Great to have football and netball back. It brings involvement, connection and a bit of system to the lives of many whether it be players, coaches, volunteers or just fans after Covid threw us off balance in recent years. Now at the mid-point of the Parklea 2022 season the EDFNL Board of Management is relatively happy with how things have panned out. It is relieved we have not had to cancel any rounds however we know many individuals have missed games due to Covid protocols.
We know it has been trying and difficult for many clubs especially among their junior ranks - for many clubs are well short of numbers. Thank you to all clubs for their acceptance of the junior catch matches. While these extra matches can be inconvenient they are a small price to pay to give kids more games of football. The EDFNL Board of Management (BOM) is concerned about the diminishing numbers at junior level. A strong senior club is predicated on a healthy junior numbers. The BOM intend to visit most if not all clubs - time permitting - over the next few months to talk over each clubs approach to junior recruitment and retention. Fingers crossed our presence will assist clubs with ideas and their planning.
The BOM is pleased that at senior level eight teams are still in the hunt for a finals berth while in the other three grades the top five positions are yet to be all settled which promises plenty of gripping matches in the run up to the finals.
EDNA must also be pleased with the evenness across their grades. Looks like seven if not eight teams are still vying for the top five across A to F grades as well. Also congratulations to all the players, coaches and umpires who played in the Netball Victoria Association Championships recently in Traralgon. From all reports all teams equipped themselves well. And while on the netball, our league merger to officially ratify the EDFNL name is still on track for this October & before the league 2023 financial year starts which in on 1 November. The EDFNL will again participate in the Gippsland Junior Carnival on 29 June. Disappointing it will only be at U/18 level again as no other league could assemble an U16 team. To compensate and develop our U16s plans are afoot for an U16 East v West match to be held on 27 July.
Our finals start on Saturday 27 August with the 2022 Parklea Grand Final to be played on Saturday 17 September. The finals venues are still to be determined.
On the administration side this year we have a new EDFL Secretary, Peter Smith, who is doing a great job with the new Play HQ system that has been a real challenge.
Looking forward the Junior and Senior award functions are proposed for Sundaythe 11TH September. The juniors at the Longwarry hall in the afternoon and this year we have a combined EDFL –EDNA Senior Presentation night and at the Warragul Downtowner. And while on the Downtowner we are delighted they are the sponsor of a new league award – the Community Club of the Year - which will be awarded to the club that the BOM deem to have promoted the most valuable awareness of community issues on their social media or have engaged with community organisations.
The EDFL is once again grateful to our sponsors. Indebted to have Parklea an Australian owned property developer sign on again as a naming right sponsor. I would also like to thank our other partners Physioworks, MP Gary Blackwood, Warragul Regional Newspapers, the Downtowner, John Duff & Co, Robin Hood Inn, Wolf-Telstra Partner, Hip Pocket Warragul, Body Fit Training Warragul - who sponsor our footballs, the Warragul Country Club who sponsor the Most Valuable Player Award and a new sponsor this year AG Warehouse.
Hope your club achieves all of its aims in the second half of the season.
Last Modified on 16/06/2022 22:08
