Belgrave FNC – 2021 Season in Review

Belgrave Football Netball Club endured a tough season in 2021, as they took to the football field and netball courts after an 18-month break.

The football sides won two games between the seniors and reserves teams while the Magpies were victorious in eight games across all four of its sides.

Jayden Wood and Guy Chuol took big steps forward this season to be the standout players for the Magpies while Josh O’Brien led from the front as captain from a men’s football perspective, while it was a team effort in the netball ranks to continue improving every week.

The major highlight from the club this season was the success of its women’s football team that won five games this year to finish in fourth on the ladder.

Their fourth placing on the ladder gave them the opportunity to play finals, where they knocked off Officer by 10 points in the second semi-final and were to play top-placed Yarra Junction before the season came to an end.

Speaking of the success of the women’s side, where he doubled his club president responsibilities with dual coaching duties of the women’s team, Julian Schill was rapt with his side where they proved to be the wildcard of the lot in division two.

“We had an exceptional year with women’s football,” he said.

“Most of the squad were new players which was driven by the playing group reaching out to people they knew, and this included people from the women’s cricket team.

“The development of everyone was exceptional and we were over the moon with how we went.”

As the club looks towards the offseason and 2022, the Magpies are looking to implement changes that will instigate overall improvement at the club.

With new coaches coming in, the first of those confirmed is Darren Hamilton as senior coach of the football team, the club is confident that with the right people in charge, they will be on the path that sets them up for sustained success, for both football and netball.

Building a strong relationship with the junior football club is also part of the plan, where bringing in fresh youth to the club is pivotal.

Already in his first month in charge, Hamilton has focussed his efforts on player retention and recruitment with a pre-season training schedule not far away.

Other changes happening at the Reserve Road complex is the construction of new netball courts which are due to be finished in time for the start of the new season.

With the tough nature in which 2021 was for everyone at Belgrave, Schill thanked his club for their efforts in a trying season and is already looking forward to what the new year will produce.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to all our sponsors and everyone within the club for their help this year,” he said.

“The support that everyone in the Belgrave community has had for each other this year is amazing and we hope that carries on through these tough times.

“What people have done with the extra effort behind the scenes is amazing and we could not thank them enough and things don’t happen without them.”

FOOTBALL	LADDER POSITION	WINS	LOSSES
Hallam & Baywater Truck Centres Division One	9th	0	10
Coates Division One Reserves	7th	2	8
Kärcher Women’s Division Two	4th	5	4
NETBALL	LADDER POSITION	WINS	LOSSES
Kärcher Division One A Grade	9th	1	9
Kärcher Division One B Grade	7th	4	6
Kärcher Division One C Grade	7th	1	8
Kärcher Division One D Grade	7th	2	7