An open letter from the President and CEO to all WRFL clubs, players and supporters.
The inevitable rumour mill generated through the keen interest in the game of thousands of WRFL players, supporters and volunteer administrators is a source of positive engagement for many and, on balance, a positive for the game. It can however, on occasion, be unhelpful and have unintended negative consequences. A case in point is the uninformed, negative speculation flowing from the challenges experienced by West Footscray Football Club (WFFC) in securing two senior teams to start the 2016 football season.
WFFC is a proud club with a long and continuous history of success in the WRFL and its forerunner, the Footscray Districts Football League. The club is served by a keen and active committee and enjoys the total support of the WRFL Board and management team. With four junior teams, including Under 12 Girls and rapid urban regeneration around its Shorten Reserve home, the Roosters’ future holds the promise of a successful era ahead.
The situation faced by WFFC in the off-season following the 2015 Division 2 Grand Finals, where the senior team was runner-up and the Reserves won the premiership flag, is becoming all too frequent in community football. Players who have enjoyed long-term support from the club committee decide to walk away from on-field success and personal loyalties, often in pursuit of higher cash rewards. This can be devastating for any club committee to deal with and it is to the credit of WFFC’s committee under the leadership of Steve Lane that the club has been able to secure a loyal coach in 300-game player Shane Lucas; and enough committed players to field a senior team in the first two rounds of the 2016 season.
Although soundly defeated on the scoreboard in their first two outings, the players and committee remain positive and 100% committed to seeing out the season in Division 2. The club is confident of attracting the handful of additional players needed to field a Reserves team in the next few weeks.
Uninformed and mischievous rumours predicting that the club is doomed to imminent wind-up or that the WRFL Board has resolved to drop the club to Division 3 in coming weeks could not be further from the truth. The WFFC committee has resolved to survive and prosper in WRFL Division 2 this year and to build the foundations for future success along the way. The WRFL Board and management team supports the WFFC committee totally in this quest and will provide whatever assistance is required to secure a long and healthy future for the club.
It is hoped that all those genuinely committed to the future health of football in the Western Region will get behind a fellow club in difficult times and refute those who would knowingly or unknowingly damage the club’s prospects by spreading negative, false rumours.
West Footscray Football Club would be an ideal destination for any players unable to secure a game at other clubs and who would enjoy the challenge and rewards of rebuilding on-field success and sustainability for one of our oldest and proudest clubs. Anyone interested in helping in any way, on-field, off-field or through sponsorship should contact the WFFC Administrator Phil Rigg (0425 830 651) or the WRFL Office (9315 5400).
We trust that all members of the WRFL football family will get behind the Roosters.
- Bruce Mildenhall - President
- Bob Tregear - Chief Executive Officer
Last Modified on 11/04/2016 17:17