WRFL 2019: Winless Albion struggling for players in Division 1

The Albion Football Club is on its knees but determined not to be knocked out after issuing a desperate call out for more senior players.

Albion WRFL champion Jason Butina in action. Picture: Local Legends Photography

The Albion Football Club is on its knees but determined not to be knocked out.

The Cats have been fodder for their opposition in WRFL Division 1 this season, suffering three triple-figure defeats in as many games in an alarming run of results.

Albion is languishing in last spot on the ladder with a paltry percentage of 11.11, but league chief executive Matthew Duck remains confident it will see out the season despite last week issuing a call out for more senior players.

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The club has fielded senior and reserves sides in all three rounds and Duck noted it was not alone in struggling to find players to fill the seconds.

“They’re clearly doing it tough at the moment, but they’re a resilient club,” Duck said.

“We did have some discussions with the club in the back end of last year in regards to its divisional place and ultimately the club had avoided relegation, met its financial requirements and had a pretty strong desire to remain in Division 1, which was a desire expressed by the committee and playing group alike.

“Clearly, the club’s had some challenges over the off-season and has struggled on the field so far, but the resolve of the committee hasn’t wavered and they’re determined to see it out.

“We’re in daily dialogue with the club in continued efforts to try and bolster the playing numbers, more so across the twos.

“But we’re all in it together and encouraged by the way they are sticking fat and are looking to see out the season. Then we’ll re-assess from there.”

Albion has claimed four Division 1 premierships, the latest coming in 2010.

Albion and Spotswood do battle in the 2011 WRFL grand final.

The Cats have found it difficult to compete against the competition’s power clubs in recent years but have avoided relegation to Division 2.

They have had a tough draw so far, losing games to flag contenders Werribee Districts (by 188 points), Spotswood (166 points) and Deer Park (230 points).

Albion will meet last year’s Division 2 premier and fellow winless club Point Cook at home this weekend.

Asked if there was a risk the Cats would not complete the season, Duck said: “You can never be completely categoric around such things but certainly we’ve got a lot of confidence in the amount of work that both committee and playing group alike are putting into it.”

Duck said Albion’s committee and playing group remained “resolute”.

“They’re acutely aware that the next four months are bound to be pretty tough, but I guess any club with a 60-year history has probably faced something similar at some point,” he said.

“They acknowledge the real question here is how they respond. They’re responding really well.

“We’re confident that they’ll see out the season, and once it gets to season’s end we can look at where they’re best placed for 2020.

“They’ve been around for 59 years and all but two of those years have been in Division 1.

“It understood that sometimes when you move down it can be really difficult to get back up there.”

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