New AFL teams present opportunities for youngsters. Football League chief executive Glenn Scott has predicted greater AFL opportunities for country footballers with the introduction of two new teams.
Scott said this season promised to be one of country football's biggest years as players put themselves in the spotlight for the additional 100 places on offer as Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney look to fill their lists.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Herald Sun on the eve of the season, Scott said: WONTHAGGI Power had been well received in the renamed Gippsland Football League and he expected the club to prosper.
FORMER Benalla and District Football League clubs had the potential to become the fairytale story of the year in their new leagues.
COUNTRY football was in better shape at the start of this season than in the past few years.
IT WAS important not to forget those areas ravaged by bushfires before last season.
Scott pointed to North Melbourne's recruiting of Scott Thompson - formerly of South Barwon - and Richmond selection of Relton Roberts - who made his debut on Thursday night against Carlton at the MCG after playing in the VCFL's state side two years ago - as recent examples of country football success stories.
But as AFL clubs start to search far and wide for new talent pools to fill their lists, Scott said the extra opportunities opened the doors to more VCFL players being recruited straight from the bush.
‘‘It (the AFL) is no longer just the mecca of 17 and 18-year-olds being drafted,'' Scott said. ‘‘There's a leaning towards - in a restricted way - clubs drafting two or three veterans. ‘‘There are a lot of very, very good players in their early 20s who, for whatever reason, didn't get drafted.
Some of them are slow maturing, or others might not have been able to be part of the system due to distance and other personal situations.
‘‘Now another 100-odd players are needed at the top level over the next couple of years. Quite a few will find their way out of VCFL.''
With water restrictions being eased in many parts of the state, concrete-hard grounds may become a distant memory for country youngsters trying to get their big break. Scott said improving rainfall was one reason country football was as strong as ever heading into the season.
‘‘There's a fair degree of stability out there at the moment,'' he said. ‘‘That doesn't mean there's not a club or two that is short on numbers, or a club looking for a president.
‘‘But when you compare it with the last couple of years, we've had some good rain. Generally speaking, the grounds are in a good state and the economy is in a reasonable state compared to this time last year.''
Two Gippsland teams on the up are Wonthaggi Power and Garfield Stars. The Power transferred from the Alberton League to the Gippsland League after a well documented and prolonged spat, while the Stars have sought greener pastures in the local Ellinbank League after spending recent years in the West Gippsland Latrobe League.
Scott said both clubs had been well received in their new leagues.
‘‘Wonthaggi's attitude has been fantastic,'' he said. ‘‘They're moving onwards and upwards. ‘‘I think their decision to go that way, perhaps rather than one or two of the other options on the table, will be good for them and good for the Gippsland League.
‘‘Garfield are back in a league where they are fighting in their own weight division. They'll be good for that league and I think the league will be good for them.''
Scott said other teams on the move - those of the now disbanded Benalla and District League - had the potential to write their own stories
in their new homes this year.
After making do in a fiveteam league in past seasons, Scott said fresh competition had rekindled the passion for the game for those five teams - four of which have moved to the Ovens and King League, while Longwood has shifted to the Kyabram and District League.
Article by Matt Windley
Article first appeared Herald Sun, March 27th, 2010
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