Sharks swimming forward into 2024

ARMSTRONG Creek Football Netball Club is all systems go for another season of growth as final player numbers will be determined before the month is over.

Sharks president Chad Dunscombe says the burgeoning club is in a really healthy position ahead of the 2024 season as the club decides how many teams it will produce in 2024.

“We’ve had huge numbers coming at the junior level up to the Under 14 age bracket,” Dunscombe said.

“Unfortunately we aren’t able to cater to the Under 16 age bracket as we stand right now, but we’re looking at four Under 9 team, two Under 10 teams, two Under 12 teams, and two Under 14 teams for the 2024 season, and that’s football alone.

“On the netball side of things, we were sitting at 10 teams in 2023 and with a series of Come & Try days coming up over the next few weeks, there will no doubt be up to 10 teams.

“Our ongoing challenges are providing the stability and structure to retain those players moving forward and that’s why we’ve been hard at work building what we call our strategic plan.”

The club’s strategic plan, tentatively slated to guide the Sharks over the next five years, is currently being formulated by committee members, player parents, volunteers, and club officials.

The plan will outline major long-term goals for the club to hit over the next half decade, culminating in the club’s growth and success.

Dunscombe said the club has kept a close eye on AFL Barwon’s new proposed league structure, which the region’s sports body and member clubs are still deliberating on.

As part of the proposal, Armstrong Creek was announced last year alongside Surf Coast Football Netball Club as one of the next two clubs to join the senior ranks.

Dunscombe indicated there is still a long road ahead before the Sharks reach that stage.

“It’s one of those we always keep in touch with AFL Barwon about, we’re always working together on this, and it falls to the strength of our committee which has expanded.

“It all comes down to working towards a plan, recruiting more players and coaches, it just takes time, that’s all.

“We haven’t received a deadline from AFL Barwon on when they would like Armstrong Creek teams in the senior ranks, it’s a question we get asked a lot, but we don’t see ourselves reaching that stage for at least three to five years, more likely the latter.”

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