12 September 2007 By Victoria Rawlings and Jason McLennan
The Annual Sydney AFL Phelan/Snow Medal night was held on Monday of this week celebrating the end of another successful season.
Sydney University was well represented at the Waterview Convention Centre in Bicentennial Park, Homebush. SUANFC had 22 members of the club over two tables, indicating their increased status as a Premier League Team this year. Every other team from each division was also represented.
Despite having high hopes for star forward pocket player (Scholarship holder and former St Pauls College resident) James Terry to come away with the Premier Division Best and Fairest award, the Phelan medal, his vote count drew short, with the medal going to Charlie Richardson from Pennant Hills.
There were better results in the Reserve grade for the Sanders Medal with Joshua Byerlee in 5th place, club stalwart and long term committee member Leigh McWhirter in 7th place and Ben Mankarious (the Scholarship holder and St Pauls College student having had an interrupted first grade season due to injury and unavailability) finishing in 9th.
In the Second division medal, David Owen featured as equal third for the Armstrong Medal.
Due to SUANFC's comprehensive list of achievements on and off the field, the club, with the full support of SU Sport was moved into the top Sydney AFL division between 2006 and 2007, leading to an expectation and demand of a shift in game play to an elite level. Despite their first season in the premier league since 1997, first grade managed to exceed many people's expetations (given the inexperience of the home home grown undergraduate talent in the side) to finish eighth (just missing 7th place), in front of Balmain and Wollongong but importantly achieving victories over sides obove it on the ladder.
All credit to the committed 2007 squad who raised their commitment and performance levels under the expert tutelage of Senior Coach Daniel Archer and Assistant Greg Nugent. The Reserves excelled in the new league also, finishing their campaign only last week in third position bowing out in the preliminary final against the East Coast Eagles. This is a great indication of the club's playing depth and the ability of Coach Tony Overall to get the best out of his team whilst fulfilling the main objective of preparing players for first grade.
In second division, Sydney Uni Blue finished fourth on the ladder and progressed as far as the semi-finals. The Red and Gold teams also enjoyed late season wins to their teams, their standard increasing significantly.
Well done to all at SUANFC on a great year. Although no awards were won by Sydney University on the night, SUANFC, given its performance in its first season in Premier Division was regarded by most pundits in the room as the most successful of any club throughout the competition in 2007. The enormous task of ensuring Sydney University is competitive in the top flight against the semi-professional opposition (most of whom have large junior club infrastructures) begins TODAY!
The Club's AGM and Presentation Night is confirmed for October 26 at The Grandstand. All players or volunteers interested in joining the club should visit www.suanfc.com for more information.