This week Premier Division plays North Shore in a crucial match for the team’s finals prospects. North Shore is sitting 3rd on the ladder, one game ahead of Pennant Hills. A good win to the Demons today could see Penno move ahead of the Bombers, but only by percentage. UTS Bats have won as many games as Penno but sit one spot below due to a lower percentage. The Bats (5th), East Coast (1st) and St George (2nd), all play teams below them and are expected to win. Manly sits in 6th place, one game behind Penno and UTS, but have the bye this week and are therefore unable to advance. So, for Pennant Hills, results this week could see them sitting anywhere from 3rd to 5th, that’s why a win is so crucial!

In the first encounter with North Shore in Round 6, the Bombers won at home by 10 points, breaking a five game losing streak against the Demons. Our boys are coming off three consecutive wins and our form has improved significantly since then. However, Norths have also had two wins and a bye over the past three rounds. A close contest is in prospect.

The first three matches this week will see Pennant Hills up against Balmain Tigers. In each case, the Demons sit above the Tigers on the competition ladder. Division One sitting 7th on the ladder are desperate for a win to keep their finals hopes alive. The two teams will be playing for the Bill Carey Cup, which is currently held by Pennant Hills. Division Three and Five have previously had large wins over the Tigers and will both be looking to continue their winning form as finals approach.

The Under 19s and Women’s teams play home games at MKO. The Under 19s are in 6th place and are coming off some patchy form over the last few weeks, recently losing to UNSW-ES Bulldogs and St George Dragons. This week they play an undefeated North Shore side, so this will be a significant challenge for our boys. Their effort last round against the 2nd placed Dragons was much better and with further improvement they can give the Bombers a run for their money. However, a win is a must if they are to have any chance of making finals.

Our Women’s team plays Newtown Breakaways in a clash of 7th versus 8th. Our girls are a good chance for a win. A win this week will make it 6 out of 14, which is unarguably better than anyone could have expected at the start of the season. This is their last match as next week’s round is a bye for the Demonettes and unfortunately they wont qualify for finals. But, well done girls. Regardless of whether they win or lose today, the season has been a fantastic success!

SEBBY’S 200 GAME MILESTONE

This weekend we celebrate Sebastian “Seb” Parker’s 200th open-age club game with the Pennant Hills Demons. 2016 is Seb’s 17th season playing with the Senior Club. Although he technically played his 200th in his last game a fortnight ago against UTS Bats, the occasion of the Club’s annual “Back to the Ern Day”, is a fitting time and venue to acknowledge this significant achievement.

This weekend, he will play in the Round 15 Division One match against Balmain Tigers at Pennant Hills’ traditional home, Ern Holmes Oval. This is a significant milestone that ranks him as one of the highest games record-holders at the Club. Not only will the Demons be desperate for a win, but the boys will be determined to put on a strong showing to ensure the moment is one that Seb will look back on with pride and fond memories.

Seb has achieved most of the milestones possible at a community football club and has left a significant legacy as one of the Club’s on-field leaders … he’s a three time premiership captain (Premier Division in 2006 and 2008, Under 18s in 1999). On-field he is immediately recognisable, not just for his footy prowess, but for the blue elbow guard which he has worn as a badge of honour since 2002.

On the day of his 201st game, we pay tribute to a great career and a role-model with few peers, one that has triumphed over tragedy, and serves as an exemplar of what can be achieved through perseverance, passion and the will to succeed.

Congratulations Seb on a stellar football career and on reaching this fantastic milestone!

FLAG ANNIVERSARIES

2016 is the 40th and 10th anniversary for flags won in 1976 and 2006, respectively. In 1976 Pennant Hills Seniors won a second consecutive flag in the 2nd Division of the Sydney Football Association. This was the year prior to the Club’s elevation to the first grade competition in 1977. In 2006, the Demons won an improbable flag against red hot favourites East Coast Eagles. Played in a quagmire at Henson Park, the Demons snuck home by a mere 2 points. This was the Demon’s second first grade flag with another two added since in 2008 and 2015, both also against arch Hills rivals, East Coast Eagles.

1996 was also a stellar season for Pennant Hills. For the first time in the Club’s history, all three teams, Firsts, Reserves and Under 18s, were Grand Finalists with two of them, Reserves and Under 18s, going on to win flags. On Saturday 30 July 2016, at our annual Back to the Ern and Past Players Day, we mark the 20th anniversary of this significant Club milestone.

A story for each of the 2006 and 1996 premierships have been written and are available on the Club’s website.

Want to talk Demons history? Then drop us a line at historian@pennanthillsjafc.com.au.

Go Penno!

Demon’s Apprentice