On Thursday, 25 April 2019 the Pennant Hills and Western Suburbs (aka Inner West Magpies) football clubs will come together at the Magpies’ home ground, Picken Oval, to contest the annual ANZAC Day Match. This fixture has become a tradition between these two clubs and this season’s match is the 6^th meeting since 2014, when Pennant Hills was first invited to contest the Cup.

The spirit of ANZAC, with its qualities of courage, mate-ship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for Australian’s sense of national identity and are values well understood and shared by members of all sportingteams. Today, the two clubs come together to pay tribute to the ANZAC tradition, to honour the memory of all past and present servicemen and women and to embody the ANZAC values of courage, mate-ship and sacrifice on the playing field.

Round 3 of season 2019 also marks a significant milestone for one of the Demon’s genuinely ‘nice’ guys, Ted Widmer, who plays his 150^th open-age game for the Pennant Hills Demons.

In his thirteenth season with the Demons, Ted has played the majority of his footy in the first grade side, having played more than 100 senior games. He is a rare commodity for the Club, a ‘tall’ player, which has invariably meant that he has played in the key ruckman position for much of his career. Despite three consecutive Grand Final appearances between 2013 and 2015, Ted is one of the unlucky ones not to have won a premiership medal yet.

As an 18 year old, he made his first grade debut in 2009, playing against Wollongong Lions at North Dalton Park under Senior Coach Michael Cousens. In a number of other firsts, not only did the team win that day, but Ted played alongside his older brother, Sam ‘Slamma’ Widmer, kicked his first senior goal and was named amongst the Demon’s best (#5).

Around the Club, Ted is well known and liked for his positive attitude, friendly and chatty personality. To get a better insight, his brother Sam said this of Ted:

“Ted is incredibly resilient and very dedicated to putting in 110% effort into his footy. He is mentally very tough and has a very strong drive that elusive flag. He has maintained his position in Prems in a consistent manner that is a testament to his determination to be the best player he can be. He loves the club immensely and what it brings to him, so playing 150 games and life membership is an outstanding achievement. He likes to give back to the club in anyway he can throughout the season. He plays his heart out every week and it’s been an honour to play with someone like that … Oh, and he likes to be known as having the most stylish kits off the field too; and he thinks he’s a bit of a fashion guru!”

 We wish Ted the best of luck for his milestone match and congratulate him on this significant achievement!

 

Match Highlights

Division One Grand Final 2015 – Henson Park – 27 September 2015 Pennant Hills 7.10-52 lost to Sydney University 8.5-53

 

Premier Division Grand Final 2014 – at Blacktown ISP – 20 September 2014 Pennant Hills 2.10-22 lost to Manly Warringah Giants 8.20-68

 

Premier Division Grand Final 2013 – at Blacktown ISP – 21 September 2013 Pennant Hills 11.6-72 lost to Manly Warringah Giants 11.14-80

 

Premier Division Debut – at North Dalton Park – 1 August 2009 Pennant Hills 15.15-105 defeated Wollongong Lions 6.7-43 Ted Widmer 1 goal and named in PH best (#5)

Career Highlights

Games Played

• Open-age 150
• 107 Premier Division
• 43 Reserve Grade
• 33 Under-Age

Premierships

• 2 X Premier Division Runners Up – 2013, 2014
• 1 X Reserve Grade Runners Up – 2015

Awards

• Premier Division Most Improved – 2016

Representative Football

• AFL Sydney Under 23s Squad – 2014

Phelan Medla Voting

• Total Votes received 2013 – 2018 = 7 votes
• Snow Medal votes 2011 – 2018 = 4 votes

Junior Football

• Pennant Hills JAFC : 2002 – 2007: 82 games : U16 R/U B&F

 

A big thank-you to resident Historian, John Acheson, for another amazing write-up!