THE Wakool Football Netball Club will not field any teams in the Golden Rivers Football League during 2016 – two seasons after the club won the competition’s senior premiership.
A lack of senior and reserves players forced club management to pull the pin on this season, giving the league and the eight remaining clubs ample time to prepare alternative arrangements.
More than 60 people attended a town meeting on Monday to receive an update on the club’s situation.
The club will continue to hold its social functions during the year, with the goal to return to the competition in 2017.
“We’re still going to operate as a club. We’ll still have our dinners and club social functions as usual; we just won’t celebrate a win or drown our sorrows; that’s all,” the club’s vice-president, Anne Hamilton said.
“It is important that we stay positive and face future challenges head on and together as a community.”
The club had made a public appeal for more players earlier this month after up to 10 recruits from another club chose not to fulfil contractual agreements.
“It is disappointing to not be able to go ahead for the 2016 season especially when we have a new eager committee with lots of fresh ideas, the club is in a financially stable position and we had appointed a well-respected coach,” Ms Hamilton said.
The club’s football committee will work with AFL Central Murray and its football development manager, Jamie Macri to help develop and implement strategies to keep locals involved in football.
“I admire the Wakool Football Netball Club for acknowledging their situation early and making this decision,” AFL Central Murray chairman, Alan Mitchell said.
“Wakool has a young and vibrant community trying to resurrect the club, who realise that the loss of a football and netball side means a key cog of the community is gone.”
The club will continue to run its regular social function, as well as major events – the six-a-side Australia Day competition, the fishing classic, sheep races and black tie ball – throughout the year as a way of keeping the club going in readiness for a 2017 on-field resumption.
Club personnel will also attend Golden Rivers Football League meetings during the year to keep the remaining clubs updated on how things are progressing.
“While we’re down for 2016 season we’re not out. During the next 12 months we are determined to do all we can to be up and flying again in 2017,” Ms Hamilton said.
