 1st Grade Annual Report
As I sit at my computer compiling a report on the 2006 – 2007 season, I get a sense of how a CEO may feel preparing to face disgruntled and angry shareholders after not delivering on their investment. The previous season, I reported back to the Gordon Faithful of success and a potential premiership. The team had the formula for success, we had executed and the results followed. Ergo 2006 – 2007 was to be one for the history books. A bumper year. A stronger player roster and greater playing depth within the Club would suggest the First Grade team should have challenged for the premiership. It was not to be.
Will Smith celebrates a fantastic knock
If the First Grade team was a greyhound, many a punter would be calling for a one way ticket off the Brooklyn Bridge. But the more I reflect on the season, the more I see an enormous positive that cancels out the unremarkable season statistics.
The damning fact that scuttled any premiership aspirations was losing seven out of the first nine games. It was a deficit that just could not be made up by the end of March. I have heard many people talk about this run of ours. From a player who lived almost every minute of this streak, I can assure the Faithful that it wasn’t from a lack of trying. Yes, at times the execution may not have been there, but the effort was.
 There is an example that typifies the effort. Those who ventured out to Hawkesbury would testify. After the skipper won the toss and elected to bowl in 43 degree heat (46 degrees in the middle, I was told) on what turned out to be a wicket similar to the Adelaide Oval after 7 years of drought (yes, my friends I did make this call), the team was towelled up. Yet throughout this most difficult day, there was not one murmur of dissatisfaction, not one negative word spoken, not one soul on that field that dragged their heels.
Zelma rids himself of the Golden Duck award
The players showed solidarity and a resolve to do the hard work. As a captain I can ask for no more. The players tried as hard as they could, and through this effort eventually bowled Hawkesbury out for 384. Although we did not win this match, the effort was sterling - the players lost because of their skipper not for any other reason.
My view is that the team’s performance for the first half of the season was affected by three factors - injuries, poor form and Blues representation. In terms of injuries we had bowlers either pull out, or play not at peak fitness. Struggling to bowl teams out presented us with a difficult task of chasing big totals which we struggled to achieve. Injuries occur and we were unlucky that they came in numbers. A further assessment was that our senior players struggled with their own form for much of the first half. As one of the senior players this assessment does not escape me. It is difficult for the younger players to thrive when the senior players aren’t leading the way. Thirdly, the team would often change from week one to week two with representative selections. A most difficult job for the selectors. Inevitably the balance of the team changed, hence affecting the momentum of the match.
The Faithful can take comfort in the knowledge that these areas are being addressed in the off season. Without giving away too much away, strategies will be in place come September to better manage these factors as they arise.
The ironic twist I see in the season was that this losing streak provided the back drop for us to develop a strength that I believe will make a premiership winning side. I have mentioned a single positive that came out from this season. The ability to play under pressure. On the 25th of November 2006, in losing to Parramatta, it would have appeared that the season was lost. Statistically we were 100 to 1. Our epitaph was being written and the undertaker was polishing the mahogany. Yet from this point the team went on to win six out of the next nine including an outright, and only marginally losing to Easts by 1 wicket. The team’s most astute observer, Ken Conway, believed that it was during this period we played a better brand and higher level of cricket than we had ever done. I agree with this also. The team demonstrated a quality to ourselves most importantly that the previous season was no fluke and that we had the resolve to play pressure cricket and play it consistently enough to win the premiership.
 It came about I believe with a change in philosophy orchestrated by Matt Nicholson. There are few in the Club who think at Matt’s level about the game. It was at this time that Matt captained the team with a view to winning each game outright. Our tactics were set with this outcome and although it was achieved on only the one occasion, we did threaten regularly.
Nicho in fine form with the willow
Matt championed the notion that each player in the team needed to be the match winner and placed the team’s performance on the responsibility of each individual. This individual responsibility was the catalyst for some players to really come on, one such player being Rod Hokin. I believe Matt deserves a big pat on the back keeping the team focused in a difficult time, particularly with the imminent arrival of two little Nicho’s. Matt’s knowledge and advice to any cricketer is something you take to the bank. If we continue in this vein I am confident the team will be much better placed come April 2008.
Every season brings about memorable moments. This season was no exception. I will remember this season for a number of reasons. One clear stand-out was the achievements of Craig Simmons. Craig broke the Club record for most runs in a season breaking Charlie McCartney’s record set in 1912. Significantly for the team, he toiled at the top of the innings game after game when those around couldn’t. I recall his knocks against Balmain and Hawkesbury as standouts. Craig was the example for the others to follow and his dedication to cricket is a shining example for younger players (apart from his diet perhaps).
A highlight was playing alongside Dylan Connell in attaining 150 First Grade wickets. Dylan has been an outstanding player for the Club over a number of seasons and once again played his heart out for the team. For all his oddities including an unusually large head, Dylan is a terrific bloke and a terrific competitor.
As for next season I am excited at the talent coming through and am looking forward to seeing the Club’s next generation make their own mark. I believe the likes of Reece Bombas, Nick Metcalf and Brad Rasool are not players of the future any longer, but players ready to play quality First Grade cricket. I’ll be pencilling these names in for my fantasy team, with Iqbal Ahmed as skipper, of course.
Last report I inexcusably made no reference to Brett Rosen breaking a 30 year Club record, that being for most keeping dismissals in a season. No records this season but it would be truly remiss of me to send Brett off without his fair dues. Unfortunately Brett will not be with the team for next season. Brett has been a big part of the team; I will miss his insight and opinion. Thanks mate, I know you will be back but they will be big gloves to fill.
There are many to thank for the season. Ian “great sschot jarma” Packman for being the ever professional team manager. No player could ever complain of being without drinks, boots, snakes, neurofen. Ian loves Gordon Cricket and the First Grade team and we all appreciate his unconditional commitment to us even when we do get towelled up by Norths, Manly, Parra……. To Kenny for a fine season with the Bic. Keep the ink alive and the laptops at bay. To the team’s four mascots Michael, Melanie, Kate and Beau (the dog) - thanks for your support. To Michael Michael, Jim Cattlin, Andy Falk, Paul Stephenson, Tony Wilson, Geoff Hickman, Dickie on the scoreboard - these people turned out for the team week after week doing a job for the team and Club. And all the army of supporters and helpers who love the Club and love the game and spend countless hours helping out with little appreciation. To you all many thanks.
To my fellow team mates I couldn’t imagine running through brick walls with any other crabs. We will win a premiership if we hang tough together, train hard, keep it real, and stick to our plan that we have toiled so hard for.
In closing, the season was a terrific one for the Club. Sixth in Club Championship is a very good result, even a great result.
To Dave Millar and his Colts for winning the premiership, congratulations on an exceptional achievement in consecutive seasons. We all hope to emulate your feat in our own teams.
Keep safe Gordon Faithful, great days to come.
Ed Zelma | 
