Jacana goes into recess for 2023

A suburban footy club, the home of AFL legend Bruce Doull, has become the fourth Victorian side in a matter of weeks to close its doors for the 2023 season.

JacanaÕs Ryan Mcconnell during the EDFL football match between Coburg Districts and Jacana in Pascoe Vale, Saturday, May 28, 2022. Picture: Andy Brownbill

A fourth Victorian local football club has shut its doors in a matter of weeks.

Jacana, which competes in the Essendon District Football League, has announced it will not field a senior or reserves side for the 2023 season.

In its history, Jacana has been a breeding grounds for some of the VFL/AFL’s most famous names including Carlton legend Bruce Doull, 1992 Brownlow medallist Scott Wynd and three-time Brisbane premiership hero Chris Johnson.

The Jags are one of several clubs — joining Corowa-Rutherglen (Ovens and Murray league), Rushworth (Kyabram District league) and Glen Waverley (Eastern league) — to have confirmed they would not be fielding teams this year.

It is the second time in less than five seasons, Jacana has been forced to close its doors.

Club officials informed the EDFL on Friday afternoon of its decision.

“It’s with deep regret that I inform the EDFL and Board that the Jacana Football Club will not be entering their senior side for season 2023,” the club said in a statement.

“We have tried our hardest to regain our senior side, but we had to be realistic in our decision to go into recess for this season 2023.”

The EDFL confirmed it was hopeful Jacana would re-join its competition for next year.

“The EDFL will continue to support Jacana through this process and in their recovery to rejoin the competition in season 2024,” a league statement said.

As recently as Monday this week, the club launched an “urgent call out for players” on its social media channels.

The Jags did not field any junior teams or a reserves side during the 2022 season.

When the club went into recess during the 2019 season, it had won its first senior premiership two years earlier.

A number of players departed in May 2019 just weeks after it forfeited a senior game.

A lack of players was one of the reasons for Corowa-Rutherglen, Rushworth and Glen Waverley sitting out this season.

Meanwhile, the Upper Murray league is pushing ahead with its own competition despite having just four sides.