Eastern Football League 2012 Annual Report Contents 01 Mission Statement 02 Chairman 04 Chief Executive Officer 06 Senior Competition 07 Nine News Challenge 08 Junior Competition 11 Media 12 Umpiring / Trainers 13 WEFL / Tribunal 14 Season 2012 19 Nine News Development Squads 20 Team Listing 22 Awards 24 Senior Ladders 25 Senior Finals Results 26 Junior Ladders 28 Junior Finals Results 30 SEN Teams of the Year 32 Life Members 33 Financial Report 45 League Directory This page: Players from Balwyn and Vermont had to keep hydrated during a hotly contested Division 1 ‘Choose Tap’ Grand Final (Photo – Chris Hopkins, Weekly Review). Following page, from top L to R: Vermont’s Ryan Mullett won his second Chandler Medal in three years; Nine News anchor Peter Hitchener again delivered the Division 1 This page, from top L to R: Text 1 premiership cup via helicopter (Photo – Chris Hopkins, Weekly Review). Our Mission Murray Hutchison, Surrey Park, Property Steward and Volunteer Coordinator The Eastern Football League will effectively promote and facilitate the playing Murray coordinates the club’s ground, bar and canteen facilities. He also and development of Australian Football for the benefit of all participants, coordinates all club volunteers and runs the player roster that operates on training nights and match days. And it is not uncommon to see him cleaning at all levels throughout the east of metropolitan Melbourne. and doing necessary maintenance. Principal Sponsor Major 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 Support Sponsor 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. Australian Football belongs to It is a very positive result. a safe and healthy environment continues to grow. those who play or support it with In 2013, clubs will be provided with players passion each week across every better prepared for the rigors of senior We were able to provide defibrillators at state and territory. football. all EFL venues, thanks to the support from, initially, Sportscover and, then, the The age group shift has allowed younger It is this country’s only indigenous sporting Bendigo Community Bank. code and played right across the nation, players to remain with the junior from Under 8’s to the elite level of the AFL. competition for an additional year. The league planned to achieve this over a two-year period, but to have realised this It was also pleasing to observe that two Australian Football touches every corner ambition 12 months ahead of schedule is clubs, who have traditionally struggled of the country and reaches out to people very pleasing. across all walks of life. to field Under 18’s teams, competed in Eastlink Under 19’s finals this year. The need for proper concussion We can be justifiably proud of the management has been brought to the fore This competition can be justifiably proud contribution the game at our level and clubs have been encouraged to display of the reputation it holds. makes to life in the Eastern suburbs of even greater vigilance when managing Melbourne. We have experienced gradual growth in players, in terms of club and player It remains vital that the game continues terms of the number of participants over welfare. the past 15 years. to grow. We have worked with organisations such This season, after much consultation, we In 2012, our 48 clubs fielded 462 teams as Sport Chaplaincy Australia, who has made a change to the transitional age and every level of senior and junior provided support to clubs facing personal groups between junior and senior football. competition had at least four grades. traumas we are all confronted with from time to time. Rather than conducting competitions for But the reputation of the league is built on players Under 16 and Under 18, we moved the success and actions of our clubs. The EFL has continued to improve an to Under 17 and Under 19 age groups. important number of relationships with They are each significant organisations, other organisations. The overall result has been pleasing, with an which provide a positive environment for additional 13 teams playing in the competition the people involved, be they young or old. Some of those have strong commercial links, others because we have like ideals. comprised of players traditionally at risk to The expectations on clubs to behave being lost to the game. responsibly, do what is right and provide This page, from top L to R: Park Orchards won its first senior game in Round 1, defeating Canterbury by 13 points at Domeney Reserve; EFL Chairman Graham Halbish; 2 Deputy Chairman Peter Bailey; Board Members Jim Walker, David Flintoff, Kerry Freer and Leon Bailey; Nine News anchor Peter Hitchener delivers the Division 1 premiership 3 Chairman cup to EFL Chairman Graham Halbish and Acting Superintendent Division 2 Eastern Region Paul Rosenblum; Board Members Paul Molan, Paul Payne and Tim Finemore. This year we again supported the Blue This was particularly evident during each Our aspirations were to establish a better Ribbon Foundation and the Victoria Police. finals series when nearly half of the EFL’s finals venue that provided improved levels Kath Partridge, Vermont, Kitchen and Catering Manager clubs had the opportunity to host finals of comfort for spectators, lighting that We have a beneficial relationship with the Every week, Kath manages a team of hard-working ladies, who supply more than 80 meals matches. would extend the times for use of facilities Australian Drug Foundation through the on Thursday and Saturday nights to players, support staff and supporters. She is always on and an improved capacity to accommodate Good Sports Program. There are many wonderful commercial call to assist with barbeque duties, luncheons and sandwiches for players after home games. larger crowds. partners that help make our season such ConnectEast, RoadSafe, Hawthorn a success. I am pleased to say the league has been Football Club and Safety Sense have strongly supported in this initiative, with partnered the EFL in programs designed Nine News, our principal sponsor, is one the majority of the facility funding coming to reduce the likelihood of road trauma, of those and its contribution is one we State-of-the-art radio communication To Division 1 premiers Balwyn: we most viable way to ensure they remain from external sources. particularly among younger people. value most highly. between coaches boxes and player offer our admiration for what you have sustainable. The Victorian State Government provided shelters is also available. managed to achieve. Our relationship with AFL Victoria For four years now, Nine News has helped To the thousands of volunteers that make $370,000, AFL Victoria donated $130,000 continues to grow and we have been able us to do what we do best, better. Around the ground water and power have The end of the 2011 season was a time of such amazing contributions to each EFL and Knox Council contributed $50,000 to jointly achieve more through positive been installed to provide better catering great trepidation. club, we thank you for your devotion and This year, Yarra Valley Water joined us as to accommodate the power upgrade collaboration. facilities and to accommodate much great sense of community. a corporate partner, supporting the finals requirements for the site. To overcome the loss of a team member larger toilet blocks. We have been particularly grateful for series and our club water carriers. to the most tragic of circumstances While the players will always be central The league is extremely grateful to these AFL Victoria’s support of the umpiring Gate entry has been improved to allow required a special effort and brought such to our efforts in the development of the Yarra Valley Water was instrumental some project partners for sharing in our vision programs we run and the infrastructure patrons better access to the reserve and significant challenges to so many. game, what clubs provide to those that years ago in helping the competition for this facility. enhancements it has helped to fund. the oval. surround it must never be lost. emerge from severe drought conditions. The inspiration of Balwyn’s ‘23rd man’ We have new terraced areas to accommodate At the conclusion of 2012, it was with The lighting installation provides the appeared so profound. Persons young and old gain a lot from We were grateful for its efforts then an additional 1200 people and we expect some satisfaction we were able to reflect best available night venue in the Eastern their involvement in clubs and the people and remain so today for its continued the South-Western terrace to have a Our junior competition provides a strong on not only the teams that performed well suburbs. within them. contribution to sport and, in particular, permanent covering in 2013. foundation for clubs. during the various finals campaign, but on EFL football. The Basin, North Ringwood and Rowville In closing, I thank the EFL Board, Junior the clubs that make up the competition. Around the ground, there is now Competitions are graded through nine Football Clubs must be commended for Committee and EFL staff for their efforts Three years ago, we began working with permanent seating for nearly 800 people age groups, allowing young players to I have been fortunate to personally not only winning senior premierships, but and commitment in helping to develop Knox Council and the Bayswater Football along the perimeter fence.