AFL North East Border STATE OF THE REGION REPORT 2013 Compiled by AFL North East Border 16 September 2013 Version 1 1 | P a g e AFL NORTH EAST BORDER – STATE OF THE REGION 2013 TABLE OF CONTENT: 1 AFL North East Border Region Introduction 3 2 League Structures 4 3 Commissioner Profiles 5 4 Participation Data - Region 7 5 Juniors - Albury Wodonga Junior Football League 8 - Wangaratta District Junior Football League 9 6 Seniors - Ovens & Murray Football Netball League 10 - Tallangatta District Football League 12 - Ovens & King Football Netball League 14 - Upper Murray Football Netball League 16 - Match Day Schedules League x League 17 7 Auskick - Centre Registrations 18 - Centres by Ages 20 8 Umpire Registrations 21 9 Regional School Analysis 24 Regional Facility Analysis 28 Regional Netball Analysis 31 10 AFL NEB Region Map 32 11 AFL North East Border Economic Impact Report 33 2 | P a g e AFL NORTH EAST BORDER – STATE OF THE REGION 2013 AFL NORTH EAST BORDER REGION INTRODUCTION: The AFL North East Border Commission has been established to accept responsibility for Game and Club Development, League Management and is the highest authority in the Region. Growing participation in our game encompasses a range of existing and new programs which engage all sectors of our Communities. The strategic approach of the Commission is to: - Build the capacity of the Region to contribute more significantly to the growth and sustainability of the game. - Enhance competition structures to meet growth demands of the local areas, promote competition equalisation, increase pathways effectiveness and better consider geographic and economic factors burdening country football - Consolidate the administration and management activities of many leagues - Promote the image of the game whilst respecting the history and traditions of the local leagues and clubs to produce a stronger community connection Seven (7) AFL Game Development Objectives have been established which shall guide Regions in both planning and delivering outcomes for the game. Under the new Regional Governance model, League executives shall retain their existing jurisdictions over their respective Constitutions and By Laws. With a Regional Administration Centre (RAC) the cornerstone to the overall management of football within the Region, each league is managed in accordance with league directives. In time, further efficiencies will be identified for the betterment of individual leagues and football in the Region. 3 | P a g e AFL NORTH EAST BORDER – STATE OF THE REGION 2013 As Auskick remains a key participation program, others can enter and participate in AFL9's, a non contact social form of the game whilst Youth Girls teams will provide a level of competition for girls U18. All programs are designed to be inclusive and broaden the appeal of the game but as we look to growing new segments, a key responsibility will be to support our existing clubs. The Commission is established under the auspice of AFL Victoria as the Governing body for the game and whilst a specific Netball portfolio exists on the Commission, AFL North East Border has no governance jurisdiction over Netball. Netball Victoria shall remain the sport’s governing body and where individual league governance structures constituted. The relationships between football and netball is acknowledged and will be considered in strategies developed, however, existing responsibility for Netball shall lay with NV, however, further opportunities will be explored between the 2 Governing bodies and Region Commissions. LEAGUE STRUCTURES: AFL North East Border is the highest authority in the Region with membership including leagues, their respective clubs and the umpiring association. Specifically, the leagues are the Ovens & Murray Football Netball League, the Tallangatta Football League, the Ovens & King Football Netball League, the Upper Murray Football Netball League, the Albury Wodonga Junior Football League, the Wangaratta District Junior Football League, the Benalla District Junior Football League and the North East Umpires Board. Through management, all Auskick centres within the Region are the responsibility of the Region structure. 4 | P a g e AFL NORTH EAST BORDER – STATE OF THE REGION 2013 COMMISSIONER PROFILES: AFL North East Borders inaugural 8 person Commission has been established to oversee the strategic direction of football with an extremely diligent process undertaken to ensure the best possible people would be appointed to the Commission and have identified high calibre independent candidates who had the specific skills sought. The inaugural AFL North East Commissions are: - John Byrne (Chairman) - Mark Florence - Stephen Clarke - David Koschitzke - Jason Dudenas - Kath Evans - Geoff Lowcock - Phil Nolan All Commissioners are independent Commissioners in that they do not hold a current governance position within the region with any other local football League or Club. Each member brings with them significant community sport and professional experiences, along with the strategic ability to grow the game of Australian Football throughout the region. The governance and management skills of the selected Commissioners are of the highest order. The Commissioners Degree in Primary School teaching. Former Councillor Shire of Wangaratta. Murray Bushrangers TAC Regional Manager 12 years, John Byrne VFL Development Manager. Chairman North Melbourne Premiership player, O&MFL interleague coach, coached VCFL State Teams. Former President Wangaratta WDJFL. Chairman of NEB Working Party Masters in Financial Planning Jason Dudenas Senior Financial Planner, WHK. 8 time OMFNL Grand Final Umpire (retired) All Australian Umpire at ACFC on the Gold Coast 2008 Current North East Umpires Board Chairman. Partner with Johnson MME Chartered Accountants (Albury). Stephen Clarke 210 games Wodonga Raiders (OMFNL) and President 4 years 2012 OMFNL Hall of Fame inductee. Played reserves and U19 North Melbourne/Richmond, Brunswick in VFA, Burnie in TAS. Senior Partner, Harris Lieberman Solicitors. Director for Hume Football League for 9 years David Koschitzke Director for Ovens & Murray FNL 5 years. Current Chair for Albury Northside Chamber of Commerce President Albury & District Law Society Chair Hothouse Theatre and Board Member for Flying Fruit Fly Circus. Mark Florence Worked in Local Government for past 14 years. Currently General Manager, Sustainable Communities, Indigo Shire. Previously Manager, Recreation and Youth Services (facility development and participation programs) at Wodonga Council. 5 | P a g e AFL NORTH EAST BORDER – STATE OF THE REGION 2013 Formerly at SRV and teacher for 10 years. Coached Wodonga Cricket Club, obtained Level 3 Coaching Principle at WHK Albury (formerly KPMG). Kathleen Evans Player, administrator and coach in Netball since 1976. President of Tallangatta & District Netball Association for 6 years. Long family association with local football and netball Director of Nolan Media and Events 30 years as Editor of Wangaratta Chronicle Philip Nolan Ovens & Murray Board Member 15 years Wangaratta FNC Premiership Coach & Life Member. OAM recipient Teacher and Principal, Geelong 8 and Tallangatta 25 years, retired 2012. Geoff Lowcock Played for Myrtleford FC, Monash Uni FC, Geelong Amateur FC, Bethanga FC, Tallangatta Valley FC, also coached various clubs. Chairman of Selectors Wodonga Raiders FC and member of AUL Small Business Operator (vealer breeding) in the Mitta Valley. 6 | P a g e AFL NORTH EAST BORDER – STATE OF THE REGION 2013 PARTICIPATION DATA - REGION: The following graph represents the overall player registration numbers at each league. 7 | P a g e AFL NORTH EAST BORDER – STATE OF THE REGION 2013 JUNIOR LEAGUES ALBURY WODONGA JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE The Albury Wodonga Junior Football League clubs are located in Albury and Wodonga with both Corowa and Yarrawonga making up the 9 club competition. Over the years, the age groups have changed regularly to suit clubs as opposed to local conditions which has created instability. In 2012, an Independent Board was introduced which has been for the betterment of all stakeholders. The AWJFL introduced a Divisional structure in 2013 with the plan to implement an U12, 2 U14’s and 2 at U16 grades. Due to numbers, only 1 U16 division was possible in 2013 however, it is anticipated that this will expand in time. Since 2012, the AWJFL have had the OMFNL act as the league administration and from a Regional perspective, both leagues sit outside the RAC however, plans are to integrate them in time. With a greater focus on transition from Auskick into junior grades, the relationship with the Region and the AWJFL will be benefitted under the RAC model. Priorities - Consolidate the Divisional structure in the AWJFL - Encourage clubs to field more teams in a divisional structure - Maintain the independence of Board members, ensure willing Board members - Integrate the league administration into the RAC PARTICIPATION DATA The following graph represents the overall player registration numbers at the Albury Wodonga Junior Football League. 8 | P a g e AFL NORTH EAST BORDER – STATE OF THE REGION 2013 WANGARTTA DISTRICT JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE The Wangaratta District Junior Football League is predominately a Wangaratta based U14 and U16 competition with 6 Wangaratta clubs, Bright and Myrtleford. Playing numbers have improved over the past few years after several seasons where teams were vulnerable across all clubs. Through planning and an investment in this competition, players have been