Juniors revamp get clubs’ nod

By Paul Pickering
A DOMINANT Casey contingent of 12 clubs last week endorsed a new constitution and governance structure for the Dandenong and District Junior Football League.
The DDJFL held its annual general meeting last week, with club representatives providing their tick of approval to the overhauled junior competition.
Newly-appointed DDJFL general manager Shaun Connell and chairman Roger Hampson were quick to praise member clubs for their support and leadership during a transitional year for the league.
The ongoing revamp is a response to an independent review requested by the clubs and released in February this year, which prompted a new direction for junior footy in Melbourne’s south-east.
The league is now looking to expand further into the Casey and Cardinia regions, while bolstering its ailing presence in the City of Greater Dandenong.
The introduction of Lyndhurst to the 2010 competition will create an even greater shift towards the Casey region, with 62 per cent of all DDJFL clubs now hailing from the booming municipality.
Connell, who joins theleague after stints with the Dandenong Ranges junior league and the Victorian Country Football League, believes the passion shown byclub officials this year bodeswell for the future of the competition.
“The clubs have really taken leadership in driving the changes, and I think that’s important from a community aspect,” he said last Friday.
“They’ve taken ownership and made sure that the league is heading in the right direction, and that’s exciting, because that doesn’t happen often.”
Connell will benefit from the efforts of AFL Victoria project manager Liz Triffitt, who has been responsible for developing the DDJFL’s strategic plan for 2010-2012.
He believes the league has now addressed its administrative problems and is ready to thrive.
“The foundations are now set for the league to grow,” he said.
“It’s pretty much a fresh start, and that’s why my appointment has been important too, because it’s a fresh pair of eyes.”
The league also presented its awards for best conducted club and best conducted teams at last week’s AGM, with Narre North Foxes (under-14 Blue) and Narre South Lions (under-12 Premier) taking out the team awards in their respective divisions.
Officer Kangaroos won the best conducted club gong.
Meanwhile, AFL Victoria’s determination to rebuild ailing participation levels in the City of Greater Dandenong has prompted the governing body to establish the Dandenong Task Force.
The group, headed up by AFL Victoria community football development manager Peter McDougall, will meet today (9 December) with a wide variety of stakeholders – including Dandenong clubs, Victoria Police and multicultural support agencies – in a bid to discuss opportunities to promote the game in the municipality.