FROM THE CEO

Troy Swainston

This weekend’s round one of the Deakin University Women’s Football and Bendigo Bank Netball competitions commence along with our Eastland Premier and Division Four men’s competitions.

With the weather looking more favourable than last week we can expect to see some even bigger crowds in attendance, and we encourage everyone to get down and support your local club.

Several teams will belatedly unfurl their 2019 Premiership flags (will that mean a double reunion as the they were still premiers in 2020?) and with many local derbies taking place its sure to be an intriguing round.

In 2021 our Deakin University Women’s competition will consist of 28 teams across four divisions, headlined by six clubs who will compete in our Premier women’s division.

Our inaugural over 35’s Women’s competition will commence with Blackburn, Chirnside Park and a combined Mooroolbark/East Ringwood taking to the field, whilst Netball begins on Friday with 82 netball teams taking to the court, with 34 EFNL clubs fielding teams.

Given the impact of the cancellation of the season in 2020 it is very pleasing that we have maintained our team numbers in our senior women’s competitions.

We welcome Berwick Football Club to the Premier division; they host Noble Park in their first game in the EFNL.  We expect a big crowd to be on hand at Edwin Flack Reserve and the game will also be the Match of the Round on our YouTube, Facebook, SEN App and Eastern FM 98.1.

This weekend is going to be a huge weekend with all Junior and Senior Competitions and our umpires back in full swing.

The League continues to seek more umpires to top up our appointment numbers, so if you are interested in keeping fit and earning money at the same time, please contact our Head of Umpiring Peter Carey.

For those umpires who have not yet dusted off their uniform for 2021 we would love to welcome you back this season.

Have a great weekend and best of luck to all teams.