We are delighted to announce our 2 new Technical Coaches – Alex McLean and Victoria Wyckelsma - for Season 2007/08 Alex McLean, known to many around the Junior Cricket Club has agreed to step up from team coaching (Under 12A for the last 2 years) to become one of our committed Technical Training Coaches.

For those not aware, Alex is Level 1 Coaching accredited and hopes to achieve Level 2 accreditation in the next 6 months or so. He has 15 years of cricket playing experience behind him, including playing for our associate club, Middle Park CC and Melbourne Grammar School…..ask him about his winning 6 off the last ball of a match! He has run Milo cricket clinics for the club at local Primary Schools. He has also worked as an Outdoor Adventure Camp instructor for disadvantaged children (8 – 17 years of age) in his GAP year in the UK (2004) and more recently, a snow sports instructor at Perisher. Alex is accredited to use the club’s Indoor Bowling Machine.

His love for the game is infectious and we know our boys will thrive under his guidance.

Victoria (Vicky) Wyckelsma does need some introduction as she has been newly appointed to the club. Reading her ‘bio’ below, you can see how lucky we are to attract somebody with such a relevant playing and coaching experience. Almost whatever technical level our individual players may be at, Vicky is going to be a terrific contributor to their progress. She will doubtless help our players lift their own personal improvement levels and hopefully even attract some girls to our club. Maybe all of our players can go on to match some of her outstanding achievements.

Have a read of Vicky’s Bio:
Coaching Experience:
• currently head coach of U16 and U18 Gippsland Girls Teams
• last year coached Gippsland U16s Girls
Playing Experience:
• currently playing D2 and sometimes D1 at Essendon Maribyrnong Park and played with Wonthaggi Workmens CC (mens club) for 2 years
• Captained the U16 BOYS in both years
• Captained the LDCA womens and U17 teams
• Captained the U17 Gippsland team
• played in the Gippsland Senior team in the last two years
Representative Experience:
• initially trained with the U17 State Development Squad
• then, trained with Victorian U19 State Squad under the guidance of the renowned Kathryn Fitzpatrick.

Whilst not required at Sports Club level until 2011, both Coaches are currently processing their “Working with Children” Check Card.

Please make them both welcome.

It’s a record! 4 South Melbourne players selected in the South East Seagulls Under 13 Talent Squad
What a start to the season. We have already had no less than 4 of our players (Under 12s last year) selected for sessions in the South East Seagulls Under 13s Talent Development Squad. This is a record for the club and we congratulate Harry Christie, Charles Collopy-White, Tom Kittson and Zac Lam. They will be, as always, terrific ambassadors for our Club.

This is wonderful recognition for 4 boys who have worked very hard over a number of seasons. This year they enter the Club’s Under 14 ranks. Are we looking forward to seeing them in action this coming season.

The Club is committed to promoting our players to the highest level of their best endeavours. We have a wonderful record of Representative achievement….just have a flick through last year’s Representative honour role! (see News Archive stories). Wherever possible we will point players in the right direction to achieve Representative honours.

At the same time, we are equally proud of everyone of our players that achieve personal improvement through the season, however great or small. If we have become better players, team contributors and above all shared fun with our mates, we have succeeded.