Approaching the mid-point of the Parklea 2021 season the EDFL Board of Management is content with how things have panned out so far. I say just content because we have missed three rounds due to the return of Covid in Victoria. We have also had to make some hard decisions around the fixture that haven’t pleased everybody but we always put the interests of the game above those of the clubs. As I have said before we don’t mind criticism so long as it is constructive.
On a more positive note I am really pleased have football back after no footy in 2020. Also delighted the ladders show there has been plenty of very competitive football across all levels. In the seniors we still have eight teams with final claims. Well done to our league newcomers Trafalgar who have made an immediate impact on the football field and netball court. Looks like there will be many thrilling matches in the second half of the season. Unfortunately due to the Covid break we will lose three rounds of football. With no room in our fixture to make up these matches it will mean Ellinbank, Neerim South and Trafalgar play 16 matches and all the other clubs 15 matches - so ladder positions will now be decided by % games won versus games played.
And EDNA must also be pleased with the evenness across their grades. Looks like seven or eight teams are still vying for the top five across most grades. And while on the netball; feedback from our EDFL/EDNA working party suggests plans are still on track for an amalgamation for the 2022 season.
The EDFL will participate again in the Gippsland Junior Carnival on 30 June. Disappointingly this year it will only be at U/18 level as not enough leagues could muster up an U16 team. We were keen to play an interleague match at U16 level v the WGFNC but it did not come about after we were told it would not proceed.
Again the top five teams in each grade will play finals. Finals will start on Saturday 28 August with the 2021 Parklea Grand Final to be played on Saturday 18 September – two weeks later than normal due to this year’s 20 round season. The league will seek interest from clubs to host finals over the upcoming weeks and work through the requests early to mid-July.
On the administration side I’d also like to advise this year we have a new league Treasurer Sophia Doig who has settled in well and doing a great job. Looking towards September our junior presentation night will be on Wednesday 8th September at the Warragul Greyhound track and the Senior Presentation-Alf Walton medal night will be on Monday 13th September. Venue TBA.
It would be remiss of me if I did not thank the hard work of all officials and volunteers across all clubs. Your importance to your club and the league is invaluable.
The EDFL is once again indebted to our sponsors. It is terrific to have Parklea an Australian owned property developer sign on again as a naming right sponsor. I would also like to thank our long time sponsors Physioworks, MP Gary Blackwood, Warragul Regional Newspapers, Warragul Club and Downtowner, John Duff & Co, Royal Hotel Drouin, Wolf-Telstra Partner, HDD and GRV Victoria.
Also pleased to announce four new sponsors; Hip Pocket Warragul, Robin Hood Hotel, the State Education Department and Body Fit Training Warragul - the later who will sponsor our final footballs this year while the Warragul Country Club has come on board as the sponsor of the Most Valuable Player Award. Hope your club achieves all of its goals in the second half of the season and we do not have any more Covid interruptions.
Roger Gwynne
EDFL President
Last Modified on 03/07/2021 22:42