CEO’s Report

TIM MURRAY

Chief Executive Officer

It was a pleasure to see our boys and girls back playing again in 2021.

COVID has of course dominated our professional as well as our personal lives, and we hope that the impact of COVID on our games and volunteers is much less in 2022 than either 2020 or 2021.

At the start of this season, we knew how much our players were keen to return to play and were delighted in the number of team entries and players registering.

Club volunteers and especially Club Presidents deserve a huge vote of thanks. I specifically want to thank all Presidents who are retiring: Mark Centofanti (Ivanhoe), Andrew Chambers (Glen Iris), Caz Lorenz (Kew Rovers), Andrew Norris (Whitehorse Colts), Nic Moore (Bulleen Templestowe), Ritchie Appleby (Park Orchards), Shaun La Motte (Canterbury) and Suki StyantBrowne (Preston). Presidents make a significant contribution at all our clubs.

The League had another strong year of registrations, which were roughly at the level of the 2019 figures. Growth keeps continuing in the YJFL but there are some concerns as we move beyond COVID. The effects were seen in girls’ football especially, as well as our younger age groups (Under 8-12) which is in line with what all Leagues in Melbourne experienced. Financially, the League is stronger this year, with payments being made to Clubs at the end of this financial year to compensate for the loss of games (and accordingly the lower costs the League faced). Clubs have been asked to make the entry level competitions as affordable as possible; to this end the League will be offering a $50 discount for all U8/U9/U10 players in 2022, provision for which is included in our accounts.

The League is extremely fortunate to have great umpires and great coaches, led by Umpires Manager David Hannan. It is testament to Dave and his coaching team this year who retained and recruited a great base of umpires. The 2021 umpire cohort were as keen and eager as I have seen and I hope that passion continues to 2022. Further congratulations go to Ben Thiele who officiated his 300th game at the latter end of the 2021 season. Ben has been with the YJFL for over 10 years, is an umpire coach at Lynden Park and is one of the most reliable umpires in the League. The goal for all our competitive age groups is to ensure each game has two field umpires, and this will be a focus of the YJFL in 2022. We look forward to welcoming those who are interested to come and give it a go.

GameFace, our Digital Media Partner started their work in 2021 live streaming many matches from our home at Bulleen Park and at nearly every club’s home ground. This proved very popular with our players and parents alike and

it was amazing to hear the positive comments about the coverage. GameFace is a crucial part of our plans to make our League and games as accessible as possible to our community. It also turns out streaming games was much loved during the periods where we couldn’t have spectators attend our games due to COVID. important part of our role. We thank the AFL for their investment in this new competition management platform.

Injury reporting in the YJFL is enhanced by having a Colbrow medic at every game and this is an important part of our League now. We call the families of every injured player each week and provide a weekly report to each Club on any head injuries sustained over the weekend. This is to care for our players and ensure clubs can monitor adherence to the new AFL 12-day standout rule for any player diagnosed with concussion.

The Under 18/Colts competition in 2021 was successful and retained 400+ youth boys playing footy. We are pleased that we were able to keep the cohorts together for another year after completely missing the 2020 season. I would like to thank Brad Scott and Sophie Williams at AFL Victoria for their support for continuing the U17.5 competition in 2022, including allowing existing players to play.

The ‘Virtual’ YJFL Awards in mid-September was a success. The week-long event consisted of contenders lists, live winners announcements and all the digital content produced was well received from our clubs, players and families. It would have been easy to just mail awards, but we knew our players would love an experience like this – which was verified as they watched in great numbers.

Not having a final series this season was a huge disappointment, for the boys and girls as well as for all Club and League office bearers. Although great to have most of our season completed, there is nothing like seeing the best teams take the field at finals time. We made the decision to still award premiership flags and League Best and Fairest medals to reward kids and coaches, which ultimately wasn’t a hard decision.

Welcome to Northcote JFC who played their first games in the YJFL. I attended a few times and really enjoyed watching the games on the dual ovals of McDonnell Park. I look forward to them growing and prospering within the YJFL.

The League has made an investment in technology this year, with the use of new fixturing software and now the use of the new AFL system PlayHQ. These systems give us better fixtures, a fairer competition, and happier players. We are the only metropolitan League using PlayHQ in 2022. By using the newest systems we provide a better service to Club volunteers which is an Thanks to our nine Councils, who have again been extremely flexible as we tried to get as many games played and pushed our finals into September. We have planned to play our Grand Finals in 2022 in the first weekend in September and this can only happen because of the outstanding support of our Councils.

Thanks to crucial suppliers and sponsors whose contributions to the YJFL have a positive impact on providing a great football competition. Thanks to BlueGum, Global Sports, PAG, Hiredepot, BJS Insurance, Colbrow, GameFace, SEDA College, A-Grade Club Supplies, Southern Cross Trophies, TAC, Dynamic Footy Skills, Ball Magnets and Love the Game. many hours engaging with the State Government about the future home of the YJFL due to the loss of our much-loved Oval 1 at Bulleen Park due to North East Link; at the time of writing an agreement has yet to be finalised.

Finally, I need to especially thank Peter Nicholls and Jeff Hooper - both of whom will not be serving the League next year.

Peter will be missed greatly. He has been a wise counsel over the last 2 years, and the League would not be what it is today without him. Thank you Pete, for your 24 years of service, and have a wonderful retirement.

Thanks to the League’s staff in what has been another trying year. We have been greatly heartened by the support to the staff from our great Clubs, as we try to accommodate team numbers, prepare a fixture, run meetings and training virtually for thousands of volunteers, and so forth. We all know what it has been like, but we wouldn’t be the League we are today without the fabulous staff we have - COVID has tested us like never before. Jess has never wavered in being there to support the staff and Clubs, Shaun has done an enormous job in fixturing games over and over again, Brad ran a development program this year against all odds and Aidan has established a very professional communications program at the YJFL.

Many thanks are due to our Board members, who are crucial to the smooth running of the League. I especially thank Jeff Hooper for his wisdom and experience, as he leaves the League after a decade on our Board, and Justin Scotti (who is retiring) for his financial guidance. To Ishbel Moodie, Craig Lake, Paul Lane, Sue Ellen Mackintosh, Maree De Bondt and Andrew Davenport, I say many thanks for what has been a demanding two years, operationally and financially, for the YJFL. The Board have spent 14

Peter was instrumental in working with the fivetrail blazing YJFL clubs and five neighbouring clubs to promote, recruit and run the YJFL’s first ever Youth Girls football competition. In 2014 Peter was appointed as General Manager of the League and was awarded Life Membership of the Yarra Junior Football League in 2019. We would not be anything like the League we are today without Peter Nicholls. We will be forever grateful for his contribution: he can’t be replaced, and he will never be forgotten.

Jeff Hooper has had an incredible impact on the League, and especially girls footy. In 2014 Jeff was nominated to the YJFL Board as the Board member for Female Football. He continued in this role until 2016, always passionate to ensure the YJFL were leaders in Female Football. In 2017 Jeff was elected by the YJFL Board as Vice President of the League. In 2018 Jeff was elected as President of the League – a role he is finishing at the 2021 AGM. Jeff’s foresight on all things girl’s football and junior football in general has been outstanding. This is reflected in the participation numbers and strong competitions at the YJFL with record numbers of teams, and female competitions in every age group, with approximately 25% of the player population now being female.

I look forward to 2022 and the 16-round season. It has been many years since we held a 16-round season. This is one for the footy fanatics and will be a season like no other.

Hawthorn Citizens player evades the opponent and looks for his next kick Photographer: Aidan Paus, YJFL 15