Melbourne Grammar School has secured the AFL Division 1 Intermediate Boys Herald Sun Shield, defeating Parade College 11.12 (78) to 5.9 (39) on a blustery day in Ballarat.
The Herald Sun Shield is a competition between the best teams from the various school sporting associations across the State. While there is no ladder or finals series in APS football at Intermediate level, the Melbourne Grammar Year 10 team was selected to compete in the Shield on the basis of having defeated all opponents during the 2018 season.
What made it such a successful team? “Talent-wise, we were very lucky,” says Captain, Charlie McKay. “We also worked hard. Plus, our coach focused quite a bit on tactics. That really helped.”
Winner of best on ground honours, Max Holmes adds: “We had strong players who had good chemistry. Everyone worked well together.” He also noted the impact of Charlie’s captaincy. “Charlie made an effort to get around to everyone and motivate them to play at their best. He also set a high standard on the field. The boys all look up to him.”
The team was buoyed by the inclusion of the full complement of the eight Year 10 boys, including Charlie and Max, who had been playing in the First XVIII on and off throughout the season.
“It was a fantastic opportunity for the team to have the additional challenge of a semi-final and grand final beyond the conventional APS season,” says Coach, Stewart Edge. “All of the boys who had played in the team throughout the year enthusiastically committed to the extra two weeks of training and preparation.”
“In the grand final, the boys quickly recognised they were well suited to the difficult weather conditions. Apart from moments of individual brilliance, so many of the scoring opportunities were a direct result of imposing relentless pressure on the opposition and consistently forcing errors,” says Stewart.
When he is not coaching the Intermediate team to victory, Stewart is a Development Coach for the Western Bulldogs and coaches the midfield of the Western Bulldogs VFL team.
Charlie and Max agree that it was a superb feeling to hold the Shield at the end of the competition. “It was great that all of our hard work paid off,” says Charlie.
