The Basin Junior Football Club president Matt Young spoke to EFL Media ahead of the 2018 season, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.
Overall, were you satisfied with what the club achieved, both on and off the field, in 2017?
Matt Young: As a footy club I was super proud of all of our players, coaches and volunteers in 2017. We faced some challenges throughout the year on and off the field and have come out the other side better for the experience.
We fielded a record number of teams in 2017 – 14. There was also a great buzz around the club as we fielded our first girls sides in 2017 in the under-14 and under-18 levels. Both teams were competitive right from the start, with under-14s narrowly missing the finals and our under-18s showing The Basin spirit each week as new players to the game.
The way our players conducted themselves week in week out was a credit to themselves and their coaching groups.
Five of our competitive sides played finals with our under-17 Green side winning the D grade premiership after a really challenging start to the season.
Approximately how many teams do you think you will field in 2018?
MY: The Basin Junior Footy Club is continuing to grow and we will field 18 or 19 sides in 2018.
What has the feeling been like around the club over the pre-season?
MY: We are all excited for the start of the new season, and the feeling around the club is great! We are all super excited to have girls sides in each of the competing age groups and also a senior women’s side for the very first time. Our girls see this as a genuine pathway to senior footy at The Basin.
All of our competitive sides are back training now with a real excitement amongst the groups with a focus to enjoy and improve in all aspects of their footy and continue to work on the friendships that have been developed.
Our junior committee has worked hard in the off season to improve its current structure, operating processes and policies to maintain a model that works for our club this year and in the coming years as we experience a period of growth.
Our coaches have also been working hard in the offseason, just completing the DFS coach support program. It’s the dedication of these coaches that sees our kids continue to develop as players and young people. Their fun and development philosophies have all players keen to get started in season 2018 and continue their amazing footy journeys.
If you had to pick one, which team do you think is the club’s best chance of winning a premiership this season?
MY: Tough question but if I had to pick one I would say our under-14s.
They have come so very close the last couple of years ,just missing the grand final last year.
They are extremely well coached with a super positive coaching group and we look forward to watching them push themselves in season 2018 with eyes on the prize.
Is there a particular age group of players that you need as soon as possible to fill a team ahead of Round 1?
MY: We still have some gaps to fill in our under-12, under-15 and under-17 boys age groups.
We also need to fill up our under-10 and under-16 girls age groups.
If any players are interested in playing for your club this season, what do they have to do?
Call our register Lara Ferguson on 0437 336 172
Or
Matt Young 0413 573 510
