User:Mlfcopman/Mawson Lakes Football Club

Introduction
Mawson Lakes Football Club is an Australian Rules Football Club competing in the South Australian Amateur Football League. The club is located in Mawson Lakes, South Australia.

History
The College first formed an old scholar’s team in 1978 playing in the Adelaide & Suburban Association before joining the SAAFL in 1980.

Its residency was brief because at the end of the 1982 season it was broke and suffering from membership malaise.

In 1993 a new breed of former St. Paulians emerged led by youthful captain and organizer Ben Trussell and an enthusiastic committee, and in its first season earned the Club its first taste of a Grand Final. The Club rose to Division 4 in 2001 but then suffered a loss of players and fielded just one team in 2002 and 2003. However, in 2003, the club again tasted success with an undefeated season to claim the Division 10 Premiership. In 2004 the Club once again fielded two teams, now made up primarily of old scholars.

In 2006, club champion, Brad Horsell took over the senior coaching reins and brought instant on field success. A lackluster finals campaign would be the club’s downfall and see an end to the 2006 season.

In 2008 former full forward and the club’s first 100 goal in a season player, Craig Manuel, took over as senior coach. With this appointment came new ideas and a different direction for the club. We shared in mixed success on the field and a heavy injury toll dictated our season. We only just missed the finals in 2008.

The end of 2008 came the start of what possibly could be a revolution at our club. With the drive from Geoff Riddle, who had been appointed Senior Coach for the 2009 season after serving a three year apprenticeship as reserves coach, the club made the move from traditional home at St Paul’s College to the newly vacated facilities at Mawson Lakes, former home of the disbanded Kaurna Eagles.

New players, new facilities and a fresh vibrant feel this is the start of something exciting. With a solid pre season and flying start to the minor round St Paul’s Old Scholars Football Club is on its way to both on and off field success.

The end of the 2009 season saw a call from members at the Annual General Meeting to examine the possibility of a name change to drop the St Pauls Old Scholars and incorporate Mawson Lakes into the name.

The board met to discuss this prospect and subsequently agreed to make this change. A Special General Meeting was called to put the proposal to the members to which was unanimously voted in favor of the change. The club was deemed Mawson Lakes Football Club.

Change of name and Relocation
The club was originally formed as Saint Pauls Old Scholars Football Club and operated as such until September 2009.

The club moved away from Saint Paul's College at the end of the 2008 season and found it's new home in Mawson Lakes. At the end of the 2009 season, the club voted to change the name from Saint Pauls Old Scholars to the Mawson Lakes Football Club.

Mawson Lakes Football Club have retained the original Black and Gold colours and the nickname "The Saints", along with all previous records and achievements when operating as Saint Pauls Old Scholars.

Coaching Staff
Mawson Lakes Football Club is coached by Geoff Riddle. Geoff has served the club as a player, assistant coach and senior coach for almost ten years. The 2010 season will see Riddle again coaching the Club along with playing-assistant Robert O'Gorman. O'Gorman has made the transition from playing to coaching and has experienced success with the Mount Lofty Football Club over the past five years.

Dean Troughton will continue in 2010 as Reserves Coach. Troughton, a former player, coached the reserves for the first time in 2009.

Captain
Lachlan Kennett has led the side from 2007-2009. His courage and high work ethic have seen him win consecutive Best and Fairests in 2008 and 2009. He was selected in the 2000-2009 Team of the decade as a ruck-rover and as vice captain.

Hierachy
President: Peter Molloy

Vice President: Wendy Rocca

Treasurer: Mark Chilvers

Operations Manager: Christian Cooper

Secretary: Barry Joyce

Sponsorship Manager: Daniel Romeo

Social Club: Michael Hassett & Donovan Larking

SAAFL Delegate: Brenton Griffin

Match Day Manager: Adam Molloy