Garfield Football Club senior coach Ben Soumilas and club president Judy Bishop check progress of the renovation works under way at the Stars’ home ground.
By Paul Dunlop
WATCHING grass grow is a new favourite pastime at Garfield – but not because residents are bored.
They are simply keeping a keen eye on the rejuvenation of the town’s recreation reserve.
The main oval playing surface and surrounds are undergoing a major upgrade that should put the Stars’ home ground among the very best in the region.
The works have put the ground off limits this football season, making every week an away game of sorts for Garfield.
Club president Judy Bishop and senior football coach Ben Soumilas admit it has been a challenging time for the proud and successful Stars.
But they say it is one to which players and officials have responded with typical Garfield spirit and enthusiasm.
“We’ve always been a closeknit group and this has brought us even closer together,” Mr Soumilas said.
“It’s not ideal but we are making the most of it.”
Training sessions have been spread around the grounds of several neighbouring towns including Catani and Tynong, and home matches will be played at Bunyip and Nar Nar Goon.
This is Garfield’s second season in the restructured West Gippsland Latrobe Football League, which pits it against Warragul and Drouin as well as Maffra, Sale, Leongatha, Morwell, Traralgon and Moe.
Ms Bishop said the club had four Sunday games this season and was hoping to attract good crowds.
Plans are in place for an active season off the field with Garfield’s social rooms and the town’s hotel likely to be very busy, even though the football and netball action will be elsewhere.
“We’re lucky we’ve got such a fantastic bunch of players, they’ve been really good,” Ms Bishop said.
Travelling to Garfield has always been a headache for opposition clubs and Mr Soumilas hopes visits to the Stars’ temporary homes will make the opponents just as uncomfortable.
He said the big onfield challenge for his team was to change its style of play from the close checking, physical game for which Garfield has been renowned to the freerunning, fastpaced football in vogue among the top sides.
“We’re in a whole different position to this time last year when we’d just won the flag and lost half our side,” Mr Soumilas said.
“Last year was a learning curve, now we know what to expect.”
To help the players feel at home in their travels, the coach has gathered mementos of past glories including photographs and posters carrying quotes from former players about what it has meant to play for the Stars.
“I think it’s crucial that we keep that atmosphere alive so we never lose sight of who and what we play for,” Mr Soumilas said.
“Those people have created history.
“My message to the boys is let’s use this to create our own history.
“I remember players saying how they trained with one (cold) shower and one light – they’re the stories that are still going.
“My thing about this year is ‘let’s make the most of it and still have a bloody good time’.”
