Wesburn JFC – 2022 Season Preview

Several off-field changes with the club committee had its own pressures early on, but now it’s resolved, Wesburn Junior Football Club are excited and ready to go ahead of season 2022.

Under the tuition of some brilliant coaches including the likes of Kane McDonald, Scott Mikkelson, Nick Murphy, Ash Taylor, Leigh Humphris and Nick Toy, the Bulldogs are aligned with the vision of setting up the club well for this season and beyond.

In 2022, Wesburn will field teams in under 9, under 11, under 12 girls, under 13, under 14 girls and under 15’s where participation numbers have been strong.

McDonald has been an influence from the aspect of recruiting kids to fill his under 15’s side while 2021 under 17’s best & fairest winner Patrick Huynh has returned as a skills coach and assists predominantly with the under 13’s and 15’s.

“His influence has been massive, the kids look up to Paddy and he is a great mentor for all the junior kids coming through,” said club president Tony Wuhuym.

“He approached us and asked if there was anything he could do to help the club following his junior career with us and we accepted the offer straight away.

“He’s got great knowledge, and this has been proven already in his football career.”

Restarting its girls program this season after a previously failed attempt to keep it going, the Bulldogs experienced an overwhelming response for a call out to initially field an under 12’s team that they have since expanded to accommodate the 14 and underage group.

With no less than 26 local girls footballers attending training sessions as a combined unit, this is a true demonstration of a fantastic program within the junior space that is now really starting to take off.

“I am really proud to offer this junior girl’s program to our local area,” Wuhuym said.

“We have had quite a few girls playing with the boys in mixed age groups in previous years until we offered this program and I am looking forward to seeing this expand.

All members of Wesburn are onboard with the vision to continue the development and growth of the club for future seasons and with several previous committee members moving away from the region and interstate for personal reasons, everyone across the club has picked up from the good work left off and carried it on.

“From an off-field perspective, we have got a new group together who are super keen to take the Bulldogs to a new level,” Wuhuym explained.

“Sometimes, you need those energy levels from new committee members coming in to drive things and all they want to do is see the best in kids.

“I am stoked at the willingness and quality of people who have put their hand up again because that is driving us forward.”

The expectations at Wesburn in 2022 revolve around exactly this, with enjoyment of the game, playing with no fear and not worrying about mistakes a key factor of what the year is all about.

Playing for silverware has no bearing on how the Bulldogs will measure their success this year, with development of the game being a key focus.

“We don’t have any expectations of where our teams will finish because we look at it as a development of each team and individual and maximising it,” Wuhuym emphasised.

“If we end up making finals, we will have a go at winning some games then, but otherwise this is our plan.”