35 DAYS TO GO | Blackburn junior president Peter Parker spoke to EFL Media ahead of the 2019 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 2018?
Peter Parker: 2018 was a wonderful year culturally at our club. The off-field welfare and development of our young players continues to be our focus.
Our player development pathways have input from many experienced coaches who create a journey within our club that will give the player the best chance of maximising their ability to play at the highest level.
With multiple junior teams getting in finals and grand finals to win one flag was fantastic. This year would be awesome if we could convert that to multiple grand final victories.
First and foremost, our club should always be a fun place for young and old alike to congregate and share great experiences all amongst the great game of Aussie rules.
Approximately how many teams do you think you will field in 2019?
PP: 22
What has the feeling been like around the club over the pre-season?
PP: A strong sense of anticipation as our pavilion at Morton Park is to be demolished and a wonderful new facility built.
Backed by council, state and federal funds together with our own club financial contribution. Members, players and the whole community await the next chapter of our club’s history to unfold.
Messages to our community will revolve around resilience being in a portable village type environment.
Coaches have begun their preseason with fantastic numbers on the track. We are blessed to have such passionate people step into the roles of coaches, support staff and committees who all work countless hours to get our kids out on the paddock.
Welfare and culture remain all important to our executive team whereby the physical, social and emotional impact of this football club does its best to try and aid in creating a better person for our community.
Gender equality also sits as a cornerstone on which this this club prides itself, our club now working closely in with a Whitehorse working group on gender equality and anti-violence.
There is a constant buzz of activity and anticipation as teams burst into their pre-season ready to have fun and see what unfolds.
If you had to pick one, which team do you think is the club’s best chance of winning a premiership this season, and why?
PP: Under-12 boys’ top side will be very keen to amend their defeat in last year’s grand final. New faces have joined, and this playing group, strongly led by Terrence Peters, are ready to make 2019 a great success.
Is there a particular age group of players that you need as soon as possible to fill a team ahead of Round 1?
PP: Under-10 girls and under-13 boys are our priority.
If any players are interested in playing for your club this season, what do they have to do?
PP: Contact Suzanne Devers: registrar.junior@blackburnfc.com.au or myself, Peter Parker, president.junior@blackburnfc.com.au and we can point people in the right direction. Our website registration page can also be easily accessed:
https://blackburnfc.com.au/2019-registration/
