Sharks hope flag can spark Under 16s side

A MAIDEN flag for a growing club may have provided the catalyst for the creation of an inaugural Under 16 boys football side in 2025, but there is still work to do at the Armstrong Creek Football Netball Club.

Following his side’s Under 14 Division 6 premiership win last month, Sharks coach and club president Chad Dunscombe said the club took a big step forward when it earned its first piece of hardware.

“It’s huge for the Sharks, 50 per cent of the flag-winning side were part of the inaugural football team back in 2019, so to see them celebrate was unreal.

“We had so many supporters come down for the day and to see them all celebrating together was something I have never seen.

“We all got to celebrate together, it wasn’t just a one-team celebration, it was more than that.”

Trailing by three goals at quarter-time to Geelong Amateur at Osborne Park, Dunscombe and assistant Ben Kelberg saw the occasion of a first Grand Final was getting to some of his players.

However, the Sharks clawed back the deficit and ultimately won by three points. Junior Shark Lincoln Goodwin was awarded best on ground honours.

About a dozen of the premiership players will age out of the Under 14s age division, meaning they will need to find alternative clubs to keep playing.

Between five and seven players are committed to registering in a Sharks Under 16 side if it can gain traction in 2025, and with a premiership under its belt, Armstrong Creek is more confident than ever it can make this a reality.

“We want kids to have fun playing football, that’s the main thing at Armstrong Creek, but with this premiership, it provides evidence that we can be a club that enjoys success as well,” Dunscombe said.

“We will allow players to reset for a few more months and reflect on a successful 2023 campaign, and then I would estimate around December, we start putting the feelers out for potential players and planning our pre-season.

“We absolutely encourage anyone interested to reach out.”