Congratulations to the Neerim Neerim FNC the winner of the Parklea 2022 senior premiership. To also win the U18 flag and the EDNA ‘A’ grade premiership was a tremendous effort by all at the club. Commiserations to Buln Buln FNC. To lose a grand final by a solitary point is heart breaking.
Looking back over the season it was really good to have football and netball back as we have not held a grand final since 2019 – nor have any other senior league in Victoria. Having a full season this year has brought back meaning and connection for many whether it be players, coaches, volunteers or just fans after COVID threw us off balance in recent years.
I like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our award winners this year. Congratulations to Poowong dynamo Jack Hazendonk who won the EDFL Alf Walton medal and for the third time – that is truly rare air. Well done to Neerim Neerim South this year’s Robin Hood Inn Club Championship winner along with Catani who won the Parklea Most Disciplined Club (MDC) award at senior level while at junior level it was Longwarry, who were the best behaved. Top effort!
Our Warragul Country Club MVP was won by Nyora ruckman Travis Stewart and with only 19 senior matches under his belt it was a mighty fine achievement. Travis also polled 17 votes in the Alf Walton medal count so often caught the umpire’s eyes as well.
We are also pleased to have a new league award – the Downtowner Community Club of the Year – presented to the club that promoted the most valuable awareness of community issues or engaged with community organisations. The inaugural award was won by Ellinbank FNC
It has been trying year for many clubs especially among their junior ranks – as many clubs were well short of numbers. While the extra ‘catch up’ matches can be inconvenient they are a small price to pay to give kids more games of football. The league 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 is currently visiting clubs and hope to get to all - time permitting - over the next few months to talk over each clubs approach to junior recruitment and retention. It was sad there was no U16 Gippsland football carnival this year but to compensate the league organised an U16 East v West match to replicate a traditional interleague campaign. Such was the success it won rave reviews, attracted a big crowd late in July and may well be a regular fixture in the upcoming years. Incredibly the match finished in a draw. Thanks to all involved with the match and for the donors who paid for the kids jumpers.
EDNA must also be pleased with the evenness across their grades, remarkably all 11 clubs had at least one team play finals. And while on the netball, our league merger to officially ratify the EDFNL name is still on track for the 2023 financial year.
We were also delighted with our new partnership with SEN Track 91.9FM this year whereby a match was broadcast every Saturday of the H&A series and all our finals. A big thank you to the weekly commentators Brad Sinclair and Ian Dougherty.
The EDFL is once again grateful to our sponsors. Indebted to have Parklea an Australian owned property developer sign on again this year 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 sponsored our footballs this year, the Warragul Country Club who sponsor the Most Valuable Player Award and a new sponsor this year AG Warehouse.
Finally as I have said countless times before I would like to express my gratitude for the work of all officials and volunteers across all clubs. Quite often it is those behind the scene that nobody know about are the lifeblood of many clubs. The current strength of the league is in no small way due to your presence as well. Have a great day and all the best in the off season!
Roger Gwynne
EDFL President
Last Modified on 21/09/2022 10:48
