Two former AFL players have lent their names to Keon Park’s bid to return to the senior ranks
A whole community felt the loss when Keon Park was forced to abandon senior competition 27 years ago. Now a pair of AFL veterans is behind a passionate campaign to reform their seniors.
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A working group comprising two AFL greats has set itself the task of reforming Keon Park Football Club 27 years after it was left without a competition to compete in.
The club has not fielded senior sides since 1992, when the Panton Hill Football League ceased operations.
The group has now secured support from AFL Victoria and is holding initial discussions with the Northern Football League.
Essendon premiership player Gary Moorcroft and two-time Collingwood best and fairest Paul Licuria, who were both Keon Park juniors, are part of the revival bid.
A Facebook page — Who wants Keon Park Football Club back in 2021 or 2022? — was created in October to gather interest for the project and has reached nearly 400 likes.
Jason McCall, a former Keon Park player and club volunteer, created the working group in the hope of seeing his old side return to the field.
“It is a big job. I was 15 back in the club’s last year, and I was fortunate to play a few senior games for them in that year, my Dad and my uncles played for the club and to me it was a big deal to be a part of Keon Park,” he said.
“Ultimately, our aim is to not only just try and build this club again but to also rebuild the Keon Park community.
“It’s had its downfalls in the last few years especially, but it really is a great community with great people and hopefully this project can help get people involved and bring this community together.”
McCall said the support of two former AFL players provided a significant boost for the project.
“The junior club has been really fortunate to have had a number of guys playing league football and for such a small club, it has been fantastic to see players like Gary and Paul go on to have great careers,” he said.
“Talking with both these guys about their opinions and plans on the project have been great, and for them to want to put their name behind it and to see how far we can get this going is a real confidence-booster for all of us.”
McCall said the coming months would be crucial to ensure a senior team is a possibility in the near future.
“We’ve spoken to the council and they are really excited, they want to maximise the facilities at Donath Reserve, especially with the juniors and the cricket club,” he said.
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“AFL Victoria are 100 per cent behind us and they want to give us the best possible chance of this project getting off the ground and we (have assured) them that this will be a long-term and sustainable project.
“In terms of the next 6-12 months, if we can get all the strategic and financial planning completed as well as a respectable junior group, we can be on our way to achieve great things.”
Along with senior teams, Keon Park hopes to develop a women’s arm and boost its junior ranks.
Works on J.C. Donath Reserve have also been discussed, as well as getting the club involved in school programs and other community groups.
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