It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 season after one of the busiest summers in recent memory.
Over the past 18 months, WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country has taken giant strides in implementing the recommendations of the 2011 Review into Country Football.
This hard work continued during the off-season and we are pleased to announce that 12 of the proposed 13 region commissions are now fully operational.
The commissions represent a significant push to give local people a greater role in the strategic direction and development of football in their region.
To this point, Region General Managers are now in place at all of the eight larger commissions, redefining football administration in country Victoria and improving the ability of such bodies to effectively service their local football communities.
In February we also made the final appointments to our team of regionally based development staff.
The announcement of two football development managers in Gippsland completes our goal to provide greater development resources in country Victoria and takes the total number of staff in regional areas to 29.
With more men and women on the ground in every corner of Victoria and able to lend support to leagues and clubs, we look forward to an exciting year in country football.
Arguably the biggest highlight on the community football calendar in 2014 is the Country vs Metro Clash scheduled for Saturday July 12.
Regional and rural Victoria’s best 22 players will be chosen after the WorkSafe Country Championships on May 24-25, and be pitted against the top players from Melbourne’s premier leagues.
Thirty six leagues in total will compete in the 2014 WorkSafe County Championships, hoping to climb the rankings table and enhance their reputation.
Every player who pulls on the boots in the Championships will be eligible to play for the Peter Knights-coached Victoria Country side in the historic encounter against our Metropolitan counterparts in July.
The Metro side will be coached by Western Bulldogs champion, and former AFL assistant coach at three clubs, Brian Royal, with the team to selected from the six major Metropolitan competitions’ triple header on Saturday March 29 at Visy Park.
A second Victorian Country senior side and an U19 outfit will also take part in the Metro Vs County Clash, taking on representative sides from the Victorian Amateur Football Association continuing their annual clashes.
This season we also look forward to more clubs taking advantage of the Country Football and Netball Program. Since 2005 a total of 374 projects have shared in funding of $16.7 million, with a combined total project value of $49.1 million.
WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country will be working with the Victorian Government to ensure the CFNP continues beyond 2015 and supports many more of the 700 eligible clubs that are yet to receive assistance under the program.
The success of country football in Victoria wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors and community partners. In particular we must thank our naming rights sponsor WorkSafe who have agreed to extend their partnership with AFL Victoria for a further six years to the end of 2009.
Finally, I would like wish all players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, leagues and clubs all the very best for season 2014 and hope it’s an enjoyable one.
Last Modified on 31/03/2014 11:42