----------------------------------------------------------------------Toronto Dingos 2004 Annual Report November 25, 2004 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Record: 3rd place (of 10 teams): 9 wins, 4 losses finals: Premiers over Eagles 69-43 Final Roster: 37 players (26 non-Australian), 7 canadian rookies, 1 Aussie rookie finals qualifications: 29 players (19 Canadians), 5 rookies Club Executive: Tim Shaw: President Bill May: Director Stuart Wallis: Secretary, Social Director Jamie Prescott: Treasurer Team Awards: Best and Fairest: Craig Stewart (Aussie), Chris Buczkowski Rookie of the Year: Andrew Nisker Leading Goalkicker: Chris Buczkowski Coach's Award: Andrew Nisker Clubman : Chris Buczkowski ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary The quest for back-to-back flags in 2004 began with the Dingos in patchy form. Without a full-time coach, the team was relying on talent alone. As a result they suffered some surprise losses due to a combination of discipline and organisational problems. Brolsy returned after a handful of rounds and from there on there was a continous improvement in play. The end of the regular season saw the boys hitting peak form. A second victory over the Eagles in the finals saw the club claim their Third OAFL Premiership. Highlights - Back To Back Premierships - NHL Playoff Hockey Pool - AFL Footy Tipping Competition - AFL Grand Final Evening Coaching and Training The Dingos trained twice a week, Monday or Tuesday and Thursday at David Balfour Park starting on April 13th through to the OAFL Grand Final. Coach : Peter Gordon Assistants : Paul Tinkler, Craig Stewart, Gavin Ingram. Social Many informal social events as well as the AFL Grand Final night and the Dingos Vote Count/Awards night on Oct 24th. Recruitment Managed to get seven new Canadian rookies this year from a variety of sources. Most successful was word of mouth recruiting form our members getting mates to come out and give the game a go. We also had one new Aussie rookie who is a converted rugby player and seven new aussies play for us at various points of the season. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Notes Finances Not yet available Sponsorship $1000 from Sports Cafe. Web Site No major changes this year, continual incremental improvement with extra information available. http://www.torontodingos.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Suggestions to Improve the League Rules ----- As you are aware the Dingos this year had a player who played four games for us but was unable to play more due to Military Service therefore he did not qualify for the finals. It turned out that his military service allowed him to be available for selection for the finals. We entered a request to allow him to play in the finals as he was able to make it to these games however, correctly, the league exec did not allow the exception. What the Dingos would like to suggest is the 'Mike Karas Rule'. Players must play five games for a club to qualify for the playoffs. The exception being if that player has played 25 games or the previous two seasons where they qualified for the playoffs. There should be a provision for these players to be able to play in the playoffs. Maybe if they have played 3 or 4 games they will be granted an exception. Specific Concerns ----------------- Umpiring The Dingos felt that the standard of Umpiring this year regressed from previous years. We understand that it has become difficult to recruit new umpires however this aspect of the game is key to the OAFL becoming a compelling association to play in. It would be worth having some type of brain storming session with the OAFL exec and perhaps a representative from each team to get creative about solving this important problem. This should be outside of a normal OAFL exec meeting to allow the meeting to focus on the issue. The solution will need to incorporate Boundary, Goal and Scoreboard umpires as well so that these positions are filled each week. The idea this year of non-playing teams providing them for games was a good idea but not always successfully executed. Runners/Water Carries Each team should be allowed one Water Carrier and One Runner on the field during game play. Both of these people should be easily identfied by the umpire by a bright yellow t-shirt or something equivalent. Teams breaking these rules should be docked one goal for first infraction, entire current score for second infraction. This will promote a more professional level of OAFL game. Randal McClean The Dingos thought this guy was banned from the league. Why is he playing again, he is a danger to opponents. Home Grounds The ground at London, Windsor and Guelph are too small and should be improved before OAFL games are scheduled at them. The OAFL should define a minimum size for grounds (available from various AFL rule/guidelines) and ensure all OAFL games are played on this size playing surface. Schedule The schedule is too long. OAFL grand final should be the week before the AFL grand final. OAFL Awards/Vote Count night League Awards night came across as being poorly organised, for example the winner was incorrectly declared before a recount was done. Attempt should be made to the league social event of the year and involve all the club’s and league sponsors. This may require not running this on the day of the last regular schedule game even though most teams are in Toronto that day. Running it the weekend before the OAFL grand final would give the OAFL exec time to properly count votes and engrave trophies for the winners. OAFL Grand Final Some suggestions for a better event - Charge $2 entrance and have a door prize. - Half time event, for example a sprint for non playing teams to enter a runner in. - Have a sound system and an MC/announcer to explain events as they occur for the number of people that turn up with no idea of how the game works. - Ensure the pre anthem is played. - Ensure an official coin toss. - Ability to set up a Kiosk information booth on Footy, Auskick, etc pre-marketing to schools - Ensure the trophy presentation is done so that everyone can hear and so that new people to the game understand whats happening.