Rogers to lead LVFL

THE Loddon Valley Football League has appointed a female as its new president.Colleen Rogers has taken on the role as LVFL president after she was appointed at the league’s annual general meeting on Tuesday night.While female presidents of a football league could be considered rare, for Rogers, she says her appointment is “no big deal’’.“It wasn’t an ambition on my behalf to become the league president; I didn’t go out to seek the position at all,’’ Rogers said yesterday.“There was some fairly heavy lobbying from other executive members, so I’ve agreed to take it on.“I’ve been involved with footy for so long, so I guess this is just part of a natural evolution for me... that’s why it’s no big deal the fact I’m a female.’’Rogers has spent the past three years as president of Marong, while she was also on the LVFL executive this year as the junior vice-president.While Rogers has only just been appointed, one of her key focuses will be on ensuring the LVFL builds on the strong inter-league platform it laid this year.The LVFL this year returned to inter-league football for the first time since 2003 with a 23-point win over the Ovens and King league at Benalla.“I really want the inter-league to keep going after the big step we took this year to get involved in that again,’’ Rogers said.“Inter-league is a great way to promote our league, so hopefully, we can continue to grow that.’’Along with Rogers, the executive committee for the LVFL in 2011 will include:Senior vice-president: David Young. Junior vice-president: Brian Gladman. Treasurer: Peter Power. Secretary: Trevor Arnel. General executive members: Ken Hynes and Bob Ross.In other news from the AGM, there was a change in the by-law to allow for extra time to be played in the grand final.Under the previous laws, if there was a drawn grand final it would be replayed the following week.There will also be an increase in playing time for under-17 matches from 15 minutes per quarter to 18.As a result of the change, under-17 matches will now start at 10.50am instead of 11am.The 2011 LVFL season will start on Saturday, April 2.The LVFL will play an inter-league match against the Maryborough-Castlemaine District Football League at Maryborough on the Queens Birthday weekend of June 11.