WELCOME FROM THE SECRETARY. AFCA South East Committee Members: Executive: Welcome to our mid-year newsletter.

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1 WELCOME FROM THE SECRETARY Welcome to our mid-year newsletter. At this stage of the season we have all had wet feet for a couple of weeks and it is getting harder and harder to keep our players attending training regularly and fit to play. This is the toughest part of the season for most coaches and it is easy to lose faith in your players or feel like you re the only team that is short of numbers on Tuesday nights or has players taking off for overseas weddings and trips to the Snow. You are not alone! It is cold, wet and windy for everyone and numbers always drop off as the Melbourne winter weather gets worse. This is why now is a prime time to make sure what you are doing at training is relevant and keeping your players interested,especially for amateur clubs and clubs where players are un -paid or no longer have the chance to make finals. This is your chance to be inventive and to keep your club or team improving by working smarter not harder. Try an indoor session or 1000 touches out of the weather. Try alternative training by utilising local indoor centres or gyms or by using the clubrooms to run some sort of education session like tactics and team play, video review of your last game or utilising a Game mat to teach your positional expectations and zones on match day. It is hard to keep motivated when numbers are down but this is when your players need you the most so look at your fixtures and start planning. AFCA South East Committee Members: President - Bob Riddell Secretary Michael Roberts Treasurer- Ben O Brien Executive: Mark Wheeler (Regional Talent Manager) Ian Crowley (Development) Matt Jones (Schools) Brett Alexander (Female)

2 ROUND 10 - STINGRAYS WET WEATHER SPECIALISTS The Dandenong Southern Stingrays had a hard fought and controlling win over Gippsland Power by 25 points, which was played at Shepley Oval Dandenong on Sunday again in wet and slippery conditions. It was the return match where both clubs would be fighting for the Inaugural Car Megamart Cup, which the Stingrays stole in round 1 after being 49 points at one stage. With light drizzle forecasted for the day it was always going to be about who had the better start, with honours going to the Power who kicked the opening two goals before red-bearded hairy cat Taylor Joyce and Jayden Tomkins kicked the next two goals in the first quarter and one to Travis Young. The Stingrays wasted numerous opportunities when they got their hands on the ball and it took Stingrays Coach Craig Black to re-focus the group on being quicker out of the stoppages, also asking them to stop overusing the slippery pill at the quarter time break with the Stingrays holding a nervous 11 point lead. As soon as the siren it started to rain which turned the second quarter into a slug fest. The ball stayed inside the Stingrays half for a good period of time before Lachie Batten finally converted a much needed goal, but Gippsland quickly replied with a major straight from the bounce. First game player Jake Dipasquale got on the end of some very good inside mid work to kick his first goal in the TAC Cup which ignited the group and the defensive team of the Stingrays lifted all over the ground. Keegan Downie doing his best to be called up for the World Cup slid one through moments later. The ball then bounced between the arcs with both sides failing to penetrate the goals before Red Beard Joyce kicked truly after clunking a very impressive pack mark. As the half time siren sounded the Dandenong Stingrays had slightly increased their lead to 29 points, but the Gods were about to impose themselves on the game dumping a huge load of rain. As last week the game was Stingrays to lose with a slight lead they started the third quarter slowly as Gippsland went man on man across the ground making it a tough contested game. It paid dividends as they kicked the first two goals. Keegan Downie scrapped and fought hard to kick an opportunist goal which was followed by another to Joyce after a strong demanding lead was honored by the class of Harnett s courage and grunt work out of the stoppage but it was quickly answered from the Power who were just hanging in. Once again it became an arm wrestle with stoppage after stoppage before another first gamer Tom Stoffels found himself in the right place to slot one through and as the quarter was about to end Lachlan Williams managed to find the big sticks. As the siren sounded the Stingrays looked in control as the stronger bodies and cleaner skills were taking its toll on the younger Gippsland Power. The Stingrays went into the final quarter with a handy 35 point lead. The last quarter was all one way traffic with the Power doing most of the attacking but were denied many goals mainly due to the work of the back six especially Daylan Kempster and Kyle Gray. Alex Harnett and Sam Geurts grunt work was extraordinary all day, but as the heavens opened again their inside work and ability to keep their feet kept the Stingrays in the game with goals coming through Liam Myatt and Bailey Dale, who had spider like hands all day. A positive for the Power is they won the last quarter showing some real fight with the siren sounding the Stingrays making it 3 wins in row. Stingrays Coach Craig Black took positives from the game Our first half was the start we were after, making a point that Gippsland are a fast starting side. They really challenged us in the 3rd quarter and showed they wanted it more...but again even with 3 new players

3 added into the team the strength of this group was the willingness to refocus share the workload, which pleased me more than the win. He went on to say With 7 players in Vic Country and 3-4 very unlucky ones with injuries we have been tested, but stood tall. We (coaches) talk a lot to the playing group about opportunity and making sure if you get the chance to make sure you make the most of it. The Stingrays completed the challenge this year winning 2-0 and retain the Car Megamart Trophy until round Stingrays Talent Manager addressed the two groups and travelling family members and thanked Colin Watson Holden and Peter Caldwell from Car Megamart for their support of both Regions and looked forward to many years of bragging rights. DANDENONG SOUTHERN STINGRAYS TACKLE ROAD SAFETY IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA Dandenong Southern Stingrays are starring in a new road safety advertisement, in the TAC s latest push to prevent road accidents. A more informal approach this season is allowing the Stingrays under -18 players in AFL Victoria s TAC Cup competition, to talk road safety in an easier to understand language while in front of the camera. Stingrays Talent Manager Mark Wheeler said the videos follow the launch of the TAC, RACV and VicRoads Safer P-Platers campaign, which revealed Victorians are 30 times more likely to crash in the first six months they have their probationary licence, compared to when they were learning to drive. This figure acts as a strong reminder of how crucial it is for parents to keep acting as mentors for their kids once they get their Ps, Wheeler said. Even once drivers graduate from their Ls to Ps, the learning never stops. We are proud, along with all other TAC Cup clubs, to continue promoting road safety so that people are aware of the importance of safe driving. Dandenong s video centers around night driving and will be one of 12 TAC Cup ads uploaded to the TAC Cup Facebook page and on YouTube, with a prize on offer to the club whose clip attracts the most viewers online. The videos will also be shown on TAC Cup Future Stars this season, which airs at 1:00pm on Sundays from May 11 on Channel Nine and WIN TV. TAC Road Safety Project Coordinator Samantha Collins said each club s clip focuses on one of the nine topics covered in the TAC s Safer P-Platers campaign in their video, ranging from planning a way home on a night out to driving in adverse weather conditions. Other issues like coping with peer pressure, choosing a safe vehicle to buy and avoiding distractions such as mobile phones are all problems that young drivers face, Ms Collins said. All young drivers and their parents should head to for hints and tips to help them on the road. On top of the great work from TAC Cup clubs in promoting awareness, the TAC is determined reduce road trauma for young drivers. The TAC has sponsored AFL Victoria s TAC Cup competition since its

4 inception in 1992 which the Stingrays are a founding member, one of Australian sport s longest-running partnerships. VIC COUNTRY WINS NATIONAL INCLUSION CARNIVAL Vic Country has taken out the inaugural FIDA National Inclusion Carnival for footballers with an intellectual disability. The country lads turned the tables on Vic Metro in the final after going down to the favourites earlier in the carnival. Footballers from the AFL South East Region were well represented in both teams. The players from Cranbourne Eagles who represented Vic Country were Brett Styles, Gareth Alsem and Jason Vagg, while the Vic Metro representatives were Allen Almarinez and Dave Alford from Kananook. BONBEACH RECEIVE $100K CFNP GRANT Bonbeach FNC has been awarded a $100K grant as part of the Country Football Netball Program, which is a joint initiative of AFL Victoria Country, Netball Victoria and the State Government. Minister of Sport and Recreation, Damian Drum made the announcement at the Bonbeach Recreation Reserve today. The grant will form part of a funding pool which will see a $2m redevelopment of the Bonbeach Recreation Reserve pavillion undertaken, with the City of Kingston to provide the bulk of the funding allocation. AFL South East Football Development Manager Ben O'Brien said access to the additional funding as part of the CFNP was a small but important aspect of bringing such projects to reality. "Clubs may think they have only a remote chance of accessing grants such as this allocation, however this project is proof that a consolidated approach from all stakeholders can achieve significant results", O'Brien said. The CFNP component will enable the development to incorporate unisex change rooms, improve umpire, first-aid and storage areas and accommodate a lift for improved accessibility to the upstairs social rooms.

5 RETENTION CRITICAL AS JUNIOR TO SENIOR TRANSITION REVIEW CONTINUES As the working party established to facilitate the review into junior to senior transition in the region continues its discussions, AFL South East will in the coming weeks hold club consultation meetings. These meetings will be designed to share some of the data and analysis that has been assessed by the working party and provide clubs the opportunity to share their experiences, thoughts and initiatives. The challenge of keeping players in the game through the age range of is not a new phenomenon and one that requires constant review, assessment and proactivity. It is accepted that the jump from junior football to a senior club environment and also the jump from underage grades to open aged football are some of the most confronting aspects of a player s football journey. These aspects also arrive at a time of dramatic change and in a young person s life as major decisions on their future are made. At this stage of the review, retention data from the MPJFL, FDJFL, Nepean and Peninsula FNL s has highlighted an alarming and ultimately unsustainable retention rate. In the MPJFL, 40% of players are walking away from the game all together once they have completed U16s. Assessment of these players shows invariably they have been long term participants with many competing in well over 100 games. In the Nepean FNL, 43% of players completing their time in the U18s are walking away from the game and not registering for senior football. The combination of these two figures amounts to 180 footballers between the age of 17 to 19 walking away from the game that s just from the MPJFL / Nepean area. The Frankston area paints a very similar picture. 36% of players completing U16 football in the FDJFL have not registered to play anywhere in 2014; the average across all Victorian Country leagues is 24%. Alarmingly however, 55% of those no longer eligible for U18s in the Peninsula FNL have not registered to play in Therefore, only 45% of players finishing U18s are moving into the senior grades (Reserves and Seniors). Once again, the combination of those lost to the game at these two critical points amount to 157 and if we combine the Mornington Peninsula and the Frankston regions, that s a massive 337 players between the ages of 17 to 19 no longer participating. As a region, we simply cannot continue to lose these numbers. What can be done? Well, that s what the Review and the working party continue to work through. Players who have not registered in 2014 are currently being surveyed and the results from that will no doubt shed some light on those decisions. Structural discussions will also take place in the coming weeks and the club consultation meetings (details released shortly) will provide another opportunity to discuss this in more detail. It is hoped that recommendations around the way forward be released by August. However, being such a critical issue, the Review Panel will maintain a priority on due diligence over expediting a decision.

6 CARNIVAL CONCLUDES - MPJFL AND FDJFL SHINE The Subway Dandenong Junior Interleague Carnival concluded over the Queen s Birthday weekend, with the Mornington Peninsula JFL coming out on top in the U14 and U16 age divisions and Frankston District JFL took out the U15 division. The win for the MPJFL at U16 level was significant as it was their first win at this level in this carnival format since inception over ten years ago. Scoring for the carnival consisted of the following formula: - 2 points were awarded for each quarter won - 2 points were awarded for the winner of the match - If the points were equal, percentage would then determine the winner of the carnival. The final standings are below: U16s Points For Against % MPJFL DRJFL FDJFL SEJ U15s Points For Against % Frankston Dandenong Ranges Mornington U14s Points For Against % Mornington Frankston Dandenong Ranges KEEP YOUR COOL RECEIVES WARM RECEPTION The first ever 'Keep Your Cool' Round, which was held last Sunday (May 25) in the MPJFL, has been labelled a huge success. Players across the league donned blue armbands and headbands as umpires waved blue flags to reinforce the message that football is for fun. The 'Keep Your Cool' Foundation was established late in the 2013 season after unsavoury incidents in local junior football threaten the atmosphere and enjoyment for parents and participants alike. Although rare, incidents of poor

7 behaviour from players and parents can ruin the experience for the clear majority of those engaged in the sport for the fun and the love of the game. Across the Mornington Peninsula, players who exhibited the best display of sportsmanship and team play were awarded special medals, awarded by their opposition club. Players and umpires donned blue paraphernalia and giveaways around the ground ensured parents also carried the message. 'Keep Your Cool' Foundation Chair Wendy Hanrahan described the support and acceptance of the campaign by the clubs as phenomenal. "The clubs have really embraced the concept and we have had tremendous examples being feed back to us of how the message is having an impact. Unacceptable behaviour is being dealt with quickly and what an absolute joy it is to watch kids having fun and enjoying this great game". League President Andrew Souter has announced that the round will be an annual event on the league fixture and will look to build on activities around it. He also stated that the League will continue to work closely with KYC to roll out education programs within the clubs throughout the year. FDJFL GIRLS COMPETITIONS UP AND RUNNING Following an extraordinary response to expressions of interest, the Frankston District Junior Football League in conjunction with AFL South East is excited to announce the commencement of its Junior Girls and a Youth Girls Competition. Both divisions will be played over a 10 round season with the Junior Girls Division being aimed at players aged 9 to 13 and the Youth Girls aimed at players aged 14 to 18. Within the Junior Girls Division will be a team from Rosebud JFC (MPJFL) and a combined team, made of players from various FDJFL clubs that didn t have the numbers to field a team in their own right. The other clubs fielding teams in Junior Girls include Seaford JFC, Mt Eliza JFC and Langwarrin JFC. Clubs fielding teams within the Youth Girls Division include Seaford JFC, Mt Eliza JFC, Langwarrin JFC, Edithvale-Aspendale JFC and Frankston Rovers. In announcing the structure of the two divisions, FDJFL President Stuart Mason described the response to female football in the region as mind-blowing. To think that at the start of this year we had one club coming to us saying they wanted to do this and now we have ten teams, two competitions and

8 hundreds of girls ready to take the field is just mind-blowing, Mason said. All credit goes to the clubs for driving the initiative within their communities. AFL South East Region General Manager Jeremy Bourke described the inauguration as exciting and progressive. To have ten teams enter the first year is very impressive. When discussions were first held, we were hopeful of attracting enough players to field 3 or 4 teams. It just shows there is an appetite for female football on the Peninsula and with further promotion and development, this has the potential, in a very short period of time, to be one of the leading female programs in the country. The announcement regarding a start date for the Junior and Youth Girls comes on the back of the selection of 3 girls from the MPJFL in the Vic Metro Girls U18 Team, who competed in the U18 National Carnival being staged in Canberra from May 4-9. Georgia Walker and Lizzie Muir from the MPJFL Youth Girls Team (which competes in the South East Juniors) and Jordy Allen from Rye U14s were selected for the carnival which again demonstrates the talent that exists within the region. SEVEN STINGRAYS SELECTED IN U16 VIC COUNTRY SQUAD Seven members of the Dandenong Stingrays U16 squad have been selected in the initial U16 Vic Country squad. All three leagues in the region (MPJFL, FDJFL & SEJ) are represented which highlights the strength of our local competitions. The players selected are: Liam McKay - Edithvale Aspendale JFC Reece Piper - Cranbourne JFC Max Kleverkamp - Sorrento JFC Tom Agar - Doveton FC Josh Battle - Doveton FC Luke Dalmau - Somerville JFC Ben Graham - Chelsea JFC The selected players will now head into a series of training camps and trial matches in preparation for the National U16 Championships to be played on the Gold Coast from July 5 through to July 11. AFL South East would like to congratulate these players on their selection and wish them all the best through the selection process and the carnival itself.