By Paul Dunlop
FOOTBALL clubs are keeping fingers crossed that a young player shortage will be resolved before the first bounce of the new season.
Many CaseyCardinia clubs are having trouble fielding under18 sides as teenagers opt to play elsewhere or simply take a break from the game.
Pakenham and RythdaleOfficerCardinia (ROC) are two proud and successful local clubs struggling for numbers in their thirds.
Pakenham club president Graham Burridge is not giving up hope that enough under18 players to form a team can be found before the first bounce of the new season.
The Gazette has reported that Pakenham was so short of under18 footballers, officials were considering offering some sort of incentive in a desperate bid to boost numbers.
Mr Burridge emphasised that no decision had been taken to offer incentives and that such a move would only be considered as a last resort.
But although optimistic it would not get to that, Mr Burridge said at this stage the club still did not have enough players to field an under18 team.
“We’ll keep our options open as long as possible, but if there are young blokes reading this who would like a game of footy at Pakenham this season we would love to hear from them,” he said.
“We haven’t given up hope, that’s for sure.”
Pakenham met with CaseyCardinia league officials last week to discuss the player shortage which is a problem at a number of other clubs.
RythdaleOfficerCardinia president Frank Wyatt said ROC had also been struggling to put an under18 side together, although coach Brad Snooks told the Gazette last week he was confident the situation had changed.
“Up until (a week or so ago) we were struggling but I’ve since spoken to half a dozen extra players and I think we will be okay now. But we’d certainly welcome more players,” he said.
Mr Wyatt said many young players were choosing other alternatives to football.
He said it was a concern given CaseyCardinia league’s reputation as one of the premier country competitions.
“There’s a whole host of reasons why but you’d think with the population in the area we’d be okay,” he said.
“It’s certainly a worrying trend.”
Meanwhile, clubs in other leagues have responded angrily to suggestions that they might be trying to ‘poach’ players from larger towns, saying emphatically that was not the case.
>>> Can you pull on the boots for a local club this season? To register an interest to play under18 football, contact the Gazette on 5945 0666.
