By JARROD POTTER
BEACONSFIELD’S Youth Girls team continued to sweep the accolades as coach Troy Robinson was named the south-east’s best.
Awarded Youth Girls Coach of the Year at the AFCA South East awards dinner – held at the Sandhurst Club this week – Robinson has been in stellar form in charge of the Eagles as they won their second premiership in as many years in the South East Juniors competition.
Robinson said the award reflects the overall impact of the coaches, players and support staff and they all deserve credit for his accolade.
“It is huge recognition for all the hard work that’s gone in over the last three years developing the squad,” Robinson said.
“It’s also great recognition to all the other coaching staff and support staff and recognition of us as a group.
“I was blown away and didn’t expect it – didn’t really know much about the awards or aim to win one, but I’m very honoured to have won.”
The Beaconsfield Youth Girls team, since joining the league in 2012, focuses as much outside of game day as it does on the field as Robinson and the club want to develop successful community-minded people, not just elite footballers.
“Our aspiration when we originally started the team was to get the team up and running, let the girls get new friendships, enjoy and learn footy skills,” Robinson said.
“We want to push them through to the local community, too, through our fundraising awareness program.
“We’re heading to Wangaratta and Benalla to promote youth girls football and Beaconsfield Youth Girls Football Club, so it’s not all about what we do on the field.”
Robinson was also an assistant coach for the South East Juniors Youth Girls interleague team that finished second to Yarra Junior Football League in this year’s campaign.
The aim for the Eagles is to create a long-term team – with an abundance of 14 and 15-year-olds brought through the ranks to keep the side near the top for many years to come.
“We’ve got a few new girls playing netball or state level basketball that want to come down and have a run with us – but we don’t want to be just a two and three year team,” Robinson said.
“I’m not interested in just taking on 17 and 18-year-olds. If we can deliver 14 and 15-year-olds we can push them through the years towards academies, state squads and keep the window open.”
Robinson will be eligible for the Victorian Youth Girls Coach of the Year at the state awards presentation event at the MCG on 14 November.
