VAFA 2021: ‘Extraordinary’ injury list forces Bulleen Templestowe to forfeit seniors and reserves

A proud VAFA club stretched to “breaking point” had to pull out of its senior and reserve matches on the weekend.

Bulleen Templestowe pictured in action in 2018. Picture: AAP/James Ross

A proud VAFA Division 2 club crippled by injury had to forfeit its senior and reserve grade matches on Saturday.

Bulleen Templestowe was due to play Melbourne High School Old Boys (MHSOB) as local football returned to Melbourne’s suburbs – but an “extraordinary injury list” forced it to pull out of both matches.

Bullants president Russell Wallis on Saturday informed members and supporters of the decision, describing it as a “very sad day in our proud clubs (sic) history”.

“Unfortunately the current circumstances stretched us to breaking point this week and, with player welfare in mind, we could not in good conscience put a make shift (sic) side on the field,” Wallis said in a letter to supporters.

In recent weeks the club has had to call on 50-year-olds and long-retired players to help field teams.

It has also started with just 16 players in the reserves “a couple of times” this season.

Speaking this morning, Wallis detailed the depth of his club’s injury list, and believes 2020’s non-season has played a part.

“This year has just been horrendous in terms of injuries, and everything else COVID-related. It just got too much for us,” Wallis said.

“We’ve had a broken shoulder and a lacerated liver, several broken fingers and a couple of knees … but I’m sure that having the year away has had an impact.

“Players’ timing is out just that little bit, their bodies have had the year off.

“I don’t want to go into specific names, but we would have six of our definite walk-up first 10 players that are out, and three of the top 12 have been playing with niggling injuries for several weeks, just because of the length of our injury list.

“In a normal year they would have had a couple of weeks off, but it hasn’t been possible.

“We’ve got more than enough registered numbers to field two teams, but for the injuries. We’ve always been a strong club in terms of stepping up and helping out when needed.”

Wallis said he was optimistic his club would field the senior and reserve teams for the rest of the season, but at a stretch.

“We’ll still be light on numbers, I don’t think we’ll be fielding 22 in the reserves, but I’m optimistic that we’ll have two teams this weekend,” he said.

The Bullants’ boss thanked the VAFA for being ‘’very supportive”, along with MHSOB, which, he said, was understanding of the situation.

Bulleen Templestowe sits 10th on the ladder with a 0-7 record and is scheduled to play Aquinas away this weekend.

VAFA president George Voyage said Bulleen Templestowe, formed in the 1970s, was a proud club and had played in the A grade section in the 1980s.

VAFA president George Voyage. Picture: VAFA

He said the association was backing the Bullants and would assess how it could help them.

Voyage said Bulleen Templestowe was surrounded by clubs from other leagues and had lost players to them.

He said COVID had also played a part in thinning numbers.

“What they do have is a really good junior program, so that should be able to assist them moving forward,’’ Voyage said.

“They need some stability. But what I do know is they wouldn’t have taken this step (of forfeiting matches) unless it was absolutely necessary.’’

Bulleen Templestowe has an impressive roll-call of league footballers, including Steven Clark (Essendon, Melbourne and St Kilda) and Stephen James (Richmond).

Dean Matthews, one of its greatest players, also played one senior match for St Kilda and is on the board of the VAFA.