The smallest Canberra club in the AFL Canberra competition is growing up. The Woden Blues will celebrate their 20th season by expanding to two teams to play in the AFL Canberra Division 3 and Division 5 competitions in 2015.
by Wayne Bennett
this article was originally published on www.yabba.guru
Formed in 1996 as an informal Marist Old Boys club, the Blues played 10 years in the old Monaro League and Div 4 competitions, culminating in Premierships in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Club moved up to Division 3 in 2005, and made the Preliminary Final in 2014, losing to eventually premiers Ainslie by less than a goal in a classic finish.
With changes in the AFL Canberra competition due to NEAFL restructures, President Russell Fort and coach Pete Davey knew after a meeting with the administration that they had to fast-track plans to expand in order to remain viable.
In a post season review, the playing group echoed the Committee’s thoughts “After a successful 2014 season, the club asked players and supporters for feedback on thing to improve around the football club. A strong response came back stating that players wanted to grow and have a second team. The committee challenged the 2014 playing group, and said “if you find the players, the committee will make it happen” .
Fort confirmed the main reasons for expansion as survival! “With a main core of our playing group serving 5 years+ at the club and the average age being 28, we needed to grow as a club an expand. Every year we have new players that arrive at pre-season. But, after some strong sessions, previously with only 1 team, many left to get a game at another club. We have proven that our culture around our club is at a very strong position and we knew that once players arrived, very few would want to leave’.
The concern with expansion was always going to be player availability, but the preseason numbers have coach Davey excited. “Since our initial pre-season session back in December, we’ve had 81 different people attend training. The most pleasing aspect of this is the competition it brings for spots. If we were picking two teams right now to play games on Saturday, we’d be fielding a highly capable and talented reserve team with players who either played at a higher level last year, or will be aiming to do so throughout the 2015 season. I don’t think any of us truly expected to be in this position when we committed to this venture four months ago.”
Davey’s goals for 2015 are realistic and based on a lifetime football, from the TAC cup to 160 senior games in Melbourne suburban competitions, ‘We made a preliminary final last year in Division Two but 2015 presents a new challenge with ANU and ADFA returning to our competition. We know we have to improve significantly to compete with them, as well as the likes of Molonglo who were clearly a class above the competition for the majority of last season. We are not setting our sights on a particular ladder position and the message I have given the playing list is that our goal is to simply play more competitive and more attractive football for longer periods of time.
The changes being implemented are demonstrating the ambitious goals with Fort setting his sights on further expansion. “Personally, I see the Woden Blues in 2020 having a strong connection with a junior football club, having a “partnership” relationship. The Blues still having a Division 1, 2 and a possibly Division 3 team. A great result we would look at is the possibility of playing a women’s side in the ever growing AFL Canberra Women’s competition. “
The Blues will also be celebrating their 20th season with a players reunion on 23rd of May, when they host Harman. The Gala Day will include a masters match for former players, entertainment for the kids before a function at the Canberra Irish Club to name the 2005-2014 Team of the Decade. All information on the function will be available at wodenblues.com.au
The Woden Blues are supported by The Canberra Irish Club in Weston, Extra Quality Meats in Phillip, Keystone Wealth and Canberra Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation.
- See more at: http://www.yabba.guru/woden-blues-growing-up-in-2015/#sthash.dUbF8DzZ.dpuf
Last Modified on 26/02/2015 13:40