Western Border highlights importance of grassroots level sport

Western Border Season Launch Dsc 2256  TBW Newsgroup
READY TO PLAY: North Gambier's Macey Griffith (back left), Western Border Netball Association president Jo Gibbs, Bendigo Bank representative Tracy Koop, Western Border Junior Football League president Luke Norman, East Gambier's Lillie Lamb (front left), Millicent's Lenny Tunkin, South Gambier's Liam Salmon and West Gambier's Brodie Szopory launch the 2020 Western Border junior football and netball seasons. Picture: THOMAS MILES

Western Border Season Launch Dsc 2256 TBW Newsgroup
READY TO PLAY: North Gambier’s Macey Griffith (back left), Western Border Netball Association president Jo Gibbs, Bendigo Bank representative Tracy Koop, Western Border Junior Football League president Luke Norman, East Gambier’s Lillie Lamb (front left), Millicent’s Lenny Tunkin, South Gambier’s Liam Salmon and West Gambier’s Brodie Szopory launch the 2020 Western Border junior football and netball seasons. Picture: THOMAS MILES

AS sport ramps up in the Limestone Coast, junior Western Border football and netball players are about to join in the fun.

The Bendigo Bank Junior Series kicks off as a stand-alone competition on July 18 for the football and the following week for netball.

The football competition will range from Under 12s through to Under 18s, with five grades in the Under 12s.

All will be played on a Saturday where possible, with the Under 18s taking the prime spot normally occupied by theĀ A Grade games.

“It will be a fun day of football,” Western Border senior president Michael Summers said.

“Under 18s will start about 2.30-3pm in the premier spot.

“We wanted to give them a good coverage.

“Netball will start around 9am and finish about lunch time.”

Netball boasts three grades – Under 13s, 15s and 17s.

It will provide a huge day of sport on a Saturday, with the only exception being a possible clash with the new Limestone Coast Football League.

“Junior football will not be played on Sundays unless there is a clash with the Super League,” Summers said.

“We have extra ovals to cater for the games.

“Most clubs have two grounds apart from North.

“West will play over the back on the cricket oval, South at the hockey oval and East and Millicent have two grounds.”

Unfortunately plans to have Casterton Sandford join the competition later have been cut due to the recent coronavirus spike in Victoria.

“We did hope Casterton could join us after July 20, but with the borders shut down again they will not be joining us” Summers said.

“That is unfortunate.”

The season will run through to September 26 when the top side will play the second side for the overall honours.

Along with the games, restrictions will be further eased before kick off, which will allow for the use of showers, canteen and bar facilities, plus unlimited crowds at games.

Summers said he was pleased to see the juniors going ahead.

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for the development of the juniors,” he said.

“With the restrictions lifted it will be good for the juniors and good for the clubs.

“We are really excited about it.”

Final draws are currently being worked through to allow for those clubs which do not have teams in all grades and are expected to be released next week.