Young Penola footballers train hard in preparation for competition

Ben Wurst Dsc 6041  TBW Newsgroup
GAME READY: Penola junior footballers have enjoyed the return to the training track over the last two weeks, with the club's junior football president Ben Wurst saying all has run smoothly under the COVID-19 restrictions so far. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

Ben Wurst Dsc 6041 TBW Newsgroup
GAME READY: Penola junior footballers have enjoyed the return to the training track over the last two weeks, with the club’s junior football president Ben Wurst saying all has run smoothly under the COVID-19 restrictions so far. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

PENOLA’S junior footballers have continued to show enthusiasm towards a return to play, as they prepare for the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League junior competition.

The young Eagles have now had two weeks on the training track and were expected to have received their playing strips at a jumper presentation last night, according to Penola junior football president Ben Wurst.

Speaking to KNTFL junior football president Will Malone yesterday it was revealed the competition can be expected to kick off in less than three weeks.

“We are starting on the 18th of July and finishing on the 26th of September,” he said.

The competition will involve eight teams in both the senior and junior colts, with the draw currently being finalised by the league.

“Unfortunately Kaniva and Border Districts are not going to be involved due to the complications with the border restrictions,” Malone said.

“They decided in the last week – we left it as late as possible, but as things have turned out is probably getting stricter rather than less strict.”

It is hoped to play a full round – plus some – over the shortened season, with a reformatted finals series aimed at providing players with the most game time.

“With our finals series we are going to have a top four and bottom four and play off over two weekends,” Malone said.

“The top four will play off in Div 1 and the bottom four will play off in Div 2, then on the final weekend there will be two grand finals for each age group.

“It will get as many kids playing for as long as possible in the shortened season.”

Due to frequent byes in a regular season, Malone said it is likely teams will not play too many less games, just in a more confined timeline.

From a Penola point of view, Wurst said training has so far been going well for both the senior and junior colts.

“The boys are still out training and it is all going really well in that regard,” he said.

“Just being able to manage the COVID-19 safety requirements is a bit tricky, but it is nothing to stop us.”

Wurst said there are several protocols which have made training sessions more time-consuming, but they are a necessary.

“There is a bit of paperwork with contact tracing and sterilisation of the equipment and so on,” he said.

“That involves sanitising before and after training of hands and everything.

“It is not too bad though and it is definitely workable at the moment.”

It is a small price to pay to provide the Penola youngsters an opportunity to catch up with their mates on the football field.

“It is as much about the social side as anything – about the boys getting together and having a good time,” Wurst said.

However, while the training track is a good chance to socialise and work on basic skills, the Penola youngsters are no doubt champing at the bit to match up against rival clubs in a game situation.

“There is nothing like the competitive instinct that games bring and being able to develop in that way in game scenarios is the best way for the boys to learn and get better,” Wurst said.