Ballarat Football Netball League looks to expand juniors

As football competitions around the state struggle with numbers, one is defying the odds with plans in place to expand.

The success of a new club has the Ballarat league already exploring the opportunity to introduce more clubs.

Last year, Woady Yaloak became the 13th affiliated with the competition, joining officially taking part on a trial basis for the past several years.

In their first official season, the Warriors will field five teams (two under-9s, two under-11s and one under-13s).

In netball, the team is fielding three teams.

“We’re excited about the teams they have been able to commit for this year, which is beyond what we expected,” Ballarat Football Netball League general manager Shane Anwyl said.

“They’ll have five junior teams up and running in football, which is a fantastic effort for them out there.”

Woady Yaloak juniors Oliver Chattenton and Oscar Condor. Picture: Woady Yaloak.

Woady Yaloak is based near Haddon and Smythesdale, west of Ballarat, and are part of a major growth corridor in the region.

Meanwhile the suburb of Lucas, north of Haddon and Smythesdale, has been created in the past decade and a half to capture the growth of the city.

According to the latest census figures, Ballarat gained 17,000 new residents between 2016 and 2021.

Anwyl said the club was perfect for what the BFNL is trying to do to achieve growth out there.

“The west corridor of Ballarat is the primary growth area, which takes in Lucas of course, which has moved in recent times,” he said.

“The growth will continue further out west of Ballarat towards that Haddon Smythesdale region which is where Woady Yaloak is based.

“That’s why it’s good for them to get a foothold early. We’re going to see them grow and see them develop.”

But the BFNL is not stopping there with building the competition.

The league admits in juniors it is currently experiencing growth beyond what it can handle with the current clubs in the competition who are based in Ballarat.

And Woady Yaloak has provided proof more expansion could help with dealing with it.

Ballarat currently has eight junior clubs based in the city including Redan, Sebastopol, Mount Clear, Ballarat Swans, North Ballarat, East Point, Lake Wendouree and Woady Yaloak.

Anwyl said most junior grades clubs are at capacity, having 50 names registered for their two teams in most grades.

“Our competitions are at capacity and we are looking at how to cater for expanding our competition so that we can have the ability so that every child who wants to play to be able to play,” he said.

“Particularly in the under-9, under-11 and under-13 grades — most of the clubs are full so they are turning players away.

“We’re in the middle of a strategic review of our junior competition, which was started last year by a consultancy group and we hope to have that finalised by mid year.

“It will provide a road map as to how the competition grows to cater for growth.”

Anwyl said all options were on the table.

“New clubs are certainly on the radar moving forward because we need to cater for growth,” he said.

“What we need to work on is how do we allow those kids who are missing out at a particular club having the access to play.

“It’s about reviewing our current structure. The cap system has worked pretty extremely well for the past 10-15 years.

“It’s now part of the overall strategic review to work out whether it is still the best way forward or whether we look at growth through new clubs or growth through expanded teams and grades.

“It’s all about maximising the ability for kids to participate.”

Originally published as Ballarat Football Netball League looks to expand juniors