Sport
14 March, 2025
Saturday trial for junior footy
CAMPERDOWN Football Netball Club is set to trial junior football matches on Saturdays this season.
Over the past six months, the Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) has been working closely with clubs to explore a significant scheduling change, moving all junior football games from Sundays to Saturdays.
Following the successful transition of all HFNL netball teams to Saturday competition at the start of the 2024 season, the league invited clubs to submit their thoughts on how a similar move for junior football could work in 2025.
After multiple meetings with club representatives, and following a split vote between clubs, the HFNL has decided to trial the hyrbid format in the upcoming season.
Five clubs - Port Fairy, Hamilton, Koroit, Terang Mortlake, and Camperdown have committed to the trial.
This means their junior football teams will now play on Saturdays alongside their junior netball teams, senior football and netball teams when scheduled to meet in the junior fixture.
Camperdown Football Netball Club president Phil Cunningham welcomed the change, stating that aligning almost half of the junior football games with the rest of the club’s games on Saturdays would be beneficial for both families and the club.
“This move makes a lot of sense,” Cunningham said.
“With junior netball already shifted to Saturdays, this change allows families to only commit to one day rather than both Saturday and Sunday.
“It will also help ease the strain on volunteers, hopefully entice more junior players to join the club as it will give families their Sundays back for other important commitments.”
Cunningham also highlighted the excitement this change would bring to the club’s match days.
“Every year, Super Saturdays bring an incredible atmosphere so the shift to Saturday will allow junior players and their families to be part of the excitement of game day, further strengthening the club’s connection across all age groups.”
To accommodate the shift, Camperdown will utilise the showgrounds as a second venue, hosting under 10s and under 12s games there.
The under 14s and under 16s will play earlier on the main ground, at 8.30am and 9.50am (before the older age groups) with the seniors starting at 2.55pm on these days.
Cunningham said with the alternate ground located just up the road, families would be able to return to the main ground to enjoy the rest of the day’s matches and be part of the club.
The HFNL will monitor the trial throughout the 2025 season, gathering feedback from clubs, players and families to determine if the model should be expanded in future seasons.
The move represents a significant step in streamlining HFNL’s scheduling and ensuring a more family-friendly and sustainable approach to junior football.
Camperdown has started junior football training, with under 10s and under 12s on Thursdays from 4.15pm, and under 14s and under 16s on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4.30pm.
The club invites any new players and families to reach out and get involved.
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