ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2014 ANNUAL REPORT Hillside teammates Tristan Rudic and James Mancuso celebrate at full time of the Under-14 Division 1 grand final at Windy Hill. Keilor’s Oskar Manton reacts with disappointment. Picture: Jag Imaging EDFL Life Members J. Ainsworth, T. Barden*, W. Barton*, E.T. Boucher*, J. Brogan*, D. Brown, S. Carman*, R. Cassell*, B. Chick*, D. Christi, L. Constitine*, A. Crofts, L. Danaher, J. Doran, J. Dovey, T. Dowling, B. Drebig, Ms F. Duffield, A. East- wood*, B.F. Ellis, T. Ennis, J. Falcke, A. Fischer, A. Fisher*, J. Fletcher*, F. Garland*, E.J.Gent*, W.L. Gladman*, A. Hall, J. Harris O.A.M, E.O. Heintz*, A. Hircoe, E. Hoctor, I. Hurtig, L.C. Jackson*, E. Jennings, W.M. Kennedy*, L. Koch, I.L. Lally, B. Lalor, A.W. Marcy*, S. Martin, B. Mc Naughton, K.J. Mc Taggart*, Ms V. Mc Taggart*, D.A. Mc William, Dr. S. Merrifield*, A.J. Midgley*, B. Milburn, G. Milton, Ms D. Milton, W.B. Morden*, D. Munro*, G.B. Mutimer, A. Nicol*, A. Nix, Ms G. O’Brien, N. O’Brien*, S. O’Brien, R. Parker, R. Parsons*, A. Pearce*, E.T. Pound*, H. Price*, I. Price, K. Pridham, A. Pritchard, W. Quirk*, F.E.D. Rankin*, F.G.Reid*, S.W. Rickards*, Ms E. Rickards*, R.A. Rose O.A.M, A. Schultze*, B. Scott, V. Sharpe*, J.B. Stainer, T.G. Stephens*, P. Stone, M. Stone O.A.M, E. Townsend*, L. Turner*, J. Walker, Ms J. Walker*, R. Wall, G. Wilde, P. Williams, J. Williams, N. Wood* 1 EDFL Board & Office Bearers EDFL Chairman: Brett Scott Board Members: Glenn Allison, Wayne Anthony, Arthur Crofts, Romy Gutbier, Bernie Shinners and Tanya Taylor Head Office 14 Marshall Road Airport West 3042 Ph: 9338 4854 E: [email protected] www.essendondfl.com.au General Manager Marc Turri Football Operations / Admin Manager Greta May Report | 2014 Annual League | Essendon District Football Football Operations Officer Stephanie Zerowsky Community Relations Officer Michael Russell Media & Promotions Officer Teo Pellizzeri Director of Umpiring Rowan Sawers Umpires Administrator Ken Waters E.D.F.L.U.A President Ben White EDFL Independent Tribunal T. Humphreys & T. Jones (Chairman) D. Anderson, B. Cooper, A. Edwards, E. Hoctor, I. Hurtig, M. Fitzsimmons, E. Hesketh, P. Jeffs, C. Sullivan, L. Koch, I. Rochester, M. Stone, J. Sipek, L. Danaher, A. McCarthy EDFL Investigation Officers John Podhajski, Joel Smith & Steele Waterman EDFL Photographer Glenn Bailey - JAG Imaging Chairman’s Report I am proud to stay that this year’s Essen- achieving this financial position have yrnong Park to be a valuable contributor don District Football League was one of not addressed the issue of skyrocket- to the board. Ken Waters’ retirement was the most enjoyable on record. ing player payments, sign-on fees and short lived and we welcome him back enducements. to a restructured football administration And what made it enjoyable was not just for 2015. We were fortunate enough the spectacle for the families and fans Clubs are working harder than ever to to welcome Rowan Sawers, an AFL life looking on, but the major increase in raise money, sponsorship and revenue member and former AFL umpires coach, competitive balance for all our playing but have had to do so in order to meet as the EDFL umpires coach. The EDFL participants. players’ increasing demands. Clubs are has now secured Rowan’s services full still spending beyond what is sustain- time in 2015. It was also fitting that such Three close, competitive divisions of able in the long term on their playing a memorable season be documented senior football and the junior re-grading list. and covered far more extensively than in process created one of the most engag- years past, thanks to the addition of Teo ing seasons for our footballers ever. With that said, our clubs have never Pellizzeri as the league’s media officer. been in better shape as they present The benefits of the big decision to split themselves to the community as fami- In any football community we have un- the old B-grade in 2012 were borne out ly-friendly, female-friendly destinations sung heroes that go beyond the call of this year as three close premiership races for leisure and social activity. normal service and duties. These people and two close relegation battles took should be recognised, and I was proud place in our senior grades. The EDFL returned to the field in senior to oversee the creation and implementa- interleague this year but not with a tion of the Rose-Price Award for services The effect of junior re-grading was more performance that reflects where our to football this year. immediate, and I cannot wait to measure competition stands in the grand scheme the long-term benefits that will come of local football. It was only fitting that the award be from making junior football a more en- named after past presidents in Reg Rose joyable experience for its participants. The clubs did not embrace senior OAM and Ian Price who have devoted interleague to the extent required to two lifetimes’ work to the game. I acknowledge that junior re-grading compete and this was reflected in both was not popular with everyone, but the our performance and result. Anyone who knows Des Menzies, the statistics such as 26 of 27 clubs making inaugural recipient, through his involve- finals and 22 clubs a junior grand final The EDFL board has not accepted the ment in the competition will know that speaks for itself. performance produced in 2014 and will the Rose-Price Award will be one of the be making changes for 2015. most revered the EDFL or any competi- I want to thank all the EDFL sponsors for tion can give. another year of commercial confidence The relocation of league headquarters in local footy. In particular Strathmore to Windy Hill is closer than ever and Thank you to the EDFL Board Members Community Bank as the major sponsor will give us a home base that gives us a and administrator for their support and of the Premier Division, and our other significant footprint in the heart of EDFL efforts through 2014. I also thank all leading partners Essendon Ford, Just territory. presidents, committees and volunteers Cuts and Apprenticeships Group Aus- for the time and effort you have put into tralia. For the first time in the history of We welcomed our first female board building a stronger EDFL. the EDFL every club was financial. What member Tanya Taylor in 2014, making is disappointing is that clubs in spite of the step up after a long service at Marib- Brett Scott - EDFL Chairman General Manager’s Report 3 The 2014 season is one that saw a number of league as a whole proved to be one of the most addition of the full-time positions of Media Officer changes within the EDFL competition and in many even in Victoria. and Director of Umpiring whilst absorbing all costs respects required the patience of our member clubs The Premier Division proved to be the most com- internally. as these new initiatives were implemented. These petitive with the average winning margin decreas- The Strathmore Community Bank’s support of the included Junior Grading, Apparel Licensing and ing by nearly two goals per game from 2013. The EDFL is not simply limited to the league, with the Senior Interleague. highly competitive Division 1 competition’s average bank also strong in its support of a number of EDFL The EDFL Board and Management also witnessed winning margin decreased by 8 points per game. Clubs and Channel 31’s Local Footy Show. Their change in 2014. Whilst the biggest decrease in average winning support of local football is second-to-none. Matthew Pillios did not seek re-election at the end margin came from the Division 2 competition with The EDFL continued to receive strong support from of the 2013 season with Tanya Taylor joining the a decrease of over 3 goals per game in the average a number of other sponsors, with Essendon Ford Board of Management in Matthew’s place. Tanya winning margin. the naming rights sponsor of the Division 1 com- has a lifetime of football administration experience petition, whilst Apprenticeships Group Australia at Maribyrnong Park at both junior level and senior acquired the naming rights of the EDFL’s Under 18.5 level. Tanya’s football skills and knowledge, together competitions. with her professional attributes in man-manage- I would like to thank all sponsors of the EDFL: ment has proven to be a valuable addition to the • Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies EDFL Board of Management. • Apprenticeships Group Australia At management level the position of Media Offer • Brad Teal Real Estate was increased to a full-time level with Teo Pellizzeri JUNIOR FOOTBALL • Club Warehouse immediately increasing the level of professionalism A new grading system was introduced in 2014 to • Coburg Physio and quality of presentation through radio, print address the high junior margins that had become • Elastoplast and social media outlets. The viewership levels of evident in junior football. • Essendon Football Club the high quality videos, the website traffic and an The team oriented grading system, with a mid-year • Essendon Ford increase in interaction on Twitter and Facebook has regrading mechanism was vdesigned to ensure • Glenroy Bakery been notable since Teo’s appointment. Having a teams were placed in divisions where they would • Grashan Full-Time Media officer within the EDFL’s manage- be competitive on a weekly basis. • Hot Sub ment structure ensures that players and supporters The improvement was immediate with all age • Hypoxi Moonee Ponds are more fully informed of change and good news groups and all divisions achieving competitive • Just Cuts stories that exists at club level.