Sebastopol Kookaburras upbeat about future in Ballarat Football League
MELANIE WHELAN
The Ballarat Courier
12/05/2009
SEBASTOPOL president Andrew Fleming has declared his club is committed to staying in the Ballarat Football League long term.
Mr Fleming said the club was financially secure and had a sound junior pathway structure in place _ all the club needed was for more supporters to get on board.
The call came amid rumours the club was in crisis talks with the BFL last week after a winless record across all three senior divisions this season and a history of struggling form.
Mr Fleming said meetings with the league had been about the prolonged closure of home ground at Marty Busch Reserve and its impact on the club, both on and off-field.
He said the Sebastopol board, players and members remained positive and upbeat about the club's future in the BFL.
"Now's the start. Now's the time for our supporters to come and help, come and be part of things changing at Sebas," Mr Fleming said.
"We're leaving what has been in the past _ we've dealt with that _ and we're taking this group forward.
"We have a good relationship with the BFL and get on well with other clubs.
"We feel we're out there doing the right things so, if you've been barracking for us, become an active supporter."
Mr Fleming, himself a born and bred Burra, took on the role as club president this season with the sole purpose of helping the Burras move forward.
He knew it would be a long road.
The club's immediate goal is to get back on their home turf.
Mr Fleming said players have been training "on dirt" at the adjacent Sebastopol No. 2 oval since training resumed in the summer.
Dry and inadequate surface conditions has already lost the club five home games, including two preseason fixtures.
This has hampered the club's gate-takings, bar and snacks revenue and walk-up spectator numbers.
Mr Fleming said a meeting with the BFL was specifically to negotiate leverage for weekly match fees and help in pushing the council to get Marty Busch reserve up to standard.
Despite training conditions, player numbers are still healthy mid-week and enthusiasm was high in the club's football and netball ranks.
A history lacking on-field football success the past couple of decades has made player recruitment and retention difficult, particularly in the seniors.
At the end of last season alone, the club lost six senior players to other higher-paying, more successful district clubs.
Mr Fleming said attracting others to take their place was a frustrating process.
Hundreds of calls had only netted five players.
In the past, Sebastopol has tried recruiting high-profile former AFL players as coach, the most recent being West Coast dual premiership star Chris Lewis in 1995, to help lure players.
It is a practice that Mr Fleming said was firmly in the past.
Now, the club is led by astute playing coach Mark Russell, who is working with a young senior playing group for a second season to put structures in place for future success.
The average senior player is aged less than 20 years old and 18 months ago not one featured in the Sebastopol senior line-up.
Mr Fleming said the club made a conscious effort to not overspend on player recruitment or seek big-name players from other clubs and leagues.
The club's focus was on building a family club from Sebastopol people and slowly it was working.
"We don't believe culture is an issue anymore, maybe it was in the past, but none of these kids were a part of that," Mr Fleming said.
The Burras had a gruelling start to the season, including matches against Ballarat-based heavyweights Redan, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, East Point and, this week, early flag-favourite Darley.
Sebastopol
senior coach Mark Russell said the fixture looked a lot brighter with a string of upcoming matches against struggling eastern teams.
"We've got to remain realistic and keep the squad together , even if it gets a bit dark for them," Russell said.
Sebastopol
's junior ranks, led by the likes of Stuart Holmes and Michael Hutt, and pathways are looking strong.
The club's junior and senior departments have merged to create a more cohesive club.
Senior players make regular appearances at junior matches and Auskick sessions.
Club sponsorship and community partnership are also building at the club. Mr Fleming said the foundations are in place to stay in the BFL, and be competitive, for the long haul.
The only major factor missing was the support on game day.
He urged fans to have belief in the club.
Last Modified on 22/11/2009 14:51