I
t will be a vastly different Shepparton
District Junior Football League this year. The transition from a school to club-based competition is in full swing. Goulburn Valley Football League clubs Shepparton, Shepparton Swans and Shepparton United will all field teams in under-14s and under-16s. Gone are Wanganui Park Secondary College, Shepparton High School and McGuire College. Notre Dame will remain. League president Chris Thomas said it was an exciting time for the competition. “As everyone knows there are a few changes this year,” Thomas said. “And they are pretty exciting changes, too, with the Shepparton-based GV clubs coming into it.” The Bears, Swans and United will field teams in the under-16 division one competition, meaning four clubs will be drawn from Shepparton. Thomas said that in itself was exciting. “We haven’t had four teams in the under-16 division one from Shepp in quite a while,” he said. “That is great news for the competition and means we have gone from having 21 teams in
Mooroopna White players mob each other after the under-14 grand final last season under-14 and under-16 to having 24 this year. “And it is great that kids now have a pathway into club-based football.” The additional teams have seen an increase of 50 players in the Shepparton area. Thomas said that was what the league was about.
“For us, it is all about getting more kids playing football,” he said. But Thomas was quick to add the competition remained in debt to the clubs which had come before. “I have said all through this, we have enormous respect for everything that has
gone before us,” he said. “Wanganui, Shepp High and McGuire will remain a big part of our history and it is a history that we want to continue to respect. “They have made this competition what it is.” Fixtures are still being finalised, but the first game of the season will be on April 14. Teams outside of Shepparton will continue – with representation from Mooroopna, Tatura, Kyabram, Echuca and Rochester. Thomas said the league’s primary school division was also looking positive. He said the SDJFL, which also incorporates the new Youth Girls’ competition, was excited about a new interleague fixture against Bendigo Junior Football League. After a successful trial last year, the clash will replace the former interleague expedition to the annual Swan Hill junior carnival. The two leagues will square off – from under12s through to under-16s and Youth Girls – at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on June 2. “We are very excited about that,” he said. “It will be a great chance for us to showcase junior footy.” The SDJFL plays on Sundays.
Echuca celebrates winning last year’s under-16 division one flag
Wanganui’s champion under-16 division two team
McDonald’s Shepparton, Mooroopna and Echuca are proud supporters of Junior Football… Page 34 Football and Netball 2013
Patrick O’Meara