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Keeping community tight

By CHRIS EARL

THERE’S an air of confidence for the future of Loddon Valley football clubs.

An air that was looking stale and tired 12 months ago when Maiden Gully pulled out of the under 18 competition.

The circuit-breaking formation of East Loddon Rams kept players around Calivil, Serpentine and Mitiamo in a local jumper.

They were not lost to Bendigo clubs, to increase the 110 players from Loddon postcodes already playing in younger age groups in the regional capital’s junior league.

Marong and Maiden Gully were lamenting no future, no pathways for their juniors if they stayed in the Loddon Valley league.

League president Simon Tuohey pushed for change to keep youth engaged. The competition was handed over to AFL Central Victoria for a new under 18 league.

Pyramid Hill accepted the challenge and revived its junior side for the first time since winning a flag in 2019.

But efforts by AFL Central Victoria to widen participation beyond Loddon clubs in the first year were not to materialise.

Michael Hartley was brought in by AFL Central Victoria to run the new league just two months before kick-off.

Hartley said the junior competition would make “senior clubs more sustainable” and he was looking to grow the five-team competition in 2024.

His guiding philosophy to build clubs is backed up by Inglewood stalwart Leigh Lamprell and league vice-president Richard Hicks.

Lamprell says that putting a team on the field was a win for