Club calls for junior reserves

MEMBERS of the Ballarat Football Netball Club are calling out for budding young players to join their under nines reserves.

Storm junior football coordinator Mel Blomeley said their usual pathway in building their juniors has not yielded the expected results.

“Usually, the bottom age Under-9s will come through from Auskick and we just haven’t had the usual influx of kids,” she said.

“I’m not really sure why, but I know it’s something other clubs have been facing. Last year we had about 25 kids in both our senior and reserve teams so we were really pushing those full sides.

“We’re probably two weeks out from our first game and it’s our reserve side that’s a bit low on numbers. We’re probably wanting around 10 or so kids.”

Training for the club’s Under-9s takes place each Monday from 4.30pm to 5.30pm at Alfredton Recreation Reserve, with game nights on Friday evenings from 6pm.

Ms Blomeley said it’s important to maintain a strong building foundation for the club’s younger sides.

“We definitely need to look at ways to entice kids who, especially since they’re coming through from Auskick, have already got the interest for football there,” she said.

“We just need to fill that gap between Auskick and keeping them going through to Under-9s and junior football.

“I’ve reached out to Auskick coordinators to see if we can get Lucas Auskick involved as well because those kids don’t have a club to go once they’ve finished there.”

The club’s Swans Under-9 side is at a similar number to Storms’ at about 20 players and 13 reserves, with both divisions able to have 25 kids each.

To express interest, contact Ms Blomeley on 0421 806 553 or email [email protected].