22 November 2016
Ron Redford - President Far West Football League
It is most important that the four clubs that make up the Far West Football League stand united in the face of the challenges that are clearly before us in the promotion of Football throughout the coming years.
Each club has its own personal responsibilities to ensure the ongoing success of the FWFL but intertwined with that is a responsibility to each other. To quote on old cliché “United we Stand, Divided we Fall”. We need each other more than ever for the future of football in this area.
Unfortunately there have been times where a club/clubs have not performed to the degree that is expected, our target for 2017 onwards is for all clubs to perform to the best of their ability both on and off the ground.
The organisation of club home and away games is most important and the responsibility of making sure that it occurs in a smooth and acceptable manner for all concerned is vital for club relationship in the future.
We must not be guilty of perpetuating past misdemeanours, we must put that behind us and actively pursue making the FWFL the best organised, best supported, most enjoyable football product on Eyre Peninsula.
For that to happen we need all clubs to work in the best interests of football and measure up to their responsibilities each and every week of the season.
Every club is confronted with the same issues, whether it be finding people to fill committee, coaching and volunteer positions. The solution is simple, act like a professional football club and make it happen.
Under no circumstances should any one of our kindred clubs expect other clubs to do work that is reasonably expected of them to do themselves.
Obviously it is important to help each other out in circumstances that are unavoidable, and cooperate where possible, but all clubs are responsible for their own future.
I look forward to everybody taking up this challenge in 2017 and the future.
Overall the League has once again had a successful season, the final series in terms of attendance is on par with last year.
All clubs in general presented the final series in an acceptable manner culminating with an excellent Grand Final held at The Blues Football Club.
On behalf of the league I pass along my sincere thanks to all clubs, their presidents, committees and players, you all play a role in the success of football on the Far West Coast.
The League congratulates The Blues, West United and Thevenard on their premiership wins.
We also extend our congratulations to medallists in all grades to all the individual best and fairest winners in their respective clubs, and the players who were picked in the representative football games.
To those people who have taken on the roles of Association coaches, trainers and general helpers please accept our heartfelt thanks.
The challenge remains for us strive to be more successful across the board in these interleague competitions.
Paul Warmington once again coordinated our umpires panel and we thank him and his group of panel and club umpires for their efforts.
The Commissioners have also ensured that football is played in the right spirit and although have been subjected to some criticism we thank them for carrying out what is sometimes a difficult and thankless task.
Our Auskick program has once again been the envy of Eyre Peninsula culminating in Glenn Dunn being named Auskick Coordinator of the year for Eyre Peninsula by the South Australian Football League.
Our thanks are also extended to SANFL Western Regional Football Coordinator Andrew Taheny for his ongoing interest, service and advice to our football league.
The Norwood Football continues to foster football in this area through its academy and we appreciate its consistent and professional approach.
The support of the SANFL and SACFL has also assisted our League and individual clubs on a regular basis and we acknowledge their considerable impact on country football.
To our dedicated football families that support the FWFL you must be congratulated for your ever present and continuous attendance at our games, the game would not and could not flourish without your involvement.
We must now turn our thoughts to the future concerning
- Making sure every child possible is playing the game in our junior grades.
- The possibility of starting a woman/girls competition in the near future without endangering the future of netball.
- Developing a Pre-season AFL9’s Football Competition
- Investigate a junior team out of Yalata that enables their kids to have a game of organised football
- Honour Boards being placed in the Ceduna Hotel to record the history of the FWFL
- Selection of players and officials for a “Hall of Fame” to honour our past champions.
- Serious consideration by our football clubs to become part of a campaign to increase organ donation. (Similar to the Domestic Violence Campaigns) Just imagine the positive publicity and goodwill if we could get 25 people from each club (100 all up) to register with the Australian Organ Donor Register. Statistics show only 435 people Australia wide donated organs last year. This could well and truly put the FWFL on the map as a caring and forward thinking community organisation.
- The instigation of recommendations put forward by Collins Anderson Report of 2007 concerning the future of football on Eyre Peninsula. The five leagues are in the process of forming a football commission with the involvement of the SANFL to oversee and recommend any moves in this area. There is also the possibility of a SANFL staff member being appointed to help run football on Eyre Peninsula. This is needs further work but is a definite possibility.
Finally, I extend sincere thanks and everlasting gratitude to my colleagues on the FWFL executive.
Mike Lowe (Secretary), Richard Wilkinson (Treasurer) and Glenn Dunn. (Junior Development) their commitment, professionalism and genuine care for the game and what it stands for is second to none.
The FWFL has never been in a better position financially (testament to Richard’s hard line on income, expenses and responsible reporting).
Mike and Glenn are also doing outstanding work in their respective roles giving the FWFL the opportunity to be masters of our own destiny, being financially secure, and admired as a leader in football on Eyre Peninsula.
Personally I am extremely proud of you all in being part of what we are trying to achieve in growing the game.
Some leagues and football administrators as evidenced at the recent Presidents and Secretaries forum are focussing on the negatives and the difficulties involved in country football.
I, as your President expect you to capitalise on the positives of being involved in football on the Far West Coast, address the negatives, overcome them if possible, if not deal with them in the best possible manner for the benefit of the game.
Yours in football
Ron Redford
President
Last Modified on 23/11/2016 18:00