Bokma reaches big goal milestone as Redan unveils new netting

REDAN Football Netball Club is marking two big milestones.

Women’s team full forward and vice-captain Jess Bokma – who has played nearly 200 games – recently kicked her 500th career goal, and an upgrade of goal netting at the Western Oval funded by the City of Ballarat, the AFL, and Telstra has been completed.

The netting improvement is aimed at protecting community members who are enjoying the recreation space, and speeding up ball retrieval time in games and training.

“Safety is the number one thing,” said Bokma. “We kick goals and someone usually has to run and go and get the ball.

“It’s nice to have the netting here at the Western Oval particularly because the women’s team plays most of our home games here. The City Oval doesn’t have it yet.”

The 26-year-old said women’s footy has come a long way since she began playing as a child.

“When I first started, it was under-12s to under-18s, so it’s very cool how now we’ve got under 12s, 14s, 16s, 19s, and senior women’s,” she said.

“I love the sport, I’ve had footy in hand from a very young age. The club’s been great, I have such good friends around the club.”

The goal netting upgrade project was allocated $10,000 from an AFL and Telstra community football funding pool. The works were also supported by McClellands Consulting Engineers, and delivered by Findlay Engineering.

“Notably, Findlay Engineering delivered Ballarat’s first goal netting solution over 25 years ago, and their continued innovation and craftsmanship have once again delivered excellence,” said Redan Football Netball Club strategy and infrastructure officer Leigh Ryall.

“This project is a shining example of what can be achieved when local expertise, community spirit, and national partnerships come together.

“It fixes up big safety issues with all the cars, and balls going onto the street. We look forward to many safe and successful seasons ahead at the Western Oval.”

AFL Victoria’s Liam Brady said the netting has been important to the overall usability of the venue, and that it was a priority project.

“AFL Victoria through the support of the Telstra Footy Country Grants Program were delighted to be able to support the Redan FNC with the installation of Behind the Goal Netting at the Western Oval,” he said.