Welcome to the EFNL 2022 Season.
After a second lengthy wait due to COVID 19, we are finally done counting down the days until the season starts, with our Netballers kicking things off last night, before Division One, Two, Three and Four Senior Men’s get stuck in today, with Premier commencing on the 9th of April and our Women’s on the 23rd of April.
The League cannot wait to see participants back out playing and umpiring, along with the match day officials and spectators supporting their team.
Eastland continues as our Naming Rights and Major Sponsor, and we are very thankful for their support and contribution. Eastland is the premier shopping and entertainment destination in Melbourne’s east and is a great supporter of community sport.
Bendigo Bank remain a long-term partner of the league and continues as our Major Community Partner, along with our major sponsors; Yarra Valley Water, BJS Insurance Brokers, SEN1116, Carsales, Deakin University and all our support sponsors.
In 2022 we welcomed Campbells on board as a sponsor and clubs can access a fantastic range of canteen products at wholesale and bulk purchase prices with agreed delivery windows available. Why not try Campbells in season 2022, you will not be disappointed, whether it be their range, speed, price, or efficiency!
The ongoing support of our sponsors enables the League to keep participation costs low for all those who wish to participate in community sport across the Eastern region.
Over the course of the last six weeks there has been significant publicity around umpire shortages across the State. Our League is not immune to these challenges and our largest gaps exist in the Senior field umpire ranks.
Unfortunately, this will mean that some Senior matches will only have one umpire in season 2022. Like player numbers we are hopeful more umpires will re-join the ranks and have implemented a new Club Umpire program to boost the pool of available umpires. The League is keen to hear from any former or new umpires interested in umpiring this season, and our contact details are on the website.
Our Netball and Junior Umpire pool is looking solid, and our Juniors kick off on the 10th of April along with Our Premier Men’s and both our Men’s and Women’s over thirty-five’s.
The has been much talk about how community sport will bounce back post COVID 19 and currently there are 12,000 registered participants. Our Junior Team numbers are up slightly in 2021 to 386 and our Senior competitions will grow again following the inclusion of Oakleigh District, Beaconsfield, and Eastern Devils. Our Senior women’s competition will welcome seven new teams, three second sides and four clubs who will roll out inaugural teams.
The league would like to thank the club volunteers that have navigated all the challenges of the last two years to get to this point. To those volunteers returning and the new ones stepping into roles we thank you for your contribution and support.
The local Football/Netball club is so much more than just football and netball. Clubs are the centrepiece of the community, they are hubs that bring communities, families, and friends together and they are support networks.
The League has set a high benchmark in terms of conduct and behaviour of our clubs, players and spectators and we expect this to continue in 2022. We would ask that all clubs and attendees at matches understand, respect, and follow the rules and protocols in relation to COVID 19. This will assist in ensuring all matches can be completed in a COVID safe manner.
Welcome again to the season and best of luck to all teams.