How is your Junior Club going at the halfway point?
With five rounds played we find ourselves at the half way mark of the home and away season for the Junior Competition. Here we take a look at how each club is travelling at this point.
Camden Haven Bombers – great to see the Bombers back in the competition in 2020 with their Under 11 team. On field results have been outstanding, four wins from five matches to currently sit second on the ladder. Off field, there are great opportunities ahead for the club with a housing boom in areas like Lake Ctahie and Bonny Hills, and the new ground expected to come online by the 2022 season.
Port Macquarie Magpies – the “footy factory of the south” is in a really strong position again this year. Excellent numbers in Auskick provides a fantastic foundation for long term sustainability, highlighted by the club entering two teams in the Under 13 age group. The club has teams in the top three in each age group so the club is rich in both quality and quantity.
South West Rocks Dockers – the club with the smallest population to draw from continues to punch above its weight with teams in both the Under 11 and Under 13 age groups. In an exciting development for the club, proper AFL posts are up at their home ground and lights are being installed and the club will have a top drawer facility in the very near future.
Nambucca Valley Lions – the club continues to grow with an Under 15 team joining the ranks for the first time this year, while the success of Juniors has also contributed to a Reserve Grade team starting. Not bad for a club that only reformed in 2017! On field, the Under 13 team leads the way, sitting on top of the ladder in their premiership defence. Off field, work continues to progress on the development of a permanent oval at EJ Biffin.
Bellingen Bulldogs – once again, the Dogs are fielding a team in each age group which is an incredible achievement for a town of that size. The Youth Girls team is comfortably in second place and tracking beautifully, while the Under 15 team is currently third on percentage only. Many of the Under 15 players have stepped up an age group this year so are performing above expectations.
Sawtell Toormina Saints – the club has seen the last of its “golden generation” move up to the Senior competition but is building well with strong Auskick numbers and teams performing strongly in all grades. The Youth Girls team are the shining lights in 2020, in only their second season the team is on top of the ladder and playing well. Quality lights at the club’s home ground is not only facilitating night games but is also attracting new players.
Coffs Harbour Breakers – the club continues to perform well across the board. Strong links between the Junior and Senior halves of the club contributes to positive transition through the ages in both male and female footy. In a remarkable transformation, the Under 15 team that finished last in 2019 is now on top of the ladder, whilst the Under 11 is also well in the mix in third place on percentage only.
Northern Beaches Blues – there’s a hugely positive vibe around footy in the Northern Beaches area. Ground developments at both Centennial Oval and a new complex, population growth, and great links with the Senior club means that footy is going ahead in the area. The club’s Under 13 team are in second place on the ladder which bodes well for growth to Under 15 next season.
Grafton Tigers – something of a rebuilding year for the Junior part of the club with many of the 2019 premiership winning Under 15 and Youth Girls teams moving up to Seniors. Drainage and levelling work means the Ellem Oval surface is as good as it’s been in many years, while the resurgence of the men’s team means the code is getting great exposure locally which will help grow numbers in all age groups.
With a modified Finals series that sees the top two teams in each age group go straight into a Grand Final there’s much to play for in the remaining rounds. Expect the second half of the season to be even more exciting than the first!
