Lions announce extra sides ahead of 2024 season

BELMONT Lions Sports Club is excited to see where the club can take its junior program in 2024, just over a month out from the start of the season.

Lions vice president Lily Graham said was encouraged by recent turnouts at the club’s Come and Try Days and early registrations, as the program aims to continue its junior expansion this year.

“We’re on a great trajectory with our junior programming.

“In the past 18 months we have seen some really tangible and sustainable growth, it’s been really important and really impactful, we’re heading in a good direction, and we have some really good people in the club to facilitate further growth in future years.”

The Lions will make the next step in its junior growth by fielding an Under 14 side.

The new age group team takes the Lions junior boys capacity to fielding programs/sides in Auskick, Under 9’s, Under 10’s, Under 12’s, and now Under 14’s, with female players eligible to join up at any age group up to Under 12’s.

The expansion also arrives at an opportune time, with the club also announcing its inaugural women’s side late last year.

Graham also said Belmont’s netball program ran a NetSetGo group and an Under 9 social side in 2023 at Kardinia Park in a bid to kickstart growth in the club’s netball sector.

 

 

These efforts will also be rewarded with returning Under 13’s and Under 19’s teams, taking part in the Geelong & District Netball League 2024 season.

“It’s really exciting to have both our 19’s and 13’s back for the first time in a while as well,” Graham added.

“Hopefully we can keep ticking along with a couple more social teams at K Park later in the year, then coming into 2025 we hope to see those faces again.

“Within five or so years we hope to have full football and netball pathways here at Belmont.”

Graham and the Lions expect to receive a high influx of registrations, all of which are free, closer to the start of grading matches in April.

Until then, the club is encouraging players to bring along friends and family who might also be looking at joining the club in any capacity.

For membership enquiries, email [email protected].