By NICK CROOK
Quality at a glance
NORTH Dandenong Junior Football Club has a proud tradition of producing not only quality players, but also quality people.
A quick glance at the Club’s honour board will tell you that several of their alumni have gone on to forge successful AFL careers.
From a football perspective, former AFL greats Craig Lambert, Chad Morrison and Tim McGrath are the most well-known names on the board, however, there is one name that has been there since the Club’s inception in 1971 – Colin Riddiford.
Riddiford recently returned to the club as the President and unfortunately the club isn’t as strong as the one he helped create over 40-years-ago.
Participation levels at the club have been on a steady decline since the mid ’90s and last year they were only able to field three teams – the third of which was fielded in conjunction with Noble Park.
They recently had a league best and fairest winner change clubs simply because they couldn’t field a side in his age group.
Quantity of players remains the issue at Lois Twohig Reserve, not quality of players.
This year will be the first of North Dandenong’s five-year plan in order to increase participation and return to the club’s glory days.
In season 2014 they aim to standalone and field three sides, next year they aim to field four, the year after – five and possibly more. The most effective way to build the club is to start from the bottom and work their way up. That starts with Auskick.
“We’ve just been given the okay to set up a Friday night Auskick and we’re going to form a closer relationship with Auskick,” Riddiford said.
“Parents will now be able to bring their older kids to training on Friday at the same time they bring their younger ones to Auskick.”
The Sharks will also provide registration discounts for families who register two or more players, a $20 discount per child when they register and pay on the same day, and if a player brings a friend down then the Club will discount their registration even further.
Riddiford believes creating good footballers is just as important as helping shape the community by moulding good kids.
“If we can stop one kid from going off the straight and narrow we’ve accomplished something,” Riddiford said.
“We need kids from the Dandenong area, we’re a multicultural club and whatever we’re doing we are doing for the kids.”
The kids that do come down will be fortunate enough to play on one of the best grounds in the League on a weekly basis (it is used for final’s football), be afforded high quality facilities as well as a social room for activities – they are already planning a kid’s trivia night.
“If your children, boy or girl are twelve or under, just present yourself to the club in Carlton Road, North Dandenong on any Wednesday or Friday night by 5pm and the club will welcome you with open arms.”
North Dandenong Football Club and president Colin Riddiford can be contacted on 0418 420 164 or via the club on 9795 7797.
