Greenvale looks beyond addition of third open-age team with plans for Superules and women’s sides

A THIRD open-age team will be just the tip of the iceberg at Greenvale, according to club president Bruce Kent.

(L-R) Strathmore's Dwayne Reynolds (40) and Greenvale's Travis Smith (30). EDFL Football: Strathmore V Greenvale at Lebanon Reserve, Strathmore. Picture: Josie Hayden

A THIRD open-age team will be just the tip of the iceberg at Greenvale, according to club president Bruce Kent.

It comes after the Essendon and District Football League announced it would introduce a third open-age competition in 2015, revealing seven clubs had expressed interest, including Greenvale.

Kent said the Jets were open to more expansion within the next three years, with plans for a Superules side and a women’s team at Section Road.

“I was always of the view that, I think we can have five or six senior (open-age) teams, three or four senior teams, plus a Superules team, with the option of having a women’s team,” Kent said.

Greenvale was one of the first clubs to establish a second under-18 team, and Kent said creating a third open-age side would be an easier task for rival EDFL clubs.

“It’s been an enormous success for us,” Kent said.

“I would encourage all the clubs in the EDFL to have a go. There were a few knockers six or seven years ago when the second under-18 competition was introduced.

“I think it will be just as good, and in a sense, easier to do. With senior people, once they’re 18-and-a half, they’re senior.”

Kent said the third open-age side would encourage former juniors to return to playing football.

“This development division will give a lot of younger players the chance to play senior footy,” he said.

“What happens when you have a lot of juniors, and a lot of under-18s, is they’re not confident they’re able to make the reserves side, and they decide to retire.

“That’s very much the market we want to capture.

“It will perhaps give a game of footy to a lot of younger players who might not reach the heights of senior or reserves footy, but want to keep playing at the club.”

EDFL chief executive Mark Turri said the third open-age league would not become a breeding ground for new clubs.

Aberfeldie, Keilor, Craigieburn, Strathmore, Roxburgh Park and Westmeadows are the other clubs to express interest in joining the competition.

Kent said the club expected to have about 80 open-age players for 2015.