THE Loddon Valley Football-Netball League season is under way for 2017, and with it heralded the dawning of a new era.
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Saturday was the first look at the new incarnation of YCW as the Maiden Gully YCW Eagles as it took to the football field and netball court against Inglewood.
The club has been born out of a merger between the YCW Sporting and Social Club and the Maiden Gully Junior Football Club.
While still very much in its infancy, the formation of the new club that has combined the colours of blue, white and orange and adopted a club song to the tune of the Western Bulldogs has all the hallmarks of being a major success.
Maiden Gully is a rapidly growing suburb – in 2013 its then population of 4500 was tipped to grow by at least another 10,000 by 2030 – and much like Strathfieldsaye was in 2009 when the Storm entered the Bendigo league, it’s ripe for a senior footy club.
Maiden Gully has been home to junior football teams previously, has junior and senior cricket teams and tennis teams, but Saturday was the first time the suburb has been represented on a senior football field and netball court.
From a football perspective, it’s a move that makes plenty of sense given the club now has a defined pathway from under-nines through to seniors.
Previously, Maiden Gully Junior Football Club finished at under-14 level, while YCW began at under-16s.
Now there’s one complete pathway through from the under-nines, and in the current country football landscape of the player points system where the premise is to develop juniors and keep them at your club, that pathway is now as important as ever.
Previously young players who have outgrown the Maiden Gully Junior Football Club beyond the under-14s had to move on to a new club to continue playing.
Now they can continue through with the one club, and the same goes with the netballers, who can play with the Eagles all the way through from the mini’s.
With the merger comes new $8 million facilities, with the Maiden Gully YCW Eagles to play its home games at the new Marist College in Maiden Gully starting from round four on April 22 against Newbridge.
Saturday’s debut at Inglewood were the first steps of what shapes as an exciting and prosperous venture for the Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and its community.
Luke West – sports reporter
