Ararat and District Junior Football Association secretary Meg Harrington said the association’s seven-person committee had worked through ‘a big process’ to ensure the competition was viable for 2024.
“We were supposed to start on April 14, and the guidelines were released in March, so it was right at the pointy end of pre-season,” she said.
“We’d begun training and allocated players, and all the kids had been sized for jumpers.
“We decided to postpone the start of the season because we wanted to make an informed decision and try to communicate it to the families.
“Our committee voted in favour of allowing families to use the exemption form as a means of assessing whether kids could be approved to play.
“We had an evening where we assessed each player and then we were able to start the season.”
Ms Harrington thanked AFL Wimmera Mallee region manager Ange Ballinger for helping the association to remain complaint with AFL guidelines.
Ms Ballinger said she was ‘delighted’ the competition was able to commence.
“It’s very different to what we’ve done in the past and it’s been very challenging and emotional for a lot of people, so I congratulate their board for working with me to find a way forward,” she said.
Ms Ballinger said she would meet with administrators of the Stawell junior competition this week as they planned its comeback in 2025.
“I’m hoping the work Ararat and District Junior committee have done and their understanding of the policy and exemptions work might provide some comfort to the Stawell board moving forward,” she said.
In the interim, Ms Ballinger said AFL Victoria would offer a 10-week Superkick program on Friday nights in Stawell.
Superkick is a modified tackle-free introduction to football that Ms Ballinger said would allow all players from ages eight to 13 to be insured.
The cost of the program will be $40 a child, discounted from $85.
“AFL Wimmera Mallee is 100 percent supporting football opportunities in Stawell and the region, and until we can create a new plan for the Stawell under-13s next year, we’ll hop in there to provide a cheap and good program for the kids in Stawell so they don’t miss out,” Ms Ballinger said.
“For those families who are not yet ready to follow a community club, we want to make sure there is still that Friday night offering that has always been there and we expect will be there again next year.”
The City of Ararat announced it would also allow girls Auskick and Superkick programs to use the new Gordon Street Reserve Oval on Wednesdays.
People can register for the girls Auskick competition at www.playhq.com/afl/register/d4cc01 and the Superkick competition at www.playhq.com/afl/register/c478bf.
Ms Harrington thanked the Ararat community for supporting the committee’s efforts to continue junior competition.
“It’s been a lot. We’re all just mums and dads or grandparents, trying to navigate the system and do our best,” she said.
“Sometimes it’s important for young kids to make a social connection when they’re at schools with not many kids and looking at coming into secondary school.
“That’s also what drove us to work hard. Yes, it is football, but sometimes it’s more than football.”
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