Eastern Football League 2013 Annual Report Cover: A young South Belgrave fan rejoices after his team won 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 1 the Division 4 senior flag. This page from top: Mitcham fans were excited during the Division 3 ‘Choose Tap’ Elimination Final; Mitcham Under 19’s player Ollie Hansen becomes airborne against Chirnside Park. Following page: South Croydon skipper Daniel King was crowned the 2013 Chandler Medallist after a career-best season. Contents Mission Statement / 01 Chairman / 02 Chief Executive Officer / 04 Senior Competition / 06 Junior Competition / 08 Media / 11 Umpiring / Trainers / 12 WEFL / Tribunal / 13 Game Development / 14 Junior Interleague Squads / 15 Season 2013 / 17 Team Listing / 20 Awards / 22 Our Mission Senior Ladders / 24 The Eastern Football League will effectively Senior Finals Results / 25 promote and facilitate the playing and Junior Ladders / 26 development of Australian Football for the benefit of all participants, at all levels Junior Finals Results / 28 throughout the East of metropolitan Melbourne. SEN Teams of the Year / 30 Life Members / 32 Financial Report / 33 Major Sponsors League Directory / 45 Support Sponsors Our Values The Eastern Football League maintains a strong belief system that underpins its actions and the way the league is run. We believe in the concept of “a fair go” We recognise the efforts of those who contribute to the wellbeing of the game at EFL level We treat safety as a priority We strive to innovate We support the big picture and understand that we are one part of a wider football community We define our position and defend this when appropriate. 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 3 Chairman This page, from top L to R: EFL Chairman Graham Halbish; Donvale defeated Doncaster East in one of four senior games played on ANZAC Day; Deputy Chairman Peter Bailey; Jim Walker. Following page, from top L to R; David Flintoff; Kerry Freer; Leon Bailey; Paul Molan; Paul Payne; Tim Finemore; Wantirna South supporters make themselves at home at Walker Reserve. Ekera Urgent Care was approached to offer a We now deliver programs for The league devotes considerable comprehensive assessment various levels of government. resources to umpiring. service to clubs, which was Alcohol, drugs, violence, This year sees the league widely promoted to trainers, tolerance and dealing with enter a new planning phase. The Victorian Under 16 This year, we had less players and, in particular, social media are just some of they subscribe. We commend Metropolitan squad contained difficulty appointing umpires The environment in which we junior parents. issues that sports in general, and thank those involved in our five EFL registered players to matches than at any time operate keeps changing and but the EFL in particular, is clubs for the efforts that they we can recall. More available We also joined with orthopedic we need to further consider The Eastern Ranges selected addressing, with educative make each week to deliver the While having nearly 12,000 numbers allows us to devote surgeon Mr Rodney Richardson how to adapt to those changes. Ferntree Gully Eagles player messages that once were outstanding outcomes that registered players is pleasing, greater effort to development. and Capital Radiology to provide We are currently considering Ben Cavarra as their captain expected of family, friends their organisations provide. it is further gratifying that we urgent attention to the way the feasibility of a venture with for the 2013 season. He had We work hard to identify the and the education system. are identifying and helping to that knee injuries could be AFL Victoria and Hawthorn We also farewell EFL CEO Rob a terrific year, playing for the best available talent – and it develop plenty of raw talent. assessed and, where necessary, It remains imperative for Football Club to develop a new Sharpe, who has decided to Victorian Metropolitan Under is paying off. Each year, we We are clearly fertile ground repaired. This is new ground the league to be socially hub for Australian football in stand down after eight years I have great pleasure 18 team, winning the club insist that aspiring umpires for developing players and, for the league, but it has responsible. And we will the Eastern suburbs. of outstanding service to Best and Fairest award for the are nominated for the VFL in presenting the 2013 also, umpires. been pleasing to observe the continue to be so. the league. Rob has worked second consecutive season and panel. This season, three of We will continue to search Annual Report for the feedback from those availing closely with myself and the In 2013, there were 36 players on winning the Morrish Medal – the five nominated in 2012 There are many organisations for new efficiencies and themselves of these services. board during that time, which Eastern Football League. AFL lists that had been involved the TAC Cup’s Best and Fairest were accepted on their panels. that have supported the board new revenue opportunities, has seen the league make with the EFL. Some of these award – in a four-way tie. Across the three umpiring EFL clubs are being more in its efforts to further develop as well as build stronger Growing the game has been significant progress. We wish have taken the typical player disciplines, 14 per cent of the widely recognised for the this league to the position it partnerships, particularly a key objective of the league’s The favoured No. 1 pick in this Rob, his wife Sue and family a pathway route via the TAC Cup current VFL umpires panel has contribution they make in a maintains today. with Government, and to strategic plan – and it is year’s National AFL Draft is very happy future. and draft. Others such as Matt been part of the EFL system. social context. This is being grow the game through the paying dividends. Not just in Tom Boyd, who went from the We thank the Councils, the Jones (Melbourne), Tory Dickson reflected in the Government development of strong and terms of the numbers involved Norwood Junior Football Club to We will nominate eight of this State Government, our friends Graham Halbish on and off the field, but in the (Western Bulldogs), Kyle Martin funding being allocated for sustainable clubs. (Collingwood), Leigh Osborne the Eastern Ranges. And it was year’s panel to trial in 2014 at AFL Victoria, the hardworking quality of the game, as well infrastructure projects. This competition is so clearly (Gold Coast Suns), Shane Biggs only two years back that the GWS for inclusion into VFL squads. club committees and volunteers as the players and officials defined by the strength of its (Sydney) and James Gwilt Giants took Jonathon Patton This year, we invested more than This season, significant that serve EFL clubs and, involved in them. clubs and the values to which (St Kilda) have taken the less with the first pick of the draft. $200,000 in umpire development. works commenced, or were of course, our commercial completed, for facilities partners. Their contribution to This year we further increased the direct route via EFL clubs and The league was successful Opportunities are emerging at Whitehorse Pioneers, the league is making it possible league’s focus on development the VFL. at this year’s Junior to help players and clubs by Rowville, Mulgrave, for the board to implement by proposing to AFL Victoria Metropolitan Championships. using our scale to deliver high It says much about the way Warrandyte, Blackburn, South programs that continue that we take on the delivery of levels of medical service and our football is played, in that We won the Under 15 Division 1, Croydon, Bayswater, Glen to improve our wonderful AFL development programs expertise in a timelier manner we are helping to provide a Under 14 Division 1 and Under Waverley Hawks, The Basin competition. under contract. than has previously been second chance for some at a 14 Division 2 competitions. and Boronia Football Clubs. In doing so, we were able to higher level. available at this level of sport. We congratulate the Eastern Looking ahead, we are aware employ the funds allocated by In 2013, we extended the Feeding the more traditional Ranges, who won the 2013 of funding already committed AFL Victoria to engage our own medical services that we pathway is our own Junior TAC Cup with a team that for works at Norwood, Game Development Manager started with Ekera Urgent Development program. included 18 EFL graduates, Rowville’s junior ground, in Aaron Bailey. This enabled Care 18 months ago. schools programs, NAB Auskick From what we understand, as well as the Box Hill Wantirna South, Knox, South and AFL Player appearances this program is the only Football Club, with its senior At the beginning of the season, Belgrave, Mooroolbark and to be operated under our metropolitan program provided team taking out the VFL concussion management had Lysterfield. It is a credit to direct control. free of charge to those involved. premiership and development become a significant issue for the club committees for the It is continuing to identify young team losing its Grand Final by sport and Australian football efforts they are making to The results to date have been players of substance. just one point. We continue to was evaluating how effective its work with Government and, in outstanding and the AFL Game maintain a strong relationship The results speak for processes were and what risks many cases, commit their own Development activities are with the Hawthorn Football themselves. were associated with playing members’ funds to help ensure becoming increasingly part of Club, whose AFL premiership our games. Clearly there was a these projects come to fruition.