UQ Bulldogs Announcement

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Rene Chaustowski to the position of U18s Coach for the 2010 Season.

Rene comes to the UQ Bulldogs after coaching Kenmore U18s in 2009 and he comes highly recommended from AFLQ U18s Co-ordinator Brian Douge.

I would also like to take the time to thank Andrew Rosen, currently holding the position of UQ Bulldogs Liaison with West Juniors AFC, who has volunteered to take on the Team Manager duties for the U18s this season.

This year with the U18s we have several new plans for the development of players within the team while also developing the relationships between the U18s club (UQ Bulldogs), the Juniors club (West Juniors Bulldogs), and the Seniors club (UQ Red Lions).

Firstly, Rene and the Red Lions Committee and Coaching staff have started plans for a new “Young Guns” system, which will be introduced to develop relationships between the U18s and the Senior Club while also giving the U18s experience at a higher level of football. U18s will have the option of training with the Senior Club immediately following their own training of a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. A “buddy” system will be set up to ensure they are fully integrated and involved in the Seniors training sessions and can gain the maximum amount of experience they can get.

Secondly, The UQ Red Lions and West Juniors Bulldogs Committees are also making plans to introduce joint training sessions and combined game days between the West Juniors U16s teams and the UQ Bulldogs U18s team. This is aimed at developing a stronger relationship between the two clubs and also strengthen the pathway as players progress through the ages groups from West Juniors through the UQ Bulldogs to the UQ Red Lions. The venture will also give the West Juniors U16s players experience at a higher level of football while they are training with the UQ Bulldogs U18s.

Details on all these new activities will be presented as they develop, so please stay tuned.

What happens now?

Now that coaching staff has been appointed, the U18s are ready to split from the Senior group and hold their own training sessions. Rene has requested that all players wishing to play U18s this year attend the first U18s training session next Tuesday 9th of March at Oval 7, starting at 5pm regardless of weather conditions. Any player unable to attend must contact me to let me know (president@redlions.org.au or 0422 494 701). Anyone with any questions at all should also contact me.

Congratulations and thanks again to Rene and Andy and I look forward to a successful season with the UQ Bulldogs.

Regards,
Scott Young – UQ Red Lions AFC President