Junior Sharks side reaches new heights

A GROWING football program in the region has reached a major milestone, with one of its sides achieving what no other has done in its five-year history.

Armstrong Creek Sharks Football Netball Club’s Under 14 Division 6 side, coached by club president Chad Dunscombe, is set to become the first Sharks list to play finals football since the club’s inception in 2019.

Dunscombe said the team, as well as the club, are excited to make finals in 2024, but both are trying to keep level-headed for when the first week of finals swings around.

“As a club, we’re stoked for the team to lock up its finals spot, the first time one of our sides has achieved this milestone,” Dunscombe said.

“They’ve put in the hard yards, they’ve tried their best, and are now they are getting the benefits of that.

“It sends a positive message around the club that we have teams competing for premierships and we hope it can evolve from here.”

As the season stands with two rounds to go, Armstrong Creek sits at the top of the Division 6 standings, more than two wins clear of fifth position, meaning it is impossible to miss out of finals.

Per the sixth division structure, four teams play in finals, with first and second to engage in a double chance contest that also decides one of the grand finalists, and third and fourth to duel it out in an elimination final.

 

 

A second week preliminary final will decide the second team to make the grand final.

Dunscombe has been impressed by the collective buy-in of his group, which opened up the season with a 147-7 win over Belmont.

The side has notched up nine wins from its 10 games played and boasts a percentage

of 266.53.

However, with about half the playing group being top age Under 14 players, the group will be split into two in 2025.

With Armstrong Creek yet to field an Under 16 team in its short tenure, the question remains where players will be registered to next year.

“We’re not ruling out forming an Under 16’s team if we can gather enough interest,” Dunscombe said.

“It’s particularly hard for us to think of losing these players as well, given a number of these boys were a part of our inaugural junior football side, so we’ll be trying especially hard to try and bring in some new players for 2025.

“We’ll push all the way until the final registration deadline, and we hope we can make it happen.”

Armstrong Creek’s Under 14s side will conclude the home and away season with matches against Bannockburn tonight (Friday, August 2) and Grovedale next week.

Any enquiries or expressions of interest for the 2025 season can be emailed to [email protected]