Club

You’ll be appearing on a jar in Grill’d Doncaster  from the 1st of December!

We’ll be back in touch at the start of the month and we’ll keep you
updated throughout.

We look forward to seeing you at Grill’d soon.

Local Matters

We love to give back to the local communities we call home. We get
lots of requests to support groups from all walks of life. The weird &
the wonderful… but all of them worthy. Until now it’s been pretty
difficult for us to fulfill all of these requests. So we’ve created
Local Matters. It’s our community donation programme. Every month your
local Grill’d will donate $500 to the local community. Over the course
of a year, we’d like to think we could touch well over 1,000 local
groups. Our aim is to find and support the unsung heroes rather than
the big groups who always get the limelight. We hope you’ll see some
groups you never knew existed and develop a new-found appreciation for
what goes on in your neck of the woods.

HOW IT WORKS

It’s a pretty high-tech system involving bottle tops, jars & counting…
The $500 will be split amongst 3 local groups. Each group will be
represented on a different jar. Every time a customer buys a burger
we’ll give them a token (ok, it’s a bottle top from our friends at
Little Creatures). Our customers decide who they’d like us to support
by choosing which jar to put their token in. At the end of the month,
we’ll count up the tokens to figure out who gets what. We’ll split the
money $300 / $100 / $100, so everyone gets something. Pretty simple
really.

HOW DO I TAKE PART?

If you’re part of a worthy group we’d love to hear from you. All you
have to do is click on the button below to take part.

THE RULES?

Obviously we’ve had to make up a few rules on how to play. Any bona
fide local group is welcome to apply. We’d love it if you’re not well
known. And we’re a sucker for a great story/mission. You’ve got 45
words to put your best foot forward (this is also what will appear on
your jar, so make it a good 45 words!). You can have as few as a
handful of members or lots of members. Your group should be local to
your chosen Grill’d and you can appear once every 12 months. Obviously
if your group sounds a little dodgy or has questionable motives, you
won’t get through. No offence. The final decision rests with the
lovely Grill’d judges.

Eltham Lacrosse Club’s girls continue to shine with 6 players selected to represent Victoria in the Under 15 National Championships these school holidays. With their recent success in the home and away season, many of the girls were up for the challenge of playing at State level and the club couldn’t be prouder.  Tryouts ran over four weeks, followed by selection in early September and straight into two intense training sessions a week.

The selection list includes Jessica Pham, Madelyn Smith and Bridgett Bassett-Smith in their first national’s campaign; Jessica is a natural athlete with great hand-eye co-ordination and in two years has quickly developed some great lacrosse skills whilst Madelyn and Bridgett have a talent for defence and can read each other and the play brilliantly. Also going is Danielle Wiles in her 2nd appearance; her lacrosse technique, speed and agility will serve her well again this year and Ruby Mileto and Sasha Pollnitz will be attending their 3rd Nationals; Ruby an excellent attack player was top goal scorer for Eltham this year whilst Sasha in her midfield role topped the assists for the team. In another recognition of the girls contribution to the team, Sasha Pollnitz has been elected co-captain. The girls fly out this Saturday for Perth and will play 6 games over 7 days against teams from South Australia and Western Australia. We wish the girls every success. Their progress can be followed on the web at https://sites.google.com/site/under15slacrossetournament/

Good Luck to the boys from the Warriors team also.

By Pauline Maher

AFTER finishing fourth at the end of the home-and-away season, Eltham’s Division 1 side moved steadily through the finals series before capping a great year with a 16-14 win over Williamstown in the grand final on Saturday.

Williamstown ran a number of great set plays during the first quarter but brilliance f rom Eltham’s goalkeeper Jamie Stevens and some strong defence by the likes of Scott Schenk, Glen Esler and Jake LiRossi kept it to just four goals.

Eltham managed two to stay in touch but needed to lift its game.

After the short break, Eltham did exactly that and turned the tables. Tom Shakespeare and Cam Wallace, alternating in the centre, started winning the face-offs and some good technical saw Eltham pile on a 7-2 quarter.

This was the start of an onslaught by Andrew Millar whose back-toback goals, executed with skill and purpose, inspired his Eltham teammates.

Then Cam Wallace, having been crunched in front of goals, managed to put one in the net while falling backwards and it seemed nothing could stop Eltham.

After the long break, Williamstown managed two early goals but Eltham continued to control the game with the defensive team stopping any more goals for the quarter.

Liam Sedgwick scored a beauty, after heavy defence failed to stop him, then Millar scored three more with the aid of Brad Kendall’s perfectly-timed passes.

The final quarter was Williamstown’s strongest as it forced its way back into the contest. Williamstown scored the first goal of the quarter but, again, the Eltham attack answered. Williamstown lifted its intensity and Eltham made a few technical errors and its five-goal lead became

three and then two. Though Williamstown outscored Eltham in the final quarter, Eltham hung on for a thrilling premiership win.

In the under-18 grand final, Eltham lost 10-6 to Footscray.

On a brighter note Liam Kennedy became the second Eltham player in two years to be named the competition’s most valuable player.

– By Pauline Maher

The Final week of The Season is here come down and watch the Grand Final games at Chadstone this weekend.

This week, after the men’s Grand Finals, dinner will be available at the club from 6pm. We expect to see you all down there for the final club night this year.

Lacrosse Scoreboard
The boys in Division 3 had two finals this week; their semi was on Wednesday night under lights (until they went off!) at Surrey Park. Having won that 7-4, their preliminary final against MCC was held, along with the other senior men’s finals on Saturday. The teams were well matched and were drawing 4 all at half time, then MCC crept ahead by 1 in the third but by full time the scores were again drawn at 8 all. Eltham had more of the ball but failed to convert in overtime whereas MCC got in 2 and will now face Camberwell in the grand final next week.  Meanwhile, the Division 1 boys had a tough preliminary final against Surrey Park on Surrey’s home turf.  The boys had a lot to fight for being the final chance for Eltham seniors to get a grand final berth.  Surrey came out hard and put the only 3 goals on the board for the first quarter but Eltham rallied in the second and were leading 6-5 at half time.  Surrey Park steadied and held Eltham to two for the third and the scores were even on 8. The intensity lifted even further on both sides in the final quarter but Eltham kept their heads and their chance of Grand Final victory with a 12 -11 win.
They play at Chadstone next week against Williamstown, along with the under 18′s who will be playing Footscray.

By Pauline Maher

Results from the Eltham games this weekend:
Saturday   
Division 1  12 v Surrey Park 11
Division 3    8 v MCC 10

THIS WEEKS GRAND FINAL GAMES @ Chadstone:
SATURDAY
10.00am Saturday 17th September - U18 V Footscray
12.45 pm Saturday 17th September - Division 1 V Williamstown

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

The U15 team WON their semi – final game against Footscray at Chadstone on Sunday.

Eltham’s under 15 girls entered their first final series since 1995 with an incredible display of tenacity this weekend. Having beaten Footscray the previous week, there was a sense of confidence the repeat performance was possible.

Footscray scored the first two goals but they were not easy to come by, the Eltham defence line of Maddy Smith, Isobel Pain and Bridget Bassett-Smith troubling them from the onset.  Then Ruby Mileto of Eltham scored a fantastic goal from a fast break out of the centre won nicely by Jess Pham. Although Footscray scored two more in the half, Eltham led by one at the break, with Brooke Powell shooting a beauty following a brilliant dodge, Ruby shooting two more and the young Molly Perceval in goals saving several; the Eltham defence keeping Footscray scoreless for more than 10 minutes of the half. Following the break Footscray goaled in the first 10 seconds and followed up with two more in the next 5 minutes before Eltham’s Kate Poulier’s speed and attitude put one in for Eltham off a great pass from Briget Bassett-Smith.  Another great save from Molly Perceval was then converted up the field to Ruby Mileto’s 5th goal and then some incredible defence from Maddy Smith led to Dani Wile’s first goal for the game. Eltham had to really work for control of the ball, Footscray were winning a lot of centres and at 3 minutes to go, they led by 2.
However, Eltham were by no means beat with 11 seconds to go they scored and following a fast break from the centre Kate Poulier scored again with 1 second left on the clock; the game was a draw.  Two 3-minute halves of time on brought three goals a piece with a huge effort by the likes of Kate Poulier and Isobel Pain keeping Eltham in the game.
Finally, a sudden death playoff, the centre draw going Fooscrays way but the defense line again won the ball back, Sasha Pollnitz racing into attack and deftly passing the ball to Ruby Mileto for the final score of the game and a brilliant Eltham win!

The girls now go straight into the grand final to be played at Chadstone on 4th September.

Pauline Maher

The celebration of women’s lacrosse at Eltham was a great success. The event was informal with some formality, speakers briefly touched on our history but more importantly told of fun times with team mates, premierships and funny moments at end of season trips.

Special thanks to Di Gent for acting as our bar maid for the day,and for the wonderful ELC celebration cake.Kerri Wallace for the yummy dessert of sticky date pudding. Both ladies generously donated their time and effort. They are certainly typical of many members at ELC and the “family” feel we have at the club.

Narelle D’Alberto and Belinda Douglas worked together from many photos handed to them by players and past players. The scanned images allowed us to see the rolling pictures on the screen, stimulating more memories and laughter.

Many of our past players are now mothers and it was great to see so many babes and young children with them, our social rooms work so well in that environment with “kids corner” and all, so  their presence just enhanced the day.

Later in the day Bob & Meg Russell attended, after duties at Malvern Lacrosse Club where our State League was playing for the Russell Cup. I am sure the glint in their eye showed the pride they must feel at these events, Bob as a co-founder of our club in the early 60′s and Meg his amazing supportive wife over the many years that Bob has been involved.

Thanks again,  hopefully the Ladies Luncheon can be factored in as a regular annual event on a suitable date each year in a similar fashion to the “Club Day” which seems to attract more of the past male players.
Approximately 35 past and present players came down to the clubrooms to reminise about the ‘good ole days’ and talk about the exciting future of women’s lacrosse. Some notable attendees: Garry & Debbie Carter, Jacqui & Zoe Armstrong, Bree (nee McGillivray) and baby daughter, Mary Montague, Beth Trewern and daughters with Marg Cobern. Melanie Grindlay & children with Lyn Brown, Tina Fenech & children with Marianne Webster, Denise Spiteri & Rebecca with baby Harry, Liz Fleming & Charlotte, Katie and Anne Faulks, Julie B. now Julie Evans plus many current and past players.

Without the dedication from past and present players and families, continous club and team committment and the investment into the future of our senior and girls lacrosse teams there would be no women’s lacrosse at Eltham. We thank all involved in making Eltham Lacrosse Club a strong, competitive, fun environment for girls/women to play sport.