Presidents Report

31st August 2000

In reviewing 2000 I am satisfied that what we as, an Association, set out to achieve from November 1999 came to fruition. It would not have been possible without the dedication of the Association Executives, the individual Club Executives, the parents & volunteers each week and of course the kids.

Every ground I attended in the home & away season and on the two final weekends was played in the spirit we have adopted as a Junior AFL Association. Some of the goals we set out to achieve and successfully did so were:

Increase our numbers on last year. We had 147 kids playing in 1999 and in 2000 we had over 300.
We now have six clubs in the Association.
We took 4 teams of 10 players to Sydney to play on the SCG for the first time.
Most Clubs have Level One coaches.
The under 14's had their first year this year.
We hosted an Under 14's side rep team from Sydney for the first time.
Two clubs moved to a home ground with better facilities at York St.
Most clubs successfully subsidised their clubs kids for the Sydney Trip by selling raffle tickets.
All teams have AFL jumpers to play in
All clubs have kits and equipment to conduct an Auskick Clinic each weekend at their home ground.
Association Modified Rules were put in place.
Sydney Swans players Michael O'Loughlin, Ben Matthews and Paul Kelly (twice) visited Coffs Harbour.
The Association made the Sydney Morning Herald with Paul Kelly's first visit.
The Association gained sponsorship from Geoff King Motors, Coffs Harbour Ex Services Club & NorthPower this year. We must continue the strong relationship we have with these sponsors and make them our own.
Chris McKinley our Junior Development Manager became fulltime.
‘Red shirt umpires' were introduced.
All clubs received handpass targets.
We now have a website and appear on another website. We need to appoint someone to manage this in the future.
We appeared weekly in the Advocate with results and team articles. This truly lifted the profile of Junior AFL in the region and made other codes stand up and listen. The kids loved it also.
We had a weekly radio segment where each club rotated a roster to appear for a 15 min segment each week on a Saturday.
Local Primary schools conducted clinics for Paul Kelly Cup and Spring Cup events and adopted the programs.
The weather seemed to be on our side all year except for maybe one weekend where only one ground was unplayable.
All kids that played 50 games or more received a medal for their achievement and one player who has played over 100 games received a plaque.
Three officials of the Junior Association were made Life Members.

Thank you to everyone over the year from goal umpires to canteen ladies and mum's who have taken the jumpers to wash, to umpires, coaches and club executives. Most of all the parents who bring their kids to the grounds week after week rain hail or shine!

The only sad note for the year was the passing of Mike Kenny, General Manager NSW/ACT AFL. His belief in the people and up here has us where we are today.

I truly enjoyed my time as President this year. I trust that you will all work together to continue to achieve for Junior AFL in this region.

Never forget, whatever you do, it must be for the kids.

Simone Wetherell
President
North Coast Junior AFL Association.

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