League inspired by sponsor deal

By Ben Hope
THE Dandenong and Distinct Junior Football League (DDJFL) has announced a new major sponsor for the 2010 season: Inspirations 3D Paint and Colour Narre Warren.
DDJFL general manager Shaun Connell said the key to the three-year, $49,500 partnership will be a community benefit card.
“As an additional bonus there will be a community benefit card where Inspirations will donate five per cent of purchases back to their customers’ clubs,” Connell said.
“We believe this quality partnership will benefit the community, clubs, DDJFL and Inspirations.”
Inspirations 3D Paint and Colour Narre Warren owners John Gertiz and Lou Deganutti said the store first opened 24 years ago and previously sponsored both the Timbarra Tornado’s and the Narre Warren Junior Football Club.
“We love football and our kids all played junior footy,” Gertiz said.
“We have been in the area for so long and seen it grow so we said ‘let’s go for a major package.’ We had a chat with the league about giving it some support and this is what we came up with.”
“It’s going to be an exciting year, we’ve never done anything like this before.”
Connell said the league was previously without a major sponsor and the support will underpin the league’s programs.
“The league has undergone some structural changes over the past year and the support from Inspirations will help us implement many of those changes,” he said.
One of the changes following the advice from AFL Victoria was the setting up of a Dandenong Task force to address falling player numbers around Dandenong.
The club has also taken on the administration of the South East Girl’s competition for the first time this year.
“Already the Dandenong Saints are looking to field a youth girls team to take the number of teams in the competition to seven,” Connell said.
“This is a big growth area for us.”
Nominations for team to play in the DDJFL competition this season closed on March 1.
“The numbers are looking good for this season,” Connell said.
“We held a partner expo last Wednesday to give suppliers and club representative a chance to get together.”
“The vibe was amazing, it was the first time we have done a night like this but it will definitely be an annual event from now on.”