THEY may be flying in the seniors action, but Mount Pleasant Football-Netball Club is desperately short of players for its under-17 team.
It's a trend which is not just happened at the Blues, but at many other clubs in the Bendigo Bank-backed Heathcote District Football-Netball League.
In the lead-up to this Saturday's home game against Colbinabbin, Mount's under-17 coach Damien Webb has just seven players on the list.
"The first two rounds we were helped out a lot by Strathfieldsaye Junior Football Club and a lot of their players being able to play on permits.
"But, with the Bendigo Junior Football League starting this weekend a lot of those players will not be available."Coaching for the first time, Webb said it had been a tough task trying to get players, but he and clubmates would not give up.
"I've been making a lot of phone calls and I will keep making them."In last Saturday's round, Mounts had 13 players, while Huntly helped out in what became a 15-a-side contest.
"We can play with a 14-a-side, if the other club agrees," said Webb.
The Blues' new senior coach for 2005, Cameron Carter said a strong under-17s competition was vital to the future of the league.
"It's a big concern for a lot of people within the league," Carter said.
"Elmore has not been able to field an under-17 team, while Colbinabbin, North Bendigo, Huntly, and Mounts Pleasant, are battling through," Carter said of the lack of under-17s players.
"Mount Pleasant is a family-oriented club and if the under-17s we have are forced to play elsewhere then we lose not just a player, but their family as well.
"It's a situation we really want to, and must try to avoid.
"The lack of player numbers at under-17 level will really be felt by a lot of clubs in the next five years or so."Mount Pleasant trains on Monday nights at Backhaus Oval, Golden Square, while the Thursday session is at the Blues' home ground at Toolleen.
"We will do as much as we can to help the under-17s. Even if it means running a bus of Bendigo-based players to Toollen to play," said Carter.
Any prospective players can contact Damien Webb on 0439 363033, Cameron Carter on 0409 139 593, or club president Denis Roney on (0419) 843 489.
Meanwhile, this Saturday's action shapes as being the HDFL's rivaly round.
A big game will be Mount Pleasant against Colbinabbin, while Broadford and Lockington-Bamawm United do battle.
After last week's bye, White Hills will travel to Barrack Reserve, Heathcote, while North Bendigo tackles Elmore on the Dogs' turf at Atkins Street.