Glenorchy Gazette MARCH 2022 29
Sport
Magpies set to swoop on upcoming season AFTER a busy summer off the field, the Glenorchy District Football Club is set to swoop on season 2022. In the off-season the Magpies were thrilled to welcome former Premiership coach Aaron Cornelius back to the nest. The club’s on-field prospects are looking promising, with the signing of Will Brohm from Ocean Grove in Victoria and Blake Waight from University Football Club, and the continued contributions of two-time Best and Fairest winner Ben Kamaric. The women’s team is also well into pre-season training as it looks to repeat its success in
2021, when it won both the SFL and State Women’s Premierships. A number of other players, coaches, volunteers and supporters have also been welcomed to the club, along with a new sponsor - international physiotherapy group Kieser. GDFC president John McCann said 2022 was an exciting year on and off the field for the club, with many young and emerging Magpies likely to get their opportunity in both men’s and women’s football. “The club has regular involvement in many lives,” he said, “including families associated with football, community outreach, bingo, and
many other sporting clubs from a range of codes and community groups and partners that use our new facilities at KGV. “It is important that more of our large supporter base become members in 2022 to enjoy the benefits of the club, while helping the club to invest in a healthy future for our children and youth.” Member for Elwick and Magpies supporter Josh Willie said he was excited about the year ahead. “I’m most proud of the Glenorchy Football Club because of its positive culture and its strong involvement in the local community,” he said.
L-R: New recruit Will Brohm, Josh Willie MLC, Tom Cleary and club president John McCann
“Glenorchy is more than a footy club - it is part of the social fabric of the northern suburbs. “I’m sure with the
positive direction off the field, success will be reflected on the field in 2022 and I wish them all the best.” Club memberships
are available at KGV and from www. glenorchymagpies.org. au The 2022 State League fixture was
recently released, with teams to play every other team three times across 21 rounds, before a three-week, four-team finals series.
From left, Sorell footballer Jeremiah Perkins, RAW Beyond the Sidelines coordinator Darryn Perry, RAW chief executive officer Barb Walters, SFL president Russell Young and Sorell footballer Mark Johnson, at Sorell's Pembroke Park. Photo credit: Connor Munnings
Specky for mental health THE Southern Football League (SFL) has gone beyond the sidelines for mental health, partnering with Rural Alive and Well (RAW) to challenge and change the status quo culture of mental health and wellbeing in its clubs. Headed by former William Leitch medallist Darryn Perry and former Hawthorn player Shayne Stevenson, the Beyond the Sidelines program will be delivered across all SFL clubs this year. Developed by RAW over the past 12 months to meet an identified need in community
sporting clubs, the Beyond the Sidelines program will offer clubs ongoing practical help to build protective factors aimed at improving people’s mental health and wellbeing. All RAW programs are evidence-based and delivered within the Prevention First Framework model. RAW chief executive officer Barb Walters said sessions would be hands-on and would help reduce stigma around mental health and help those that were struggling. “Suicide is a public
issue that requires a coordinated and combined effort, and RAW is proud to be partnering with the SFL to deliver our secondary prevention and early intervention program Beyond the Sidelines in footy clubs across the league,” she said. “People are ready to start the conversation, but more than that, they’re ready to actually find ways of building those protection factors and getting their hands dirty and working out what to do.” Ms Walters said football
clubs were the heart and soul of most communities, and that the program would benefit everyone around the football club. “We also know that everyone needs to belong to somewhere and have that connection, and footy clubs are able to do that,” she said. “Whether you’re a volunteer, an administrator or a player, your welfare is really important. “RAW’s support goes beyond the sidelines. We have qualified staff who can provide individually tailored support to
individuals, to improve their mental health and wellbeing and to navigate the pathway to specialist support services. “RAW is there for long-term and can be contacted 24/7 by phoning 1800 RAW TAS.” With an increased focus in recent years on suicide awareness and reducing stigmas, the SFL is leading the way in ensuring that its clubs have the opportunity to build a strong club culture around mental health and wellbeing. “Mental health and player welfare are the
biggest issues facing our game and clubs need help to ensure they have the best practices available to help their players,” SFL president Russell Young said. “By partnering with RAW, we hope to be able to assist in this process. “The SFL is a strong community-focused football competition, and the RAW team will assist the SFL in delivering strategies to our players in trying times.” Sorell Football Club is one of the clubs that has got behind the initiative. Senior coach Fabian
Ackroyd said mental health and wellbeing were important issues to raise within clubs. “We look at football clubs as fundamentally playing footy, but there’s so much more than that,” he said. “There is a connection to families and footy and this particular program doesn’t just offer support for the footy players, but also offers it for the partners, parents, supporters, everyone that comes to the football club – it’s not just about the 22 guys playing on the ground.”
