JUNIOR football in the region is set to go under the microscope with AFL Western District inviting clubs to have their say in a review.
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The region commission will be canvassing feedback from Hampden and Warrnambool and District league clubs as junior football structures strive to catch up with a changing landscape.
A review committee has been established, with former Terang Mortlake coach Matthew Irving named as chairman.
Daniel Meade is deputy chairperson, and Shane Bell, Clarkson Ray and Gerard Auld round out the committee.
AFL Western District commission chairman Greg Wood said a survey would be made available to clubs next week, with the opportunity for club representatives to make written submissions or present to the committee in person at one of two meetings that will be held in Warrnambool and the Terang/Camperdown area.
“It’s been 14 or 15 years since we’ve done a review extensively and the demographics have changed,” Wood said.
“We’ve set up a committee to do it and we’ll be canvassing widely. We’re trying to be as broad as we can.”
The review will cover a wide range of range of topics, including:
- Player numbers
- Preferred playing day options for junior football
- Best fit top-age level for clubs
- Losing juniors to other clubs
- Inducements in junior football
- Player points for clubs
- Coaches at junior level
- Permit agreements
- Any other topic clubs choose to raise
Wood said the commission hoped to have all the information it required by the end of October.
Since the region’s most recent major review, there had been some significant changes in the area, including Hamilton Kangaroos and Portland joining the Hampden league from the Western Border league.
Hamilton Kangaroos president John Pepper welcomed the review, saying his club had taken a proactive approach to juniors.
The Kangaroos have entered under 16 football and under 12 netball teams in the Hampden Sunday competition and taken on the administration of the Hamilton junior competition this year.
Pepper said the Roos had made alterations to the running of the Hamilton junior competition.
"We've had some teething problems, but overall it's going OK," he said.
"(AFL Western District's) Jock Whiting tells us it's something which hasn't been done before and other associations are looking at it to see how it works."