A full timeline of events can be found here.
Exact dates subject to change. Locations will be announced closer to the dates.
Assistant Coach
Quidditch Australia is excited to announce that Daniel Fox has been brought onto the Dropbears leadership team as Assistant Coach. He will help Coach Genevieve Gibson with her duties and responsibilities over the course of the next year.
Dropbears Development and Selection
This year, national development, selection, and training will occur over a period of several months as Quidditch Australia aims to put its best foot forward for the upcoming IQA World Cup while also seeking to improve gameplay across the country. This process will be overseen by the Dropbears Selection Committee. This committee will comprise the selectors, team coach, assistant coach, and selection committee chair.
Firstly, Quidditch Australia will host a series of development camps. Attendance at these camps will be determined by applications submitted on behalf of players by their team coach/es and captain/s. Players will be selected and invited by the national coaching team and the selection committee. The focus for these camps will be two-fold – generally improving the skill of all players who attend, and understanding the current level of national talent across the country. At least one individual from every willing and available team will be invited to participate in these camps in some way to ensure Australia-wide development. Up to fifty individuals will be invited to participate in each of these camps. These camps will in no way represent a shortlist for the 2018 Dropbears. They will be held in August and September in Sydney and Melbourne.
Secondly, Quidditch Australia will hold a series of invitation-only selection camps. These camps will serve as one of the principal opportunities for selectors to review potential candidates for the Dropbears. Attendance at these camps will be based on personal applications for the team; players will be selected and invited by the selection committee. A shortlist of fifty individuals will be invited to attend selection camps. The camps will occur in November and December in Sydney and Melbourne.
Thirdly, following the selection camps, up to thirty individuals will be chosen to form the Dropbears Training Squad. These individuals, chosen by the selection committee, will train together in January and February 2018. From this group, the final 21 players and reserves will be selected by the coaching team, assisted by the selectors, by mid February.
Selectors
Team Selectors will be tasked with inviting players to the Quidditch Australia Development Camps, inviting players to the QA Dropbears Selection Camp, and forming the Dropbears Training Squad. Applications for Team Selector are open as of today and will remain open until the 29th of June. Quidditch Australia is seeking four individuals to take on this role and are currently only considering non-playing selectors. Selectors that intend to try out for the team are welcome to apply but are unlikely to be successful. A more detailed position description is available in the application form. Selectors will be chosen by the Quidditch Australia board.
Apply here: https://form.jotformpro.com/71559389747981
Please send any questions, comments, or queries to [email protected].
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The term of appointment is two years.
Collectively the seven directors are responsible for the good governance of the AQA – establishing policy, maintaining the association’s finances and other duties necessary for running quidditch in Australia. After their election the directors of the board will then be able to delegate amongst themselves specific portfolios. Current examples of portfolios include ‘Media & Marketing’, ‘Treasury’ and ‘Gameplay’ although this will be at the discretion of the newly elected board.
Nominations must be;
Please disclose any position in a State or Club you hold as either an officer or a paid employee.
Nomination form – http://www.quidditch.info/?p=676
Nominations can be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected], please have your nominations in no later than the 30th October 2015.
]]>Location: Room W5A T1 Theatre, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW 2109
Dear Quidkid,
I take great pleasure in sending you notice of this year’s annual general meeting (AGM) for members of the Australian Quidditch Association, which will be held at Macquarie University, W5A T1 Theatre at 4pm on the 28th of November. The formal agenda is set out later in this notice, together with some notes on the day’s events.
The AGM is an important for all members and representatives to express their views by asking and voting.
The Board.
Under Section 15.4 of the Constitution, the appointed term of directors is two years, with provisions so that half of the Board remains during election of new members (or re-election of existing members).
The AQA recently adopted a new constitution that implemented this. This means that no currently residing members of the board are due for retirement by rotation. In order to prevent a future situation of all board members being forced to retire, the following board members will be remaining in their appointments;
With nominations from the following people;
Agenda.
Cover what’s been going on, and what is going to go on.
To review, consider, and adopt the financial statements of the association for the year ended 31st September, and the reports of the board of directors and auditors thereon.
General elections to be held during the AGM.
Important Notes.
Quorum.
Section 27.1
No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. A quorum for General Meetings shall be sixty percent (60%) of States and Clubs represented by their Delegates.
In other words, we need as many people to attend as possible. We understand that people are travelling interstate, and they have schedules and commitments of their own. Because of this, States and Clubs may nominate a Proxy to represent them if their regular Delegate is unable to attend.
Timeliness.
Section 27.3
If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present the meeting shall be adjourned until the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other day and time at such other time and place as the chairperson may determine and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour for the time appoint for the meeting, the meeting will lapse.
That paragraph-long sentence means that if we don’t start on time, we don’t start at all, and you all come back next week to try again… including people from interstate.
Actually, no, we would organise a more suitable time with everyone.
However, make plans to be there early.
Guests.
Whether you are a member or not, everyone is welcome to attend the AGM.
But, when it comes to voting on motions and elections; only team representatives (or their nominated proxies) may vote.
QWAFL.
The AGM may overlap with the Wheelchair Quidditch Oceania Championship, which is running on the same day. If you intend on attending the AGM, please be aware of the time during the day.
Matthew Ingram,
Secretary.
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With so many teams and so little time, Melbourne MudBash 2014 will be the first Victorian tournament to have two pitches and two pools of play.
In Pool A (otherwise known as the Pool of Ultimate Destruction) we will see the reigning champions (Melbourne Manticores…not that you need a reminder, they are always reminding you) face off against the newly crowned victors of the Victoria Cup, the Monash Muggles. The two powerhouses will meet with the Northern Direwolves and the Australian National Nargles all of whom will be fighting it out against a surprisingly impressive mercenary squad.
The Melbourne Manticores are coming at you with a larger squad than ever before. Some of our oldest players will be retiring after MudBash 2014 and many of our rookies are using MudBash as the diving board for their jump into the quidditch world. They are ready to shake things up against the Victoria Cup champions, the Monash Muggles, and relish in the defeat of the Welsh Green mercenaries, many of whom come from the Manticores’ longstanding frenemy team the Newcastle Fireballs.
The Manticores were flying high on a winning streak after Winter League and only barely missed out on a medal during the Victoria Cup, they will be fighting their hardest to get back on top, instilling fear into their enemies with the mightiest of roars.
Who better to temper the sheer size of the Manticores than the ever-enigmatic and persistent Northern Direwolves. If there was ever a team that truly exemplified the idea of underdogs, it’s the Northern Direwolves. Coming dead last in the Victoria Cup, with a grand total of zero victories, they appear utterly underwhelming on paper. But out on the pitch, it’s a whole different story. Out there, their passion and heart shine through, refusing to give up even when they have no subs, or when facing teams three times their size. A team known for casually strolling to the halfway line before either charging head first through the defenders or hurling a half-pitch Hail Mary, Direwolf strategies are either genius or non-existent. Few sides manage to match the spectacle these red riders produce, resulting in a uproarious cheering from the crowds with every successful play, although whether this is in support of newbies or out of fear of their ginger giant known only as “Baberaham” is still up for debate…Ready yourselves, because this MudBash, Winter is most definitely coming.
At the other end of the table we have the Victoria Cup winners, the Monash Muggles. Coming out of Vic Cup as the inaugural champions, the season saw the Muggles in top form, dropping only one game by a snitch catch. The Victoria Cup has seen the Muggles, led by Captain Georgia Tredrea and Coach Nicola Gertler, transform from a team of hopefuls to a team of victors.
MudBash, however, will be a test to the Muggles ability to hold their own and endure over a series of games, rather than just give it their all in a single match. The Muggles usual squad of 12 will be extended to 18, including debuts of new players and the return of some more experienced players who were unable to attend season matches. An extended sub-line will benefit the team in the scheme of the whole tournament and allow for injuries unlike the 10 man squad of 2013. The addition of new Muggles Grace Levens, Erin Pratt, Tom Dortmans and Neil Kemister shall add to the Muggles depth of squad and physicality.
The Muggles strength as a contender for the title of MudBash Champions of 2014 shall lie in their ability to retain their strong defensive line-up that emerged as a key feature of the team’s strategy during the Vic Cup. Overall the Muggles look set to take MudBash as a time to test out new strategy against both Victorian and interstate teams as well as breaching the gap between new and experienced players.
Don’t let their story fool you, the Muggles will definitely be fighting hard for victory while they try out their new tactics against local teams and travellers. One such team that many of you in NSW have seen around the block a few times that hasn’t really had a presence in Victoria is, of course, the Australian National Nargles. The Nargles have been nestled in the mistletoe of Canberra, hidden away for a while, only emerging to the open world of Sydney for Triwizards. Now they will emerge for the first time in the great city of Melbourne to meet and compete against the many teams of the VQA.
The team will be led by the ever tough Captain Laura Smith and new Vice Captain Danny Fox. They will be supported by the founding players and strong veteran beaters of Morgyn Benstead and Andy Cruwys, and all-rounder Matthew Armstrong, will be followed by chasers including Merryn Christian, Nathan Askey-Doran and Beater/Chaser Nic Radoll; as well as debut year chaser of Merryn Roe, beater Oscar Cozens and finally all-rounder Gary Hague. Plus special introduction of Perth Phoenixes’ Adam Jasko This all new line-up will test the limits of all the Victorian and NSW teams with the experience of years and international skills. They pride themselves on not only smashing teams, but enjoying quidditch with their emblem referencing “Be a Man” from Mulan, and travelling down in the “Narglebus”.
Rounding out the Pool of Ultimate Destruction we have the effervescent mercenaries, many of whom are coming the to visit the shiny shores of the VQA for the first time. Last year they were team Amazeballs, this year we meet the Welsh Greens. The true exciting exotic flavour on offer at MudBash 2014 comes courtesy of the Welsh Greens, mighty mercenaries who have come together from near and far to put up a genuine challenge for glory.
This team has risen from the ashes of 2013’s gallant Team Amazeballs, whose legacy is carried on into the Welsh Greens by their un-substituted hero Brodie Smart, and captain James Hosford. There is a rumour that we will also be seeing the return of dominant keeper and playmaker Daniel Ormshaw.
The core of the team around our returning mercs has been formed from great NSW rivals Newcastle and Wollongong, who each bring a key set of their crucial superstars to the party. The Warrior road trip comprises their former and current captains, with the vast experience of Morgan Legg and the calm leadership of Jacob Fleming aptly anchoring the team. Josh Nielsen provides key depth in both chasing and in particular beating, in support of Wollongong’s bludging master Aman Nalli. For the Fireball contingent, veterans Matt Ingram and Tom Russell are joined by fellow established beater star Joel Murphy and the strong bustling defensive force of Ryan Hanwright.
The already impressive line-up is completed by the addition of Alex Langdon, Vanya Geelings and Madeline Coleman-Bock, who provide crucial squad depth and even more vital inside knowledge of local teams, players and conditions. It is the experience and depth of their formidable beater line-up which will surely be the key to Welsh Green success.
While the Pool of Ultimate Destruction battles it out for glory on one pitch, our spectators will be required under penalty of unfettered poking to wander over to the other pitch and watch an equally impressive battle to the death in Pool B (or as we here at MudBash HQ like to call them, the Pool of Frenzied Extermination).
The Pool of Frenzied Extermination is headed by the reigning silver medallists the Blackburn Basilisks. These fine warriors slithered into existence in early 2013, and quickly climbed the Victorian ranks. With an incredibly strong chaser side and an ever increasing squad size, the Basilisks earned the title of the most offensive team in the most recent Victorian competition.
Yet to have secured anything but silver around their scaly necks, (2nd place MudBash 2013, 2nd place Winter League 2013, 2nd place Victoria Cup 2013-14) they are keen to continue fighting their way up to the top, tooth and fang. With a complete change of Coaches and Captains, will this be the tournament that they finally claim the elusive gold? You’ll have to wait and see who comes out of the mud victorious!
Another team who always seems to score the same result, always just outside the top three we have the Wrackspurts Quidditch Club trying to claw their way to a medal. The Wrackspurts are constructed from a bunch of misfits and deviants and some say Monsters that get in your head. Coming 4th in the Victorian cup after losing to Manticores, Wrackspurts have been training harder and are determined to make a stronger appearance at MudBash.
In the hopes of showing up the rest of NSW, and on the back of their recent trip to the IQA World Cup in South Carolina, USA we have another team who is putting in the time and effort to travel to southern land of Victoria. The University of Sydney Unspeakables are a relatively new team in relation to the others existent in NSW. With a 3rd place finish at QUAFL 2013, they have proven themselves to be tough competition for anybody, a team that nobody can just ignore. With a solid beater and chaser game there is opportunity they have a solid line up which lets certain players shine. Their main strength lies in their player quality, with strong players a plenty in their usual squad.
Their main disadvantage going into Melbourne MudBash will be their minimized roster, though their 2 national players will both be present. How crippling this will be to their chances is unconfirmed but it will definitely make it difficult for them to remain competitive over the two days. Realistically it will be tough for the Unspeakables to win MudBash, though we all believe it is uncertain to all how long it will take them to be knocked out.
The final Victorian team in our MudBash line up comes in the form of a team new to the MudBash scene, some of their players joined us last year, but many are MudBashing for the first time ever. The Melbourne Unicorns have been preparing for the MudBash tournament since they were founded in the wake of the last tournament. After a strong Vic Cup season of growth and development, the Unicorns are ready to take the field with force. Despite the challenge of being a young team, their enthusiasm, commitment and team spirit will complement their extensive training. The Unicorns are looking forward to taking on the established teams and the interstate visitors and coming out with a win.
And of course the Pool of Frenzied Extermination is rounded out by a team clothed in mystery, Stephen And Friends, who have only this to say “We are Stephen…with some friends…you need know no more!”
So who will take home the MudBash title? Will there be enough Mantiscores for the returning champions to keep their title? Will the Basilisks finally snag themselves a gold medal? Are the Muggles ready for some more shiny metal? Or will our previous medallists all be upset by two of the seven other talented teams hitting the pitches at Alma Park East? You’ll need to come down on June 28 and 29 to find out! We’ll see you there, bring on the mud!
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