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"Tasmanian State Championship Final"

Saturday the 11th of September - 4pm - KGV Ground, Glenorchy.

The club held its annual best and fairest count to decide the winners of the clubs 5 seniors sides best and fairest awards, and another great night uncovered some great and generally expected results.

It is with great sadness and regret that the Northern Rangers Football Club announces the sudden passing of the clubs Under 18’s Coach, and friend, Jeff McHugh.

Jeff McHugh has been a loyal servant to the club, coaching various teams in the NTJSA, and taking over the Under 18’s role in 2010.

Jeff McHugh was relatively new to the world game, but had a passion to learn and develop, so he could better serve the club.

This is a tragic loss to the club, we have lost not only a passionate individual who loved the club, but we have lost a true friend, a gentleman, a father and a Ranger.

Jeff is survived by his two Children Joel and Alana.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time.  Joel is a playing member of  this years Under 18’s.

The Northern Rangers Celebrated ten years in the Premier League with a dinner at the Riverside Golf club, the highlight of the evening was the naming of "the team of the decade"  The Team was selected by three coaches and two players who have been involved with the club since it all began back in 1999.

Coach of the side was Rangers Roslan Sa'ad and his Manager was Rangers President Mark Ackerly.  On the field Marshall Pooley lined up in goals with Sam Luck captaining the side from Centre back.  Todd Hingston selected in midfield with late inclusion Paul Bremner getting the late call up for the game at York Park.

The North boys executed the game plan with precision, and were able to over come the set back of losing Claxton early in the first half to injury.

Whilst the South boys were playing well, they could not penetrate the North defense.  It took some hard work from Riversides Sam Hughes to open the scoring for North in the second half, then a great free kick from Sam Luck was headed home by Tabrett from Ulverstone to secure the win to North 2-0 and continue their resent dominance of the series.

The Northern Rep Squad for the 2009 first leg at York Park.

For Schipper it is his fifth best and fairest since the club started in 1999, and a fitting way to finish his premiership season.  Schipper won the title in 2000, 2001, 2006 and last year in a three way tie with Kakadumane and Ambrose.

Hingston joined the club this year and provided Schipper with the perfect pairing in midfield.  H ingston is the sort of player that the Northern Rangers had been lacking in years gone by and proved to be an important piece of the premiership puzzle.

Sam Luck finished in third spot after taking a commanding lead into the last five games, leading the pack with 16 votes and the closest to him was Schipper at that point on 12, but Luck could not register a vote in the final quarter of the year and Schipper and Hingston were victorious.

Paul Bremner and Mark Ambrose also polled well with 11 votes each.

Final Vote getters were:

18 Votes – Derek Schipper and Todd Hingston
16 Votes – Sam Luck
11 Votes – Paul Bremner and Mark Ambrose
10 Votes – Andrew Nicholson
9 Votes – Luke Connors
6 Votes – Marshall Pooley & Chris Gaskin
5 Votes – Sam Nugteren
4 Votes – Brad Langerak
3 Votes – Rohan Pooley
2 votes – Michael Townsend
1 Vote – TT Kakadumane

In the Reserve count Gabriel Tams (14)ran away with back to back Best and Fairest titles to take the award over Michael Townsend (11) who was neck and neck with Tams until the last two games in which he didn't play for the Reserves.  Captain Oytun Aykiran finished 3rd place with 7 votes.

Arlene Crooks won her second best and fairest at Northern Rangers with a 30 vote poll over Dixon on 21 votes.

And in the Under 18's Stefan Jago was the first Under 18 to win back to back honors with a 23 vote poll over Aaron de la Motte on 11 votes in second place.  History would say that an Under 18 B and F winner traditionally goes on to play a leading role in seniors in future years.

Todd Hingston won his first and Northern Rangers second George Dale Medal at the Football Federation Tasmania annual league vote count.

Todd Hingston had the award wrapped up early in the evening, poling vote after vote in almost every game, finishing the night with 29 votes out of his 16 games.

Each time Hingston won a vote, a mighty and hearty cheer went up from the three and a bit Ranger tables at the dinner.

It must be said that out of the remaining tables, not one senior men’s club from Launceston was represented, very poor form. Some Women from the victorious Women’s side from Launceston City, but apart from that, nothing.

None the less, the North West clubs and Rangers enjoyed the night that saw Roslan Sa’ad voted as Coach of the year, deservedly so after a Stella year at the helm.

To go with the nights success, Stefan Jago won the clubs first ever Under 18 individual award and dedicated it for some reason to Gabriel Tams, or the Gibblecock on the nights occasion, not to mention his highly successful Tuesday evening positional training.

Connors accepted the Senior Championship trophy on behalf of the club and gave a proud speech, not before he struggled to find it.

Many thanks to FFT for the evening, and a special thanks to Nigel Brown from Somerset who came good on his promise to shout a round if the club won the championship, doing so in fine sporting style at the dinner. All the best with your fight Nigel!

The 2009 Northern Rangers Senior best and fairest has been counted and won and the points could not be split between  four time winner Derek Schipper and Todd Hingston who joined the club this year.