UTS Bats Building For The Future

Written by Lucas Holmes

 

The UTS AFC Bats received some positive news in recent weeks, with their current training venue Bat and Ball Oval slated to receive a much-needed upgrade.

The $1 million dollar NSW Government grant will see facilities such as full-sized change rooms installed at Bat and Ball Oval to support male and female participation.

Whilst the Bats already play matches at Waverley Oval in Bondi Junction and Trumper Park in Paddington, the upgrades at Bat and Ball Oval will enable senior football to be played at the venue and help support the growth of both junior and senior Australian rules in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with the Moore Park Tigers Junior AFL Club also based at the venue.

Coming into the 2021 season, the Bats made two head coaching changes. Miguel Limson took over as Premier Division women’s head coach, whilst Kyle Emley was appointed the new Premier Division men’s head coach.

Limson, who started the women’s program at the Parramatta Goannas in 2018, added some elite talent in the offseason. He lured former AFLW Player (GWS GIANTS) Pippa Smyth to the club that includes current GIANT Tait Mackrill. “We’ve had a slow start but we’re getting through it,” Limson said.

“The best thing to come out of the season so far is the depth that we’ve established in the playing group.” Those players include key forward Kaitlyn McCaffery, midfielder Julia Georos and the league’s Round 10 Rising Star nominee Ruby Harrison.

For the Premier Division men’s coach Kyle Emley, the move to Sydney has been “a good challenge.” Emley has experience playing in the VFL before coaching in the Victorian Amateur Football Association and Eastern Football Netball League.

Emley believes youth is going to be a key component in rebuilding the football program. “What we’re trying to do is give opportunities to young Sydney based players and hopefully on the field put together an attractive proposition”. As a result, the Bats have fielded several players that are eligible for the under 19’s squad.

“As a result of our commitment to focus on youth we were able to give ten (10) players aged 19 and under an opportunity to play Senior Football in season 2021, and we are looking to replicate this again in season 2022.

“Three (3) UTS players were selected in the GWS VFL squad where they gained valuable elite footy experience and further enhanced the clubs relationship with our local AFL clubs GWS & Sydney Swans.

UTS-AFC Bats President, Megan Gigacz, credits both Limson and Emley for the improved performances on the field so far this season, whilst adding to the club off the field. “We’ve seen huge improvements in on-field performance which really boosts the club’s atmosphere,” she said. “The new life and energy they’ve bought to the teams has been really noticeable.”

The Bats have been further buoyed by the recommitment of both Miguel and Kyle for season 2022.

The Bats have shown that improvement on the field so far this season. Both Premier Division teams have combined for seven wins (compared to the one combined win in season 2020) from the first 10 rounds before the season was cancelled. Additionally, the Bats U19s Division 1 team was also very competitive in its first season in the competition winning 3 of its 10 matches.

The UTS Bats have made a commitment to continuing to develop its football program through quality coaching, youth development and quality facilities, whilst leveraging the support of UTS Sport including its high-performance program for its players.

The future is looking bright in the bat cave..

For more info, visit: https://www.utsafc.com.au/

 

Sponsors Corner:

The UTS-AFC Bats would like to thank the following longstanding club sponsor for their support;

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Photo by Merrillie Redden

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