Karratha Falcons Football Club 2001

AFL star to coach Falcons

The Karratha Falcons, hoping to improve on last year's performance have recruited former AFL star Derek Kickett (38) to coach the team for the 2001 season.
Kickett, one of the AFL's most exciting and respected players, moved to Karratha with his wife Denise and children Lawrence, Kristel and Derek earlier this year.
Kickett played for AFL clubs North Melbourne, Essendon and Sydney before returning to WA in the late 1990s.
On his return, he played A-grade for his home town Tammin, with the Avon Football Association, before representing Bruce Rock in the Eastern Districts Football League.
Kickett said he was enticed to Karratha by his cousin and

former Karratha Falcons coach Larry Kickett, who is now the club president.
"Last year the Falcons came last on the ladder, only winning three games during the season," he said.
"My goal is to get the Falcons fit and for them to become competitive over all four quarter, that's a priority.
"I want to increase the number of games the Falcons win this season, we can only go up as we certainly can't get any lower on the ladder.
"I want us to have a good season, and if we do lose then I'd like to lose by two or three goas and not 10 or 15 - all that counts is that we're competitive over all four quarters and never give in."
Falcons president Larry Kickett said they were pleased to have someone of Kickett's calibre coaching the Falcons, adding his appointment could only benefit the North Pilbara Football League.
"We're looking forward to good support from the Karratha community, with the Falcons' first match of the season being played against Wickham on Friday, April 27, at the Bulgarra Oval."

2001

For first year Falcons coach Derek Kickett the season was a success.
Although a good start and finish to the season was soured by a poor middle period, the club showed significant improvement from its 2000 form.
In fact, with its seven-win and eight-loss record, it was unlucky to miss the finals.
Narrow home losses to Port Hedland in the first round, South Hedland in the second round and Wickham in the final round were costly.
Also costly were poor showings in matches against traditional cross-town rivals Karrath Kats which cost the club premiership points, a big percentage and a lot of credibility. For the reserves team, which barely put a foot wrong all year, the Kats hoodoo cost them a premiership.
However, after winning just three games in 2000 there were a lot of good signs in 2001.
The form of De Grey medallist Milo Thornton bodes well for the future while the continued good form of both the reserves side (runners up) and under 17s (premiers) means the club will have plenty of young talent coming through the ranks in the coming years.
Players such as Michael Formanczyk, Lawrence Kickett, Jake Stanley and Dayne Corps (who shared the award for best and fairest in the reserves competition with the evergreen Jason Oliver) are sure to make their mark in league football.
Also important in 2001 was the return of Craig Sargeant and the form of experienced players including Kickett, Ben Catchpole, Nathan Catchpole, Jason Ryan and Matthew George.
Players sure to return in 2002 after problems with injury or work such as Robert Sparkman, Rodney "Mort" Bartlett, Michael Holland, Greg Harper, Darren Gardiner and Dan Carter will also improve the club's playing stocks.
If there was a down-side to season 2001, however, it would have to be the number and quality of players who simply disappeared.
The talents of Steve Kane and Vern Wright were sorely missed while others made cameo appearances but promised so much more.

NORTH WEST TELEGRAPH MARCH 21, 2001

SEASON 2001: SOMETHING TO BUILD ON