New girls’ division set to debut

 

By Zach Hope

December 16 2010

Shepparton News

Goulburn North East Football Association will debut an under-14 girls' division next season to provide a third tier of girls' and women's competition.

The open women's division is to remain unchanged, but the under-15s will now become under-16.

Association president Frank Trimboli said the introduction of the under-14s at Tuesday night's club delegates' meeting had the intention of providing a greater pathway through to senior ranks and encouraging junior girls to become involved in the league at an earlier age.

He said not all clubs were enthusiastic about the change, but that it was important they now accepted the decision and started working towards getting their respective teams organised.

"Half (the clubs) are behind it; half are a bit slack. But they've got to work harder," he said.

"They have to facilitate the game for the community, not just run a club.

"I said to the clubs `you've got four months notice, so start working on it'.

"By the first of March they have to clarify their entries, so we can formulate the draw."

The fielding of senior men's teams was another issue discussed at the meeting with Benalla and Kyabram - two clubs missing from this season's top division - pledging to do their best to fill a team next year.

Numurkah, which went winless this season, has also recommitted its senior team to another season.

Trimboli said every club intended to field a team in every division (except for Kialla in the girls' and women's categories), eliminating the need for the excessive byes loathed by clubs in last season's draw.

Trimboli said the ex-radius player rule may be modified before the start of the season, but warned clubs opposed to it not to get too excited about any sweeping changes.

"It might be modified, but I don't think it will be changed too much," he said.

"It will be made clearer. The current rules are too ambiguous.

"We went around and had an open discussion (at the meeting) and we have to rectify some things.

"We tried to have it out before Christmas, but I don't think we'll have it out to the clubs until probably January."

In other news from the meeting, Trimboli said it was decided last season's finals and grand final format would remain largely unchanged and that the Queen's birthday and Easter weekends would be the season's only general byes.

It was also announced David Quinn would spearhead the association's website, while experienced soccer administrator George Angelopoulos would help the board on a consultative basis with issues of governance.