Welcome to The Nest, Burwood.
This fixture brings back memories of last year’s meeting in this exact competition, so it feels fitting to face Burwood again in the cup. Matches between these sides are always tightly contested, with the last clash at the Domain ending in a hard-fought 1–0 victory to the Hawks.
There have already been some exciting games at The Nest this season, even in the short time we’ve been underway. Last week’s battle reminded us that we can be caught off guard and hurt — but that response may have been our biggest weapon. Coming back from 2–0 down showed the character within this group, turning the game into a do-or-die situation and producing four second-half goals, with another ruled out.
While we were pleased with the result, the pain from that opening spell will stay with us. It’s a reminder that we need to be on the front foot for the full 90 minutes — not only when it suits us.
Special mentions upstairs went to Player of the Day Josh Dempster, who showed his quality when given the opportunity. It’s been fantastic having the Dempsters back at The Nest, with both lads looking to make a strong impact for the club they’ve come through the pathway with.
Another huge shoutout goes to our volunteers, who have all chipped in massively to get the season underway and support the new Whole of Football planning. It has come with challenges, but everyone has met them with a hands-on attitude to ensure our juniors are up and running — which has been brilliant to see.
Lastly this week, we acknowledge the departure of a hugely valued coach within our performance environment, and someone who has been a massive help to me during my time as DOF — Katie Pottinger, alongside Char Gregson.
Katie, while we’re sad to see you step away from your position, you leave our female pathway in a fantastic place, with a culture of connection and belonging that cannot be taken for granted. We hope to see you back in a coaching role when the time is right, as you remain a highly valued member of our club.
Bring on the Chatham Cup! 🦅
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