FRIENDLY FOOTBALL MATCHES – TERM 1

St Joseph's College Geelong football program has been busy during Term 1 of 2023, with both the 1st XVIII and Year 10 teams playing four friendly matches in preparation for the upcoming ACC season. The Year 9 boys played a series of matches in houses in what was another chance for the boys to represent the College.

After the first match against St Patrick's Ballarat in the annual Respect Cup on International Women's Day ended in a draw, the 1st XVIII played their first friendly a week later. The Year 11s took on the Year 12s on Carey Oval with the Year 12s holding off a fast finishing Year 11 team by just 1-point.

The team then played matches against St Ignatius (Year 11s) and Western Heights (Year 12s), before finishing the term with a match against Geelong College. Across the five games, a total of 84 players represented the 1st XVIII, with a mix of Year 11 and Year 12 students showcasing their skills and working on team chemistry ahead of the season proper.

Meanwhile, the Year 10 team played their own set of four matches against the same opponents as the 1st XVIII, starting with a match between themselves at Carey Oval. The team then played St Ignatius, Western Heights and Geelong College, with a total of 91 players representing the Year 10 team across the term.

These games provided valuable opportunities for both teams to work on their skills and game plan ahead of the Term 2 ACC season. While the results of the friendly matches were not the main focus, the experience gained from playing against quality opposition will undoubtedly be beneficial for the team's development going forward.

Overall, the St Joseph's football program can be proud of the effort and dedication shown by both the 1st XVIII and Year 10 teams throughout Term 1. With the season proper kicking off in Term 2, the team will be looking to build on the foundations set during the friendly matches and strive for success in the highly competitive ACC competition.