Blues Website Back On-Line

After being taken off line due to technical issues, the Central Blues Official Website has been re-launched. Check it out here.

A Message from our Club Social Director - Dan "D-Train" Zimmerman

April 7 – Target date for outdoor training (weather permitting):
We hope to be outside for Tuesday and Thursday trainings in a couple of weeks. The training isn’t the social part but we usually go out every Thursday after practice to grab some food and a couple drinks at our sponsor pub.

April 18 – “Blues and Whites” Intrasquad Match:
Just a chance for everyone to get some touches on the ball and a great opportunity for the newer players to learn more about playing footy. We will be heading to the pub after the game for some drinks and to chat about the game.

Location: Blues Training ground (by Hart House at UofT)
Time: 11:00 am

April 23 – Jumper Presentation Night:
Each player will be presented with their jersey and number for the season (if you still have your jumper, bring it to Bruce at practice). There will be other announcements, including the 2009 Blues Captains and a few words from Jase, Knackers, and Jaye-Mac. This will take place at our sponsor pub after training (presentations will start at approximately 8:30 pm).

April 25 – ANZAC Day Game:
We will be playing a pre-season game to mark this Australian – New Zealand holiday (it commemorates the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in World War I). Location and time for the game are being finalized at this time.

July 4 - Blues Family & Sponsors Day:
The club will be using this day to specifically honour the unsung heroes of the club. The club's family, friends and of course our sponsors.

There are plans afoot to have a season launch party in mid-May (weekend of the 15th-17th). This is one week before the season starts and is the same weekend as the Canadian Nationals Tournament. It looks to be a ripper of an event so I will keep you posted as it develops.

Please contact Dtrain if you require any more information.

FOSTERS ONBOARD THE 2009 BLUES TRAIN

The Central Blues are proud to announce the continuing partnership with their Major Sponsor FOSTERS. On behalf of the club we would like to thank FOSTERS for their continuing support in both our on-field endeavours as well as our off-field activities.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Much has been said about this seasons OAFL introduction of an official "Reserves" competition league - with a real season fixture and a real trophy and title on offer. The new "Reserves" league can be seen as an indicator of the continuing natural development of the league and game in Toronto. Teams are recruiting and keeping new players more effectively than ever before and the growing base of players continuing on from their first, second seasons coupled with the seasoned veterans, the league and its clubs have never been in a stronger position in terms of the popularity of the game.

Last year 5 recreational games were played between composite sides hosted by the Central Blues and the Broadview Hawks. They were composite sides because often you would find players from other clubs outside of the Blues and Hawks joining in for extra run. Sometimes you would even find Blues playing in the Hawks jumpers and vice versa (yes it was they were dirty acts - but it just served to show how little these games mattered). The composite Hawks won the first few before the Blues got some revenge later in the year. In the end the scores never mattered as there was never a trophy and title on the line - and the sides composition never allowed for that pride felt when wearing YOUR club jumper. And more importantly it was just a chance for a somewhat regulated game of footy - where new players could get a taste of what the game was about and oldies got a chance to relive bygone glory days.

With the introduction of an official title and trophy on the line, coupled with increasing competition for a spot on the "Seniors" squad - players will need to take these games more seriously. I know for a fact that the Blues coaching team this year will be using performances by the players in the reserves games as ne way of selecting some players. So those players on the fringe of selection, and even those players who think they have a permanent spot in their clubs senior side should sit up and take notice. Many of the OAFL clubs have never been in such a luxurious position (in terms of the number talented players to select from) as they find themselves with as they head into the upcoming season. Unfortunately there will always be players who miss out in being selected to suit up with the "Seniors". It will burn - when you think you've done all you can at training and still missed out on a coveted spot. Use that pain and hunger to drive your performances in the reserves games. Because you can be damn sure that the coaches will be watching.

Last year there was one "recreational" game which will stick in my mind more than the rest. This "rec" game was not organised by the OAFL. It was an initiative between the OAFL's newest member the Quebec Saints and the Central Blues with the two sides facing off in Ottawa after the Blues defeated the Swans in Rnd 5 of the 2008 season.

Traitors (Jeff Lavoie & Jaye Macumber in their Quebec colours)

The history of Saints and the Blues are of course inextricably intertwined - with former Blues player Luke Anderson leading the way in the creation of this Quebec club and new Blues Coach Jaye Macumber along with player Jeff Lavoie being some of the Saints big names at the time of their creation. It was strange - even heart-wrenching to see the "Blues" players LA, Jmac and Jeff pulling off the Blues jumpers and replacing them with the Saints then-uniforms. It didn't seem right - these guys had only minutes earlier lined up and successfully went into battle for the glory of the Navy Blue jumper, but that was the scene.

Regardless once you cross that white line - friend or foe - the game is on and you take no prisoners. It was a tightly fought contest, with neither side willing to back down. In the end the fresher Saints overcame a last quarter stand by the Blues to win their first ever game (Full-Match report available HERE). The Blues had become the Saints first scalp albeit in a "friendly rec game". I don't remember the final score - but I can remember the sound of the Saints players singing victoriously. And I know I didn't like it. Sure the Blues squad had many players who were lining up for the second game in a row (after downing the Swans) - but that is bittersweet consolation. I for one do not enjoy accepting defeat - and especially one as historical as this match was.

In what looks set to become one of the OAFL's blockbuster rivalries, these two sides look to continue to wage the battle with two games (Rnd 6 & 10) up for grabs in 2009. That is why I am specifically pencilling in the Blues v Saints game in the Rnd 6 fixture in my calendar! I suggest if you're not lucky enough to be playing in this game - that you find yourself a prime seat to watch the spectacle set to unfold in this game. The Saints will be hungry to show their first up win against the Blues was no fluke, while the Blues have unfinished business to exact some sweet sweet revenge. Set aside the dates and make sure you're available, as there is nothing sweeter than beating a rival - and while I know that as much as the Blues will enjoy giving this Quebec side a good old fashion flogging, I also know that there'll be a few Fosters shared with each other post game.

2009 OAFL Season Games Schedule Released

The 2009 OAFL Season fixture has been released. Here is the game schedule for the Central Blues Australian Football Club for the upcoming season.

Click on the schedule to see in full size.

Some highlights of the Blues 2009 Schedule include:

- Blues hosting 7 home games at their magnificent new homeground, Thornhill Park.
- Blues play former Blues player Luke Anderson's Montreal Saints twice in the new Reserves League competition in rounds 6 and 12.

Pre-Season Training News

The Blues pre-season training has been progressing well. With excellent consistent turn outs, and the 2009 in-coming recruits showing tremendous promise.

This week, there will be an additional session held at the University of Toronto's Varsity Centre on Thursday 5th of March. The session will start at 10.30pm.

It is asked that players arrive around 10.00pm to allow time to get changed and warmed-up so the team can commence training straight away to maximise the time booked on the field.

Date & Time:
Thursday 5 March 2009 - 10.30pm (Please arrive from 10.00pm to be changed and warmed-up ready to start from 10.30pm)
Costs: $10 per player - FREE for 2009 recruits
Location:
University of Toronto Varsity Centre


The Varsity Centre is located at 299 Bloor St. West on the southeast corner of Bloor Street and Devonshire Place (one block west of Avenue Road/Queen’s Park) at the north end of the University of Toronto’s beautiful and historic downtown campus. The Centre is easily accessible by public transit, just steps away from the St. George and Museum subway stations.

Please contact the club at info@bluesafc.ca for any additional information.

BLUES SECURE NEW PARTNER SPONSOR - CANADIANFOREX

The Central Blues Australian Football Club are proud to announce that CanadianForex, a subsidiary of OZFOREX have signed on to become a club sponsor.

As part of the new partnership between CanadianForex and the Blues; all players, members and fans who sign up for the services of CanadianForex will receive the discounted transfer fee of $12 per transaction (normally $15) when transferring funds overseas. Also waived is the CAD$2k minimum - so if you're ony transferring smaller amounts this service is still available to you! There is no fee for transfers of $10,000 or more. Currently there is also a promotion where for clients who register before the end of February 2009, they will have the fee waived for their first two transactions.

The club and CanadianForex look forward to building a long and successful relationship together.

Following is some information from the CanadianForex website.

About CanadianForex Foreign Exchange Services

CanadianForex Limited is the Canadian subsidiary of OzForex, Australia's largest online foreign exchange provider that operates dealing rooms in Sydney and London. Offering seamless 24 hour access to Corporate and Private Client Dealers, CanadianForex and OzForex complete over 60,000 funds transfers per year on behalf of Clients.

The company employs a blend of technology and tailored customer service to bring a better deal to smaller customers. CanadianForex uses the Internet and technology to provide 'on demand' information and dealing facilities, and focuses on delivering a 'high touch' approach to customer service which makes our service unique in the online financial services industry.

OzForex was launched in April 1998 to provide customers with better and more efficient foreign exchange services than offered by the banks. OzForex now operates in the Australian, UK and NZ markets and has become one of the world's leading online foreign exchange services, with over 300,000 visitors per month and more than 11,000 transacting customers globally.

CanadianForex's ever-growing client base includes small and medium-sized businesses that import and export goods, as well as migrants transferring financial assets, expatriates repatriating funds, and individuals investing overseas.

OzForex was recently officially recognised as one of Australia's fastest growing companies with a ranking of 6th place in the 2005 BRW Fast 100 awards. OzForex also received 5th place in the recent 2005 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards.

OzForex Pty Ltd holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) issued by ASIC to deal in foreign exchange. This licence can be viewed by following this link to the ASIC website: (AFS Licence number 226 484)
(Source: http://www.canadianforex.ca/about.htm)

For more information on how you to register and take advantage of this arrangement please contact Andy Han. You will need to ensure that you register using this specific link in order to received the special discount rate.