Eastern Lions Junior Football Club president Andrew Buckley spoke to EFL Media ahead of the 2018 season, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water and Choose Tap.
Overall, were you satisfied with what the club achieved, both on and off the field, in 2017?
Andrew Buckley: Extremely satisfied. For a club that had struggled over the years with numbers and only a couple of teams in the competition, we managed to field four teams last season – under-8s, 10s, 12s and 17s. With our 10s walking away with a lightning premiership and our 17s just missing out on finals by percentage, it was a great outcome for the club.
It’s allowed the club to grow even further and has also attracted some new players in all age groups to the club this season.
Having the 17s has also enabled us to feed some new players in the seniors ranks (under-19s) with a couple of them making their senior debut last season.
Approximately how many teams do you think you will field in 2018?
AB: This year we are fielding 8s, 9s, 11s, 13s and 17s.
What has the feeling been like around the club over the pre-season?
AB: Really positive, the players have been really enthusiastic with the pre-season and can’t wait to get back into it.
We’ve done a lot of work with the committee and coaching staff in the off-season in an attempt to improve the club further.
Our aim is to give our players every opportunity we can to further develop their skills to improve on last year so we can continue to grow the club and deliver results they’re looking for.
If you had to pick one, which team do you think is the club’s best chance of winning a premiership this season?
AB: Tough question. The teams change so much at this level and you never really play the same teams going into the next season so it’s a hard one to judge.
We would like to think that all our competitive teams (11s, 13s and 17s) have a good chance but if I had to choose one, I would pick the 11s, purely based on their performance during the lightning premiership last season.
Is there a particular age group of players that you need as soon as possible to fill a team ahead of Round 1?
AB: We still have a few spots available in all age groups – 8s, 9s, 11s, 13s and 17s
and we welcome anyone to come down and have a run.
If any players are interested in playing for your club this season, what do they have to do?
AB: Come on down to training:
2018 Pre-Season Training
Under-8s (born 2010) and 9s (born 2009) – Lewis Park Reserve – Wantirna Sth
Friday nights – 5:00pm till 6:00pm.
Under-11s (born 2007) and 13s (born 2005) – Lewis Park Reserve – Wantirna Sth Wednesdays and Fridays – 5:00pm till 6:00pm.
Under 17s (born 2001/02) and 19s (born 1999/2000) – Fairpark Reserve – Ferntree Gully Mondays – 6:00pm till 7:30pm.
FOR MORE DETAILS – CONTACT BELOW:
Eastern Lions Junior Football Club – easternlionsjnr@efnl.org.au
Andrew Buckley – President PH: 0400 134 766 – abuckleylions@outlook.com
Lisa Williams – Secretary PH: 0411 098 017 – easternlionsjnr@efnl.org.au
Under-17, 19s – Rodney Morrison PH: 0412532088 – fairpark@efnl.org.au
