Warburton Millgrove FNC – 2021 Season in Review

Warburton Millgrove Football Netball Club showed plenty of promise at the beginning of the season, but ultimately had a mixed bag of results across its football and netball department in 2021.

Struggling with a bad run of injuries, the senior football side managed only one win in the early part of the season, before finding their feet in the middle part of the year to mount their charge towards a potential finals berth.

The seconds side were fantastic, winning nine games to finish the season as minor premiers in PFG Australia 2^nd Division Reserves.

The netballers, meanwhile, were fantastic with all four of its sides finishing inside the top five, while the A grade team were minor premiers in 2021.

Playing through a tumultuous year where the season was paused at different points throughout the year before eventually being called off, all players at the Burras continued to try their best and played well in difficult circumstances to make the most of the opportunity that 2021 brought.

Reflecting on 2021, President Rod Barnard was proud of his club for the efforts they displayed during the season and the way in which they were able to stay connected during a difficult time.

“Through all the challenges that were presented to us this year, we tried really hard to keep up the good spirits”, Barnard said.

“We have kept positive on social media and made sure that the mental health of our young ones remains upbeat because touching base with each other during this time is really important.

“We have a really good young club at the moment who are combining well, socialising well and respecting one another and I am really proud of that.”

The Burras are fortunate to have a strong culture which was reflected with great numbers in the social rooms on Thursday nights for meals after training and games on Saturdays, which exhibits strong signs of a united club who stuck together and remained positive throughout the season during a tough time.

This was also echoed with the number of volunteers that continued to stick by the club, where everyone involved is aware of their duties which makes for an even spread in terms of match day operations at Mac Sparke Reserve, something Barnard is proud of.

“We have a fantastic group of volunteers who have worked hard for the benefit of the club this year,” Barnard explained.

“As president, I couldn’t be happier because we have a strong belief that what you put in is what you get out of it.”

Looking ahead into 2022, Barnard is hopeful of securing a premiership within the club given they showed great promise across their entire playing group this year.

The development of young players throughout 2021 was also a significant program within itself and the long term benefits of this will start to see its fruition next season.

With both sporting programs of the Burras at full strength, Barnard believes his footballers and netballers are good enough to beat anybody and this is one of the shining lights of 2021 which he hopes will start to bear fruit next year.

“We had two teams across our club this year that did so well, while the others were always trying their hearts out every week and not far off from reaching the top,” Barnard said.

“We have teams who were disappointed to not compete in finals, and potentially grand finals this year. So, hopefully they can do so next year.”

FOOTBALL	LADDER POSITION	WINS	LOSSES	DRAWS
ATC Traffic Division Two	6th	3	7	–
PFG Australia Division Two Reserves	1st	9	1	–
NETBALL	LADDER POSITION	WINS	LOSSES	DRAWS
Kärcher Division Two A Grade	1st	9	0	–
Kärcher Division Two B Grade	4th	4	5	–
Kärcher Division Two C Grade	2nd	8	1	1
Kärcher Division Two D Grade	4th	6	4	–