AFL Goldfields e-Newsletter - February 2017

BFNL and Ballarat McDonald's new 5 year deal The Ballarat Football Netball League is excited to announce our new Major & Naming Rights partner is McDonalds Ballarat for the next 5 years. McDonalds Ballarat currently own and manage stores at Bakery Hill, Sturt Street, Sebastopol, Wendouree, Lucas, Ballan, Bacchus Marsh and Colac. “We’re thrilled to be entering into a new Major & Naming Rights 5-year agreement with a local company we have been partners with for 5 years already” said AFL Goldfields Commercial & Regional Operations Manager Aaron Nunn. “The support that McDonalds Ballarat have provided us over the years has been outstanding and our 14 member clubs have all benefited from our arrangement. McDonalds Ballarat are extremely involved in the community and as one of the biggest participation sports in the Region, we feel that both organisations share similar values surrounding families and being part of the community fabric.” McDonalds Ballarat owner Laurie Nigro believes signing on as major and naming rights sponsors of the BFNL shows how important it is to be involved in the local community. Mr Nigro said, “we’ve had a proud association with the BFNL over the past 5 years and we’re certainly proud to be an ongoing partner, we think it’s going to be terrific. It’s a good fit for us. We’re not only supporting junior football and netball but also supporting the seniors.” The McDonalds Ballarat Football Netball League is also excited to announce the release of a new BFNL logo. The new logo combines the old football and netball logos into one continuing to outline the League’s support for programs across both sports.

AFL Goldfields Regional General Manager Rod Ward Welcome back to another year at AFL Goldfields.

I am very excited for a big year ahead with healthy growth and development on and off the field across the Ballarat, Central Highlands, Maryborough Castlemaine District and Riddell District Football Netball Leagues.

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome four new staff to the team in 2017.

Mitch Tinning joins us as the RDFNL Administration Officer. Mitch was with us in Ballarat last year as part of his internship and is a highly dedicated and skilled worker. He is working closely with RDFNL Operations Manager Steve Williams and will assist in other areas.

Krista Woodroffe joins us as Female Football Manager. AFL Goldfields feel that the development of female football in the region is essential to the growth of sport in the region. Krista brings a wealth of experience as a player and coach at Senior and junior level. She is currently with Geelong on the VFL Women's list.

Chris Yeend joins us as the Media, Marketing and Events Manager. Chris has been working in media for the RDFNL since 2008 with the weekly Footy Record, WebTV and radio broadcasts. He was more recently a journalist at the Midland Express in Kyneton.

Grace Bibby joins as our new Netball Operations & Office Manager. Grace takes over from Rhiannon Banner who has relocated to Alice Springs to further enhance her career aspirations in netball administration. Grace joins us after spending more than three years as a journalist with Fairfax Media at the Stawell Times-News, Wimmera Mail Times and Ararat Advertiser, and will commence with AFL Goldfields on Tuesday 14th March.

And Shane Anwyl asked me not to forget him, as only joined us late last year as the MCDFNL Operations Manager !

We are thrilled with the experience and enthusiasm that the new staff bring to an already dedicated team, and I am sure they will provide a high level of service to all affiliated clubs, their volunteer officials, supporters and to the games of football and netball across the region in the season ahead.

We are excited with the increase of participation in junior football and netball over the past 12 months. We are already seeing record numbers of teams in both sports across the region and is vital to player development and growth at local clubs.

The were a big hit in recent weeks with multiple visits to schools as part of their Community Camp. Having the reigning Premiers teach kids about football is a great way to inspire the next generation of star footballers the region in males and females. We also thrilled to have the Carlton FC visit the Macedon Ranges area, and the Essendon FC visit Sunbury.

In great news the Ballarat FNL was boosted by a new five-year partnership with Ballarat McDonald's. This partnership will be a great benefit for both parties who share similar values surrounding families and being part of the community fabric. The BFNL also released a new logo to coincide with the new partnership.

There is little doubt that 2017 will be a hectic year, with some key priorities for 2017 being the implementation of AFL Goldfields Regional Strategy – including actioning the outcomes of the Facility Strategy and Club Health Checks, the implementation of Community Club Sustainability Program Allowable Player Payments Policy, and of course the Senior Competition Review.

We are excited about the season ahead and before long, round one will be upon us.

Paul and Jon join AFL Goldfields Commission AFL Goldfields held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, February 1, and was pleased to welcome Paul Armstrong and Jon Kanao to the AFL Goldfields Commission. Paul is the Director and Founder of Inner Sanctum Career Consulting and is a qualified and experienced Career Practioner. He has an extensive background as a player (12 games with St Kilda) and football administration (Regional Manager for Geelong Falcons, Football Manager with Geelong and Western Bulldogs, and Football Operations Manager with Richmond and AFL Coaches Association. John has an impressive professional background and is currently the Director for Family Support Services with the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative. Prior to this role, Jon was the Executive Officer of the Dept of Justice and Regulation . He played junior football at Redan, Ballarat Schoolboys, St Pats and was in the Victorian Aboriginal Football team. John and Paul replace Lloyd Sims and Katrina Griffiths who did not seek re-election.

FEMALE FOOTBALL Female Football is as strong as it as ever in AFL Goldfields. With at least 11 confirmed Open Aged women's teams, 14 Youth Girls teams and 12 Junior Girls teams, female football in the region has skyrocketed to new heights. AFL Goldfields and AFL community has embraced the rise in female football participants. This has been led by girls having the opportunity to train with some of Carlton's elite stars in the AFL in Hepburn and a successful Come and Try Day in Ballarat with a number of Western Bulldogs AFL and AFLW stars taking training and teaching girls about the game. The Facebook page - AFL GOLDFIELDS FEMALE FOOTBALL has been a big hit in the community with players, clubs and schools. New logos representing all regions and age groups have been designed to give Female Football at AFL Goldfields its own identity. With league launches not too far away, girls are encouraged to follow the launches of their Senior football and netball teams, and if they don't have a team represented in AFL Goldfields, to the nearest local launch (Kyneton - RDFNL).

AFL GOLDFIELDS NETBALL Grace Bibby will be a welcome addition to AFL Goldfields Netball Coordinator Kim Bailey and the AFL Goldfields team. We are seeing tremendous growth in netball participation across the MCDFNL and RDJFNL. Ballarat Football Netball League junior netball girls have enjoyed a positive start to the Barwon Junior Netball Championships. The Under 13s, 15s and 17s has tasted victory once in their opening two games. The competition takes place on Monday nights. Follow their progress by clicking HERE Sovereigns is moving ahead with a positive force this season in the Victorian Netball League. Senior squad member Sacha McDonald (pictured above on right) was recently named in the 17 and Under Victorian team for this season. Sacha is a tremendous leader on the court and has a bright future ahead of her. The opening game for the Sovereigns gets underway on Wednesday, April 26 against Yarra Ariels at the State Netball and Hockey Centre.

FROM THE OPERATIONS MANAGERS BFNL Scott Carey There is lots of excitement surrounding the recent deal with Ballarat McDonald's from a league level. At club level, Sebastopol is embracing its $1.7 million upgrade to Marty Busch Reserve (pictured above). The revamp to the complex is due to be completed in time for the start of the season. After upgrades to its netball courts last year, the Reserve is currently having work finished on the reconstruction of the oval, power and lighting upgrade, new fencing and coaches box. The finished upgrades will make the facilities more attractive to new players and the envy of visiting clubs. For more details, check out the full story on the Ballarat Courier.

MCDFNL Shane Anwyl The MCDFNL Interleague coaches has been announced with Luke Treacy again taking on the Senior football role. Rachel Phelan and Kim “Kimba” Roberts lead the netballers. MCDFNL junior fixture is currently being organised and will be released shortly.

RDFNL Steve Williams The Senior fixture is finalised. The one change from the original fixture is that Romsey and Melton Centrals will play its Round two game on Thursday, April 13 under lights at Romsey Park. This caters for Senior football and netball. All clubs have been asked to submit junior teams by Wednesday, March 1. The aim is for clubs to have its draft fixture by Wednesday, March 15 with the season to start on Sunday, April 23. As it stands, it is expected that 95 junior football teams will take to the park in 2017. A total of 79 junior netball teams will take to the court, an increase of 20 percent from 2016.

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS Grant McMillan, Gary Learmonth and Liam Brady have been busy with AFL Community Camps. Carlton and Western Bulldogs stars were big hits in February with a number of community clinics and visits to schools. The will visit the Sunbury community next week and then visit a number of schools later in the month. The junior academies across AFL Goldfields continue to be big hits with junior kids in preparation for the upcoming season in their respective leagues and the interleague program. The sessions have been well supported by experienced coaches who have shared their great knowledge of football to the budding young stars. Auskick is a big focus for the FDM's who have visited schools across the region encouraging kids to join their local centre. Check out the last section of this newsletter for a sample of centres in the region. Check out out Facebook pages for photos of clinics and events across the BFNL, MCDFML and RDFNL.

MARCH and APRIL CALENDAR School Holiday Camps *Tuesday, April 4 at SUNBURY (Clarke Oval) *Thursday, April 6 at DAYLESFORD (Victoria Park) *Wednesday, April 12 2017 at BALLARAT (City Oval) 9am – 3pm each day cost $40 per participant Participants to bring own lunch & water bottle. All participants receive a packet of Select Footy Cards and an album. LAUNCHES *BFUA Wednesday, March 15 at Ballarat Yacht Club. Jeff Gieschen and David Harris special guests. RSVP March 8 - [email protected] *RDFNL Wednesday, April 5 at Melton Toyota from 7pm *BFNL Friday, April 7 at Saxon House *MCDFNL Friday, April 21 at Princes Park from 6.30pm ### all Open aged and Youth Girls footballers encouraged to attend launches where Senior football and netball clubs correspond with ### SEASON COMMENCES *BFNL - Saturday, April 8 *RDFNL - Saturday, April 8 *MCDFNL - Friday, April 21 *BJFNL - Saturday, April 22 *RDJFNL - Sunday, April 23 *Open Age and Youth Girls Football - Sunday, April 30 OTHER KEY DATES *April Saturday 8/Sunday 9 - Ballarat Toyota Junior Lightening Premiership - Wendouree Reserve/Northern Oval *Thursday April 13 - Romsey v Melton Centrals (N) *Friday April 14 - Melton South v Sunbury Good Friday game *Tuesday April 25 - Melton South v North Ballarat City and Macedon v Rupertswood.

MOST POPULAR IN JAN/FEB (as of Tuesday, February 28) BFNL *BFNL and Ballarat McDonald's launch - Youtube video - 633 views (third highest viewed video of all time on BFNL channel - Facebook video - 1,900 views for 4,700 people reached. - Story with pic - 4,000 views *Coaching Masterclass - 3,319 views on Facebook in eight days * WB Community Camp album - 4,800 views on Facebook in eight days

AFL GOLDFIELDS FEMALE FOOTBALL https://www.facebook.com/pg/AFLGoldfieldsFemaleFootball * 369 likes *Call for girls in Hepburn/Daylesford - 2,700 Facebook views * First TV show - 1,400 Facebook views *Western Bulldogs take training (album) - 1,600 Facebook views

MCDFNL * Vale Peter Cole of Maldon from league president Steve Broad - 4,200 views on Facebook *League happenings - 2,700 views on Facebook

RDFNL *Nabby's Car of the week - 106 views on Youtube (most ever for this segment) - 3,600 views on Facebook * Former RDFNL netball Jess Kennedy makes AFL W debut - 5,900 views on Facebook *Owner drivers for major sponsor On Time Delivery - 4,700 views on Facebook - RDFNL Junior Academy *video with 139 views - Lindsay Gilbee Coaching Master Class *3,100 Facebook views

BFNL BFNL BFNL

RDFL RDFL RDFL

MCDFNL MCDFNL MCDFNL

CHFL FEMALE FOOTBALL

2017 Fixtures

BFNL Seniors BFNL Juniors BFNL Under 16.5s MCDFNL - Seniors RDFNL - Seniors

Summary of some of the local Auskick clinics taking place across AFL Goldfields. Check out AFL Auskick for more.

North Ballarat Auskick starts at North Ballarat Football Club Creswick Road. Sessions take place on Friday nights from 5.30pm starting on April 28. The cost is $90. Contact Lucinda Mooney on 0466 097 369 or [email protected]

Ballarat Grammar School This is an All-Abilities program that runs on Sunday mornings from 10am. Sessions start on April 23 and cost $85. This is open to children of all abilities, needs and disabilities. Register online. Ballarat Swans Get along to Alfredton Reserve on Cuthberts Road. Sessions start from 5pm on Friday, March 17. Registration is $90. Contact Scott for more details on 0418 503 764.

Ballarat Girls Sessions start in Term 3. The cost is $50 and run on Wednesday nights from 4.30pm. Register online.

Broadford Harley Hammond Reserve from 9am on Sunday mornings starting from April 23. Cost is $91. Contact Stephen Pratt on 0409 906 096.

Harcourt Harcourt Recreational Reserve on Thursday afternoons from 4.15pm starting on March 30. Cost is $90. Contact Phil Hawkes on 0437 354 230.

Lancefield Lancefield Recreation Reserve on Saturday mornings from 8.30am starting on April 22. Cost is $96. Contact David Condrom on 0425 799 699 or email - lancefield@[email protected]

Macedon Clifford Reserve on Saturday mornings from 9am starting on April 22. Cost is $96, contact Catherine O'Connor on 0412 098 206.

Maldon Maldon Football Ground on Sunday mornings from 9.30am starting on April 23. Cost is $95. Contact Brad on 0408 198 048 or [email protected]

Maryborough Princes Park main oval on Friday nights from 6pm starting on April 21. Cost is $95. Contact Terry Hillier on 0438 968 344.

Melton - Friday Melton Recreation Reserve starting on Friday, April 21 from 5.30pm. The cost is $96, contact Jacqueline Kubeckis on 0413 238 264.

Melton - Saturday Blackwood Drive Reserve starting on Saturday, April 22. Cost is $96. Contact Michelle Whitehand on 0411 410 812.

Riddells Creek Riddells Creek Primary School starting on Saturday mornings from 9.30am on April 22. Cost is $96. Contact Michelle Kalinski on 0407 364 717.

Romsey Bendigo Bank Oval on Friday nights from 5pm starting on April 21. Cost is $95. Contact Craig Marton of 0421 111 912 or email - [email protected]

Woodend Buffalo Sports Stadium on Saturday mornings from 9.30am starting on April 22. Cost is $91. Contact Gary Dwyer on 5427 4048 or [email protected]

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