By Jonty Ralphsmith
In 2019, Devon Meadows was languishing with just 10 junior teams. Now, it is thriving with 22, offering kids a clear pathway to senior footy. This is what the transformation has looked like.
It was 2019 when the tide started to turn for Devon Meadows’ juniors.
It was the first year where the club fielded two teams in the same age-group – two under-8s.
Still, there was a total of only 10 junior teams – below the threshold of sustainability in a growth corridor with a swelling number of clubs.
Auskick clinics have been a huge driver of growth: five years ago there were 50 kids participating, now there is 120, with programs run out of both Glover Reserve and Casey Fields.
It has altered the running of the club.
Junior president Mel Alder has subcommittees coming out of her pockets nowadays to help her with roles she would complete individually five years ago as the numbers increase.
It has increased year-on-year, with previous senior president Barry Parsons, current president Chris Langley and Alder, along with dozens of others easing the transition into the senior program.
The fruits of the hard work, which predates the pandemic, are showing on-field, with the under-19s a genuine finals chance this year after winning just one game in 2023 – and it’s a result of the junior program attracting, and importantly, keeping players.
All of the following 15 players who played in the round 3 match against Bonbeach came through the junior system: Ben Buller, Kaiden Audsley, Cooper Woodhouse, Cassidy Murray, Jake Duncanson, Jacob Campanella, Tyler De Roazrio, Sonny Piper, Brodi Nicholson, Jed Norrish, Daniel Attewell, Blake Rose, Bailey Wear, Brodie Alsemgeest and Aidan O’Callaghan.
Part of their transition into the senior program has been attending senior training sessions and team dinners, and listening to the senior coach’s pre-game address.
The connection has become more prominent year-by-year.
As well as the success of the under-19s, the club has 22 junior teams this year, including four girls teams – an overall increase of 120 per cent.
This year also sees the destruction of another major barrier to the viability to the Panthers: geographic separation.
Having needed to run their junior footy program out of Casey Fields, a 10-minute drive to another suburb, the juniors played their first home match in Devon Meadows on Sunday.
While the 6.7-kilometre journey appears insignificant, it’s far enough that the country footy soul is lost, inherently weakening the cultural connection to the senior club.
With the juniors now just a kick of the footy away from Glover, concepts are already brewing to strengthen ties and ease the transition into senior footy – the most advanced of which is having senior players help coach the youngsters.
A transparent, inclusive culture and free memberships for the senior club are great starting points to attract juniors.
Having stars such as Paddy Ryder and Dean Kent coming to give you tips might just be the winning edge.
