WATSONIA Sporting Club and Mill Park Junior Football Club have announced the establishment of a new pathway between the two clubs.
The partnership will allow players who graduate from Mill Park’s under-17s to continue playing football together in Watsonia’s under-19 team, which will be renamed Watsonia-Mill Park.
The clubs will share resources to ensure a smooth transition for Mill Park junior players moving across to the Watsonia senior program.
Mill Park will receive part of the registration fee for each former junior who registers to play with Watsonia.
“More than anything it’s an opportunity for the Mill Park boys to continue to play football together, rather than getting to the under-17 year and then separating,” Watsonia secretary Rod Haber said.
“Part of the agreement between the clubs is that we’ll name our under-19s Watsonia-Mill Park. It gives the boys coming from Mill Park that sense of ownership and they’re not just coming into any other club, they’re actually staying within their own club.
“A lot of boys can potentially give the game away rather than go on another couple of seasons in the under-19s. A lot of boys really develop in under-19s and can go onto bigger and better things, so it’s very much about participation and seeing where it can lead.
“We’re hoping that all the families over time migrate from Mill Park for their junior careers to Watsonia for their senior careers.”
Mill Park president Paul Annetta said the new partnership would prove extremely beneficial to both clubs
“There a lot of benefits for both clubs in this partnership,” Annetta said.
“We are looking forward to working closely with Watsonia to create a comfortable pathway for Mill Park juniors into under-19s and ultimately senior football.”
As part of the agreement, Watsonia under-19 coach Joel Steindl will work closely with Mill Park’s junior program.
“Our under-19 coach Joel Steindl is a very, very good coach,” Haber said.
“Their under-16 and under-17 group will take full advantage of him during the season. He’ll assist them with training and if under-17 boys want to have a run with us on a Saturday occasionally, he’ll facilitate that and work very closely with (Mill Park under-17 coach) Dan Lawry.
Haber was hopeful the pathway would also extend to the netball courts.
“The other thing is we have our netball club, which is very strong,” he said.
“This partnership gives an opportunity for the girls in the Mill Park families to be encouraged to participate in our netball teams as well.”
