WHAT a season we are having already and it’s only round 2.
Wentworth beat Imps with a kick after the siren on what was a day to celebrate not only one of Imps’ champions but the region’s champions in Mick ‘Hungry’ Hogarth.
Merbein pulled a Houdini and in two minutes of magic they were able to get over the Dees by one point.
South Mildura travelled down the highway to beat Ouyen United in a tight one to make a statement that they are not going to be pushovers, and new coach Jake Thrum shines and leads the Swallows to their first win of the season against Red Cliffs.
Having commentated the Imps and Robinvale game in the opening round and the Merbein and Mildura game on the weekend, I can honestly say that I think the standard of football we are seeing right now is the best in the past decade in our league.
We are seeing the SFNL in its best light for a very long time: the numbers at junior level at most clubs are the healthiest they have been, the netball numbers in every grade are bursting, the grounds at every club are immaculate and the facilities are top class at most grounds too.
The gate takings. I would imagine. are stronger than other years to this point of the season as crowds seem to be very strong.
Volunteer numbers also seem to be back after the COVID hangover, which is encouraging.The SFNL board are proactive and off the field we are certainly making up ground on other leagues through the promotion of the league with the use of modern technology such as live-streaming games, social media promotion and updates.
Interleague is also now being not only welcomed but encouraged by the clubs to have their players represent them, and the players themselves are wanting to play and represent our league.
Even the fly in fly out recruits have interest in representing their new clubs and league.
As for the competition in the senior grade itself, it already seems like it will be as close as any season we have had.
To say that there is a clear favourite would be crazy: there simply is not one that you can pick right now.
Each and every game is a danger game.
Any team can win on their day, which means no side can afford to drop their guard.
We have star players in every side, from the Bonza Boys to Tippa, Kerridge, Brander, Coghlan, Mee and many, many others to watch electrify the games each weekend.
Every week we have more coverage of more games so if you do miss it you can tune into the likes of 106.7 Hot FM or River 1467 to catch a game on radio, and you can watch games online via the SFNL website.
Slammin’ Sammy Smythe has a game or two each year on his live streaming site and of course the coverage by the team at Sunraysia Daily each Monday with the lift out is exceptional, with both football and netball covered in full.
So right now it is definitely safe to say that football and netball in our region is flying along,
We can also say that it is because of all the hard-working volunteers, committee members and supporters behind the scenes that we are in this position.
From within the clubs, the league, the media, the umpires’ associations and the club members, it is they who are leading the charge.
My message to all the players who are putting on the show each weekend is this: go to every Thursday night dinner, after-game function and your oppositions social rooms every week and give your time and respect to all the hardworking volunteers and supporters of each and every club and say thank you, because it is their hard work that allows you to go and enjoy the games we love every weekend and put on the awesome standard of play that you are providing right now.
As the old saying goes, “it takes a village”, and the SFNL village is pumping right now due to the efforts of everyone involved.
