Under 18s get the boot

By Paul Pickering
CRANBOURNE Football Club has been told that its under-18s will be booted off the main oval at Casey Fields next season.
The directive was issued last month in a bid to protect the facility, which is also used by the Casey Scorpions VFL side and its AFL affiliate Melbourne.
Eagles president Gerry Kelly said the club was “very upset” about the decision, noting that the under-18 side has been playing the early game on the main oval for the last four seasons.
Kelly, who was present when the issue was raised at the City of Casey council meeting last week, said the move to another oval would jeopardise the club’s culture.
“It’s going to destabilise the very fabric of the club,” he explained.
“The seniors have a stabilising influence on the under-18 players, who can get a bit out of line at times, but (under the proposed move) the leadership group wouldn’t really have anything to do with them.
“And the logistics of running two ovals at every home game – for umpires, medical staff, officials and other support groups – would be very difficult.”
The club has had a sympathetic hearing from Casey mayor Geoff Ablett and fellow councillor Kevin Bradford, who led a chorus of support at last week’s meeting.
Cr Ablett has requested that a report on the amount of traffic on the main oval be presented to the council in February.
Kelly is eagerly awaiting the figures.
“When you think about it, it’s only four 20-minute quarters and it’s only eight time a year (for home games), so it’s not a large amount,” he said.
“I’ll be very interested to see that report.”