The Peter Jackson VFL genuinely encapsulates so many parts of the great state of Victoria, writes Kent Winzer
We see the inner suburbs, we see outer, developing suburbs and estates, we even see games in the state’s second largest city.
And today, I was able to see a game in regional Victoria at a classic country venue, when North Ballarat hosted Sandringham at Eureka Stadium.
North Ballarat’s history precedes their entry to the Peter Jackson VFL in 1996 by quite a long way.
Established in 1882, the club went along to win plenty of Premierships over the journey in the local competition, including 16 in the Seniors, 10 in the Reserves, and 11 at Under 18 level.
Since joining the Peter Jackson VFL, they have won 2 Reserves Premierships in 1999 and 2000, and won a famous hat-trick of Premierships at Senior level in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
The club has a very proud history with some of the nations great players going through the system, including the likes of Adam Goodes, Tony Lockett, and Mick Malthouse.
And, of course, the Runner in their Team Of The Century, Steve Monoghetti!
Situated 90 minutes from Melbourne, the regional city of Ballarat is accessed by a comfortable drive along the Western Freeway.
Taking the A300 exit, we sneak in the back way to get to our venue for the day.
Parking options are in abundance, either behind the Social Club, adjacent to the venue on the main road, or in the venue itself.
Being a regional venue, private transport is really the best option, as Eureka Stadium is just out of Ballarat itself, on the northern outskirts of town.
If you were to enter the venue on a non-match day, you would think that the ground is a little too humble to host Peter Jackson VFL matches. The main Social Club building on the Northern Wing provides the only permanent shelter, the rest of the area beyond the playing field being open land.
But, this is the beauty of a country football ground. On match day, these areas become home to around 200 vehicles, with many patrons opting to stay in the warmth of their cars for the duration of the match. With Ballarat being renowned for less-than warm temperatures, this option is definitely a smart choice!
As the crowd settled in to their potato cakes and hot dogs from the canteen, North Ballarat asserted their authority on the match as coach Gerard Fitzgerald was at the helm for the 300th time.
With every goal came the familiar sound of car horns around the boundary, which is something that you don’t get at any other venue in the league.
With some late goals in the second term to Sandringham, the deficit was only 19 points at the main break.
At this stage, a journey into the Social Club was in order. The club houses a bistro, gaming room, function centre, and a sports bar, and is a great revenue base for the club.
It was very crowded on this occasion, which would have brought a smile to the face of the officials.
The North Ballarat Sports Club and Football Club are the archetype of a country club. The club feels like a part of the community, and the community feels like a part of the club. They work hand-in-hand to keep everything up and running.
After half time, the game continued to see-saw, as the Roosters pushed away in the third term to lead by 25 points at the final change. A spirited comeback in the final term from the Zebras threatened to spoil the party for FitzGerald and company, but North Ballarat were composed enough to hold on for a 14 point win, much to the delight of the fans and the car horns!
For the victors, it was time to retire back into the bar for some celebratory ales.
For the vanquished, it was time to hit the road and head back towards the big smoke, all the while knowing that the spirit of country football is alive and well, and something to be reckoned with!
By Kent Winzer
Twitter: @Kentessential
Last Modified on 04/07/2013 14:42