Blues partner with life member to revive junior program

JUNIOR football in Winchelsea may return to Eastern Reserve for the first time in four years thanks to a partnership between the town’s local club and one of its life members.

The Winchelsea Football Netball Club alongside life member Phil Wilson are offering free junior memberships in 2023 in a bid to recruit 50 junior footballers and restart the Blues junior footy program.

“The last time we had a junior side, it was before the pandemic, so we’re trying to build our program from the bottom up again,” club president Daniel Greskie said.

“We need everyone to jump on board, not just kids. We need parents, helpers, coaches… we’re really eager to get things up and running again.

“We hope to field both an Under 10s and an Under 12s side this season.”

Mr Wilson, owner of South Geelong business Oxley Garages, has been a member of the Winchelsea footy club since 1973 and a sponsor of the club’s senior sides over the past two decades.

In 2023, he will shift his sponsorship to the club’s junior ranks for the next five years with the end goal of fielding a junior Blues side for the first time since 2019.

“It was tough to see the club’s junior sides slowly disappearing over the past decade or so,” Mr Wilson said.

“I’m still involved with footy here in Geelong, my son plays for St Mary’s, and I’ve noticed first-hand how these big clubs operate, and they really focus on their junior development.

“The way things are now at the senior level with the points system and salary caps in place, a healthy junior program is the only sustainable way forward for a club’s success.”

Mr Greskie said he was confident the club can put together at least one junior side in 2023, after more than 30 children regularly took part in the club’s AusKick program last year.

“If we can get the junior kids back on a Thursday night again, for example, it would be huge for the club.

“It’s a big thrill for the kids to have idols at the senior level and it would make the Winchelsea Blues one big club again.”

Interested children and families keen to join the Blues are urged to get in touch with the club’s Winchelsea Junior Football and Netball page on Facebook >>> https://www.facebook.com/WFNCJuniors