42 DAYS TO GO | The Basin junior president Matt Young spoke to EFNL Media ahead of the 2020 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 2019?
Matt Young: Our junior committee, coaches and volunteers continued to work really hard on our junior program. We have added a lot of depth to the program working with our junior coaches and players to continue to provide a great learning environment with a real focus on personal and team development on and off the field.
Our junior program provided over 50 different sessions outside of regular training focusing on nutrition education, strength and conditioning, mental health and wellbeing, age-specific drug and alcohol education sessions, anti-violence presentations and also driving education for out L-platers via Metec driver training.
We have partnered up with local businesses to become partners of our junior program. We will again continue to build our junior program for our junior players and coaches in 2020.
Approximately how many teams do you think you will field in 2020?
MY: We look like fielding 18 sides in 2020.
What has the feeling been like around the club over the pre-season?
MY: Only some of our older sides are back training due to the late start of the season. From what I have seen they are all really keen to get back into full training and start playing games.
If you had to pick one, which team do you think is the club’s best chance of winning a premiership this season?
MY: I wouldn’t like to put pressure on one individual coach or group, so I will put pressure on the lot and say all.
Is there a particular age group of players that you need as soon as possible to fill a team ahead of Round 1?
MY: At this stage I would say our under-18 girls and under-11 boys.
If any players are interested in playing for your club this season, what do they have to do?
MY: Please call our junior club registrar, Lara, on 0437 336 172 or myself (Matt Young) on 0413 573 510.