Chris Sims

Name: Chris Sims

Nick Names: Tom Tom, Simsy, Day Spa, Simo

Playing Number: 7

Preferred position: HFF or Wing

Favourite team: Port Adelaide

Fav player: Jacob Surjan

Other clubs played for: Noranda, Pooraka (SAAFL in SA), Solomontown (SGL in SA)

Fav food / drink: Pepperoni Pizza, McDonalds, Jacks or Jim

TV show / movie: How I Met Your Mother, Boston Legal,

Fav saying / quote: I’m sure Gnangara Road is somewhere around here……

Greatest footy memory: Broken nose in U18s after running back with the flight to take a mark, and getting smashed by the opp. ruck man! When I was on the ground it started to pelt down hail, then when I got into the change rooms the final siren went! As a side note, we lost by 15 or so goals…

If i wasnt playing football…. I would, hopefully be water skiing or snowboarding. But it would be hard to do those things in a wheel chair, which would be the reason for not playing footy.

Comments: Collingwood supporters are full of themselves! Port Adelaide should be allowed to wear the prison bar jumper whenever they like.. It is not even close to the Collingwood jumper.. ALSO… I absolutely HATE Robert Walls.. He is an absolute wanker!

2010 Leadership Group Announced

Prior to our trial game against the Kwinana Knights the Ellenbrook Eels proudly announced their 2010 leadership group. It was decided that leadership was a crucial part for the Eels Premiership dream, therefore the coaching staff decided to place a 7-man leadership group in charge of the football club this season.

Congratulations to Paul Saylor who will again lead the League side as the club Captain. Sayles has had an exceptional pre-season to date and with his experience, fitness, ability and passion for footy, he’ll certainly set the standards this year on and off the field. Sayles will be supported by Jesse Manning who was selected as this years League side Vice Captain. Jesse has also had an exceptional pre-season to date and sets a high standard on the field and during training.

Robbie Schnaarz and new comers Aaron Power and Matty Jones will round off players to join our 2010 League side leadership group. Robbie has been instrumental over the years at the Eels and offers the side a great deal of experience to the side. Aaron Power has fitted in quite well from day 1 after coming over to the Eels this year from Mt Lawley and he’ll offer the side a great deal of drive within our defensive zone. Matty Jones has also acquitted himself quite well within the club and adds to our running midfield. All three players have certainly asserted themselves during the pre-season and I have no doubts they’ll do an exceptional job.

The Reserve Grade will be lead by Wyvan Ferguson and Shane Glanville as Co-Captains. Both Wyvan and Shane have been instrumental over the pre-season and both players offer not only experience but several leadership qualities and I have no doubt that these two blokes will set the standard this year.

As I have said from day 1, I have high expectations from our leadership group as they are an important part to our success. They are not selected to be treated any differently than any other valued player within the club, rather they are selected to reinforce the fundamentals of our playing style and game-plan on the field and set the standard as far as our desire to achieve team goals go.

In closing I’d like to again congratulate all 7 players and hope you relish the opportunity to lead this great football club. I challenge you all now to step up and perform in your roles. Take you’re team on the field or off it as your playing group will look up to you. All the best lads and I certainly look forward to the challenges ahead.

Hobbsy.

AUDACES FORTUNA JUVAT
Fortune Favours the Brave

Match Report - Ellenbrook Eels V’s Moora Rovers – 20th March 2010

The boys made the long bus trip out to the country town Moora on Saturday to take on the Rovers. I was very optimistic regarding our opposition as Moora had a few quality players within there club and we were missing some of our key senior players but regardless those who were missing, gave other players the opportunity to stand up and assert themselves in the side.

Before the game the boys spoke about the importance of our relentless pressure at the man and the ball, as well that the blokes knew they had to step up a level from last week with our disposal and the way we used the footy.

It took at least 10 minutes into the first quarter for the first goal to be kicked as both sides were finding there feet and trying to gain the upper hand mentally. Once the Eels broke through with our first major, the lads really didn’t look back. We dominated the centre clearances and our forward zone worked a treat. Scores at quarter time were Eels 4.4 leading Moora 0.2.

The second quarter started much the same as the third but it was the hardness from our midfield that allowed the Eels to again gain full control. Jesse and Jonesy really got on top through the middle and with Robby Schnaarz becoming a target up forward the Eels started to get on top. At the end of the 2nd quarter the Eels were 7.5 to Moora 1.3.

During the third quarter the Eels really broke there opposition apart as Moora found it hard to penetrate our forward zone. The way we moved the ball from our half back line to the forward grid was sensational and with new comer Luke Hurly becoming a big target up forward in his first senior game of footy we were able to kick 6 goals for the quarter. At three quarter time the Eels were clearly in front 13.10 to 1.4.

Moora came out firing during the 4th and restricted the Eels dominance around the ground. At times during the quarter we become a little complacent with the way they used the footy and inturn we couldn’t seem to penetrate Moora’s half back line. Scores at the siren were Eels 15.12 to 2.7.

Being a trial match it was decided by both coaches to play a 5th quarter. This allowed us to trial a few new things and put players in different positions. After 2 ½ hours on a bus the Eels still managed to finish the game off full of run winning 18.16.124 to 4.8.32.

Those players who really stood up were, Matty Craig who ran hard all day on the wing, Jesse who lead the boys well right from the start, Feats proved he’s defiantly got what it takes to play league footy. Matty Jones dominated clearances and at the stoppages, and ever reliable Rob Curyer attacked the ball hard throughout our backline. All up it was a faultless display of selfless footy, simple as that.

Goal Kickers were: Luke Hurley 4, Snarzy 3, Steve, Matty Craig, & Jonesy 2 goals each, Dunks, Shane, Devo, Simsy, & Dylan all kicked 1 goal each. 10 different goal kickers in total which was a great effort.

This weekend the Mighty Ellenbrook Eels take on Nollamara who are in our competition. Let’s have a big week on the track lads so we continue with the development we’ve made so far.

Hobbsy.

NEVER SURRENDER
Nunquam Trado

Match Report - Ellenbrook Eels V’s Kwinana Knights Trial Game

The boys travelled down to Medina Oval on Saturday to take on the Kwinana Knights in both the League and Reserves. With a few key position players missing from both sides I was quite impressed by the spirit shown by all players who represented the club.

The Reserve’s played out their match with 19 players, against a side who had 9 blokes rotating off the bench. After a slow start the Eels found their feet and were only a few points down at the main break. Tucky was outstanding through the middle which gave Balla clean possessions up forward. If not for a lapse during the 3rd quarter the Eels could have found themselves in a winning position during the last change.

During the Final quarter Kwinana’s lead got out to 6 goals, but with the Eel’s “never say die” approach and Rob Curyer moving into the Ruck, Ellenbrook finished off the stronger going down by just 7 points with the final score being Kwinana 11.10.76 to Ellenbrook 11.3.69. Well done lads the hard work you’ve put in over pre-season really showed during the last quarter.

The League side started off full of run during the first quarter and if it wasn’t for inaccuracy up forward they would have found themselves in front at the first change. During the second quarter the lads picked up the intensity and started to hit more targets going forward. This resulted in the Eels putting their noses in front at the main change. Big Dunk’s was outstanding during the first half, as he rarely missed a target.

For some reason like the Reserve’s the League side were flat during the third quarter which allowed Kwinana to get on top, as they controlled possession of the footy. Our overall pressure at the man, and our decision making really let us down during the 3rd and as a consequence Kwinana found themselves 16 points up at the final change.

After a quick chat during the last break and being reminded about the importance of trusting each other’s ability the mighty Eels finished off just as the Reserve’s did, full of run. Being 16 points down isn’t really a big margin to chase down, however in the conditions of the match being so low scoring it was quite a big gap to chase down. The difference was our hard running and we started to clean up the use of the ball. Ya see lads it’s the simple things in footy that counts the most.

In the end Ellenbrook came out winners by a single goal winning 7.12.54 to 7.7.49. Dylan Cunningham was outstanding during the whole game and in particular the last quarter as his courage alone made a big difference to the end result. Other players who I thought put their hands up were; New comer Jonesy who dominated the middle, Dunk’s off the half-backline was sensational, Another new comer “Azza” down the backline gave us much needed drive as well as Tonner who’s long driving kick’s cleared the defensive zone. All up for our first hit out lads great effort. It wasn’t so much that we won the game that impressed me; it was how we won it.

In closing my first match report for 2010 I’d like to remind blokes in particular those players which ambitions to play League footy this year to start fully reading and understanding our game plan. As simple as it may be we ALL need to have a full understanding of our playing style and own individual roles within the team. It’s about commitment blokes and if where to win ourselves a Premiership then I need all players to be playing on the same page. Not a huge issue though lads I was more than happy with the end result, but I thought this area let us down a little.

Anyway Moora this weekend guys so let’s continue our great start for 2010 and come home with another win. Go Eels!!!!

Hobbsy.

BE ALL YOU CAN BE
exsisto totus vos can exsisto

Coaches Report - Training Day

I’d like to start this weeks report by personally thanking those players who attended the Ellenbrook Eels training day on Saturday. Those players who attended enjoyed a rather challenging but rewarding day and I’m sure we’ll see all the benefits pay off this weekend when we travel to Kwinana.

The first stop was Whitman Park, where the players were split into 5 even teams which they represented for all the days activities. The first event was a “Where is it???? Run” within Whiteman Park. The Teams had to navigate using a map and clues as to where the check points were within an approximate 6k radius within the Park. Even though some teams navigational skills were much to be desired (Snow, Tom Tom and the rest of the Black Team) most teams managed to find all of the check points with the Green Team finishing first with a time of 36m 44 sec.

From Whiteman Park we then travelled to Garvey Park along the Swan River to take part in 4 activities. The first being the 3k team run where lead by Jesse the Blue Team got up to get the points over the Gold Team. The next even off the cards was the day’s main event, being kayaking and on behalf of the Eels I’d like to send my appreciation to Rob Cousins for organizing the Kayaks.

There were some funny moments during the kayaking as some of the players found it hard to keep there kayaks the right way up in the water. Hutcho and Whitey couldn’t seem to keep in time and both found the going tough during the lap around the island, while Red just couldn’t seem to stay on his Kayak. Poor Shaneo lost his sunnies, however this couldn’t stop the Blue Team who claimed victory in both the circuit and the relays.

After kayaking within there respective teams the players attacked a 500 club weight & cardio circuit, where for 25 minutes the teams had to complete different exercises and keep a running tally of all the reputations they’d completed. The Black Team won this event after achieving a total of 2606 reps, 36 ahead of the Red Team who finished with 2570.

The final even before Lunch was the Tug of War competition. After going through the preliminary matches undefeated the Green Team were upstaged in the Grand Final by the Gold Team. With big “Dougie Bollinger” Red being their anchor man they were unstoppable when it counted the most.

After the Lunch break the boys jumped back on the bus and travelled to Hillarys where they took part in the final 2 events for the day. The Blue Team dominated the beach relays while the Green and Black Teams had to share the points in the beach soccer competition.

The Overall placing’s for the day were; In 5th place was the Gold Team with 21 points, 4th was the Black Team on 22 points, 3rd went to Sayls’s Red Team with 23 points. Jonesy’s Green Team finished in 2nd on 27 points, with Jesse’s Blue Team taking out the honours on 32 points.

Overall the day proved to be a great success and on behalf of the playing group who attended the day I’d like to personally thank Adrian, Whitey, Devo, Muzz, and anyone else from the mighty Ellenbrook Eels who helped make this years Training day a great success. I know that the benefits gained from days like this will be beneficial to our Premiership ambitions so again thank you for giving the team this great opportunity.

AUDACES FURTUNA JUVAT
(Fortune Favours the Brave)

Hobbsy