From strength to strength: girls’ football at Carey

In 2019 when I arrived at Carey, the girls’ football program was in its infancy. A number of key staff drove and began a program from scratch, and soon the numbers started to grow exponentially. The enthusiasm was infectious and by the end of 2019, one of our Year 12s and the Captain of that year’s First Girls XVIII, Nicola Xenos, was drafted by St Kilda. Since then we have seen a number of players drafted and are currently playing for a variety of AFLW clubs.

Last weekend, our First Girls played in the inaugural APS Girls Football Grand Final. It was a powerful display of the skills and culture these students have developed over the years. It was a close game against Caulfield who ultimately took out the win, but everyone who had the privilege to watch it play out couldn’t fault the effort, passion and commitment of the Carey team.

Our Deputy Principal – Wellbeing, Peter Robson, wrote about the professionalism and elite standard we saw:

‘As I stood watching the Carey players at three-quarter time split into three groups, with instruction from a Pies Captain, a long-serving Hawks Strength and Conditioning Coach and our Head of Sport, it just looked so professional. These kids were getting brilliant, exacting instructions. They were 15 points down and their Coach, a former Bulldogs assistant, urged the team that it could be done.

‘Another Carey goal then brought the margin to 10 points, and I was starting to get vocal. It was then five minutes of frantic footy. The ball bobbled for minutes in the Carey forward line as the clock showed under five minutes to go; one goal now would see one kick in it. It was footy at its best.

‘As I reflected on it, it’s hard not to be proud. A Carey Year 12 girl, the team Captain, wrote a letter to the coaches today saying it was the best thing she’d ever been involved in at school.’

What is truly impressive is the ability our students have to navigate through their already busy school life combined with extra training sessions, individualised programs, game analysis and, above all, teamwork and fun. Our Senior School students have been terrific role models for our community through sport and come to each game wearing their uniform with pride and mentoring our younger students with care and genuine interest. It is this balance that has allowed the program to not only thrive but to become a genuine pathway to the AFLW. The pride the players show in representing Carey reflects a culture that will continue to inspire the next generation of Carey footballers.

Sleep – the forgotten strategy for achieving our personal best

As Google became a mega company, many people delved into the reasons and causes for its success. Through this exploration it became clear that Google recognised the importance and productivity benefits of rest. They even have sleep pods for their employees to rest during the day in order to boost their focus and creativity.

Sleep specialist Dr W Christopher Winter, while researching baseball players, found that once fatigue had set in through challenges like the constant travel, the players’ performance declined. He recommended clubs implement ways to build rest. Rest was also a key issue acknowledged in the recent Resilient Youth Survey, which Carey students and other students in Australia took part in. Years 7 to 12 students across the country identified sleep or a lack of thereof as a key area they have an issue with.

In addressing this crucial issue, on Wednesday 27 August at 7pm, the Carey Community Forum invite you to a discussion on 'sleep – the forgotten strategy for achieving our personal best', presented by Dr Carmel Harrington (BSc, DipEd, LLB, PhD). In this presentation, Dr Harrington will provide relevant and up-to-date research highlighting the fundamental role of sleep in our wellbeing and in our ability to perform at our best. The connection between sleep and our physical and mental health will be examined and the effects of sleep on cognitive ability and behaviour will be specifically detailed. Dr Harrington will explain what sleep is and how it is structured and will give strategies to maximise good sleep in yourself and your children. She will also describe the effects of insufficient sleep on the developing brain and how to go about setting up healthy sleeping habits in young children and teenagers that will help them achieve optimal wellbeing and their personal best.

The Power of Sleep: Sleep better, live better

Presenter: Dr Carmel Harrington (BSc, DipEd, LLB, PhD)
Date: Wednesday 27 August
Time: 7.00pm
Where: Online – details upon registration

Register here

Please note this is a live event and will not be recorded. 

Christian Gregory
Deputy Head of Senior School – Student Wellbeing