In repsonse to Archie Thompson’s column for The Border Mail last Saturday, AWFA president Mark Leman believes Murray United has a role to play in the region, but admitted the franchise wouldn’t exist without the original model. 

“All AWFA clubs have provided players to Murray United and have done something to help Murray United to achieve what they’re trying to achieve,” Leman said.

“Murray United is made up of players that were developed in AWFA, administrators that were developed in AWFA and coaches that were developed in AWFA.

“We’re not holding anybody back because we’re an amateur competition and we can’t stop anybody from trialling with Murray United.

“We don’t have the power do that.

“There needs to be mutual respect for each other and transparency for the benefit of football for the whole region.”

Leman added AWFA has an equally important a role to play in the community.

“We want to support every player of every ability, not just the elite,” he said.

“Not everybody wants to become an elite footballer, it’s not their chosen path.

“Some of them can’t afford the $1500-plus fees, the travel commitments and the time to train, so they choose to play local football because that’s what they enjoy.

“Parents and kids have a choice, if they want to go to Murray United, we’re more than happy for them to do that, we won’t stop anyone from wanting to achieve their goals and dreams.”

AWFA itself has a long-standing representative program which has allowed its juniors to play at a representative level against teams from Victoria and NSW. 

“We’re very fortunate we live on the Border and can give kids both options, we’re not going to take that away from anybody,” Leman said. 

“This association has developed many players through its rep program, players like Archie Thompson, Josh Kennedy, Amy and Georgia Chapman, Angela Iannotta, Trent Rixon and Zac Mackenzie, who is now playing NPL 1 in Sydney. 

“AWFA’s programs do provide pathways for kids that want to go to the next level and NPL 2 with Murray United is another option for them to do that.”