Mitchell Park Football Club vows to fight on despite losing more than 60 players in off-season

MITCHELL PARK Football Club is confident it can survive beyond this year despite a pre-season player exodus that has reduced the Lions to one team.

MITCHELL PARK Football Club is confident it can survive beyond this year despite a pre-season player exodus that has reduced the Lions to one team.

Lions president Ken Kelsall estimates the division six amateur league club lost more than 60 players after winning an A-grade flag in 2012 — many to retirement.

It has struggled to recruit replacements, leaving it with about 35 players.

It has led to Mitchell Park withdrawing its B grade this season and Flinders University, which has also lost dozens of players, fielding its only side in division six reserves in the Lions’ place.

Kelsall hoped the club would have two senior teams again next year.

“Essentially we went from a playing list of about 100 to having 50-odd retirements,” he said. “Having that agreement with Flinders benefits both clubs ... so we can be bigger and stronger next year.”

Kelsall said recruiting was becoming more difficult because many players were chasing money or success elsewhere.

He also said younger players were struggling to commit to the sport for work or lifestyle reasons.

But he believed the Lions could build their stocks in coming seasons by promoting the club and retaining their juniors.

“We’ve got plans in place ... and have a group together to look at what other clubs have done and what’s been successful,” he said.

“We’ve got a very strong junior program but at that age it’s going to be another five or six years before those boys come on into the seniors.”