Sport
28 October, 2023
Bold eye on club future: junior team push
By CHRIS EARL ESTABLISHMENT of junior sides from Loddon communities could help future-proof Loddon Valley football. The league is establishing a working party with the aim of entering three Loddon community representative sides in next season’s...
By CHRIS EARL
ESTABLISHMENT of junior sides from Loddon communities could help future-proof Loddon Valley football.
The league is establishing a working party with the aim of entering three Loddon community representative sides in next season’s Bendigo Junior Football League competitions.
“We want to be proactive and capitalise on population growth in Loddon communities by having our kids playing football for the Loddon regions and communities,” said league executive officer Laura Naughton.
“The league is investing in juniors .... a strategic investment to ensure the sustainability of our clubs (and the league) for the future.
Loddon Valley league first flagged forming junior age sides earlier this year.
The establishment of a working party to help drive the initiative has league officials confident at least three teams can take the ground next season.
Loddon Valley’s representative community side model follows the success of the under 18 East Loddon Rams club formed last season with players drawn from Serpentine, Calivil and Mitiamo.
The Rams made this year’s AFL Central Victoria grand final.
The young side has already started feeding players into Loddon Valley clubs with several making their senior debut in 2023.
Data received by the Loddon Herald earlier this year had 110 junior players lining up with Bendigo Junior League sides in younger age group divisions.
According to Laura, the working group would aim for three sides in the lower age groups - under 9, 10 and 12 - with the possibility of also forming an under 14 side.
“Our clubs welcome junior support and we are here to support them,” she said. “And Loddon Valley is a driving force in community football and netball.”
Laura said formation of more junior sides in the region was an investment in the future of clubs.
The new teams will be open to boys and girls in all Loddon communities. Laura is already gathering names of interested players. She has asked parents and players to contact her on laura.naughton@aflcentralvic.com.au.
Meanwhile, a formal decision is expected shortly that could confirm the under 18 competition returns to the Loddon Valley league next season.
Inglewood, Pyramid Hill, East Loddon, Bridgewater and Marong had under 18 sides this year.
Newbridge and Maiden Gully have both stood out of the competition in recent seasons but have appointed coaches for 2024. The under 18 competition could potentially have seven sides.