Strong start to season accompanies completion of Alexandra FNC building project

An exciting period is approaching for the Alexandra Football Netball Club, with a great start to the season seeing the Rebels win both games to sit on top of the ATC Traffic Division Two ladder.

Victories against Yarra Glen and Broadford across the seniors and reserves divisions, including a massive 161-point victory for the senior team over the weekend, has the Rebels high on confidence and upbeat about the possibilities for the 2021 season.

The forward line put on a show with Josef Builder, James Box, Jason Degabriele and Ben Jack all sharing 21 goals between them.

Club President Ray Steyger was pleased with how his football sides are shaping up so far and is excited to have the wider community get behind the Rebels charge this season.

“It’s great to get off to a good start, we’ve got a mix of new players but also some young kids who have come through from our junior team,” Steyger said.

“It’s quite a blend but it’s certainly very exciting, the community are getting behind the club and are excited to have two wins and be sitting on top of the ladder.”

With players residing in Melbourne and throughout the Alexandra region, weekday training is separated into two groups, with the Melbourne-based players all training at an inner-city location while those local to the club train at the Alexandra Showgrounds precinct with the Under 17’s team.

Players from Melbourne are in regular contact with the senior coach to ensure they receive the same coaching messages as those training at the Rebels home ground, however, the entire playing group usually aim to train together once a month so they get the chance to complete training drills together and engage in the dialogue that is not always covered when it’s carried out virtually.

The Rebels have a new senior coach on board this season, with Nick Wal promoted from the assistant coaching role he held for the past two years.

Wal has been impressive with regard to his communication with the players, both on field and off field.

His authoritive approach to the club has seen him make his mark on matters concerning to code of conduct and other related subjects which has had positive effects on the playing group.

Off the field, the Rebels are in the final phase of a redevelopment to its outdated precinct which is scheduled to be used from early June.

Alexandra Football Netball Club

With a project of this nature planned for 15 years, money put aside by the club in addition to grants from the Victorian government, have enabled Alexandra to go ahead with the various building projects which are targeted to not only benefit the club, but the wider community.

Stage one of the build incorporated two new netball courts as well as upgrades to lighting and other infrastructure.

Stage two features a new building situated adjacent to the netball area which will also supply changerooms, showers, toilets and other associated items.

Finally, stages three and four is the completion of the development which includes an upgrade of power for the reserve, new lighting for the oval and the construction of the multipurpose community facility.

The work is due for completion in early June with players to start using the new facility immediately.

However, unforeseen costs as a result of 2017 costings, three years before construction commenced, means the club needs to find a further $200,000 to complete the project.

In an effort to find the funding needed, the project has been registered with the Australian Sports Foundation where tax deductable donations can be made.

Alexandra Football Netball Club

The completion of the project will be a highlight for Steyger, with 2021 marking his 25^th year as club president in addition to a further three years as senior vice president prior to this.

“The Alexandra Football Netball Club and the wider community will really benefit from this facility once it’s ready, it will be here for a long time to come,” he explained.

“Our club has a really tight culture where everyone gets along and we hold regular functions for our members, so the upgrades are exactly what we need.”

If you would like to make a donation to fund the completion of the development works at Alexandra Football Netball Club, head to https://bit.ly/3gLHmuM.