"Don't think, don't hope, do!" It's a quote that's in footy folklore after being delivered by Hawthorn coaching legend John Kennedy Sr in the 1975 VFL grand final.
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Kennedy's Hawks ultimately came up short against North Melbourne but fast forward four decades and football in our region is facing a battle it simply cannot afford to lose.
Put simply, there aren't enough players to sustain the number of clubs in our area.
Perhaps you’re reading this having attended a local football match yesterday. What was the crowd like? Did players have to double up in any grades? Was there a shortage of volunteers?
They’re questions that need to be asked if we want to safeguard the future of Aussie Rules in our region.
A solution to some of those questions is mergers. The prospect of joining forces with a nearby rival might send shudders up the spine of long-time supporters of your club but having experienced first-hand how well they can work at my home club, CDHBU, I am a firm believer in the concept.
You may or may not agree. But hopefully, at the very least, David Johnston’s in-depth reports have at least got you thinking about what can be done.
I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing Sunday.
Cheers, Xavier.