With the 2024 season looming even closer, we have seen most teams across the club return to training during February. Numbers are looking quite healthy in most junior age groups, which is both encouraging and exciting with our new Oval 3 facility due for completion in a few months’ time.

Many of our members will have noticed the Oval 3 pavilion progressing since works began in the middle of 2023. Club representatives had a guided tour a few weeks ago and we can say it is an impressive building. This will be a wonderful facility for the club for our Football, Cricket and Baseball sections for decades to come. We continue to work with the CoGG to plan for handover. We may need to move some earlier junior games around to accommodate the finalisation of the works but we will keep players, parents and supporters informed through our social media channels.

Coaching appointments for oursenior groups are completed. Here’s a quick recap on who they are:

• Senior Men: Shayne Stone and Devon Smith

• Senior Women: Eliza Wilson-McDonald

• Reserves Men: Daniel Dimech

• U/18 Colts: Jack Gibb

We’ll provide a run-down on junior coaches in the next issue.

We have two senior practice matches coming up for our senior men’s group. Our first match is at home to Werribee Districts on 23 March and the second is on 6 April against Darley,also at Bisinella Oval. Each day will comprise matches between senior, reserves and U/18 boys side. The matches are split by the Easter weekend, with Round 1of the senior men’s season to begin on 13 April when we are away to North Shore.

Our social committee has been hard at work organising our season launch. We are determined to make this an all-club, footy plus netball launch involving seniors and juniors (and their parents). Expect it to occur on the 24th of March, with further details to be released soon.