13 DAYS TO GO | Boronia junior president Ellisa Schmidtke 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?
Ellisa Schmidtke: 2018 was a great year for our club. We began a fantastic new Auskick program, had an increase in our junior numbers, fielded our first ever women’s team, won a junior premiership in under-14, runner up in under-17 and won three premierships with our senior club.
2018’s success was a tribute to the great people we have at our club.
Approximately how many teams do you think you will field in 2019?
ES: We will be looking to field 10 junior teams, five senior teams, which includes women’s and vets. We’ve had a huge focus on building our junior girls for this coming season and look forward to seeing all our hard work pay off when our teams play for the first time.
What has the feeling been like around the club over the pre-season?
ES: We have had a great positive vibe from the onset of pre-season. Everyone around the club is here for the same reason and that is to build on our great success from 2018. Junior committee, senior committee and board have a great working relationship and are looking forward to the year ahead.
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?
ES: It’s hard to pick one. Everyone within the club strives for success and the ultimate premiership, so as long as all players, coaches and supporters are doing their best what more could you ask for.
Is there a particular age group of players that you need as soon as possible to fill a team ahead of Round 1?
ES: We would love some extra players in our under-9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 17 boys sides as well as our under-12 and under-16 girls. Numbers are good in all age groups, but extras to ensure continual rotations off the bench are always welcomed.
If any players are interested in playing for your club this season, what do they have to do?
ES: All they have to do is email boroniajnr@efl.com.au or message our Facebook page, Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club – Junior. We would love to see new players come down and work with our highly-skilled coaches.