• Dandenong Star

By Paul Pickering

10th December 2009 11:00:14 AM

AFL Victoria’s Dandenong Task Force is hoping the likes of North Dandenong’s Rahat Khan and Caleb Millman can lead a junior footy resurgence in the city. 29754

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DANDENONG Task Force; it’s a serious name for a seriously tough mission.

AFL Victoria’s six-member committee yesterday ramped up its bid to resurrect junior footy in the City of Greater Dandenong, meeting with stakeholders from throughout the local community to discuss its game plan for the future.

The consultative meeting, held at the city council offices as the Star went to print on Wednesday, was attended by representatives of local clubs and sporting organisations as well as the council, Victoria Police, Mission Australia, Springvale Community and Advice Bureau and the Centre for Multicultural Youth.

The Dandenong Task Force (DTF), led by AFL Victoria community football development manager Peter McDougall and project manager Liz Triffitt, has been given the responsibility of leading an increase in ailing participation rates in the one-time footy stronghold.

Representatives from the municipality’s remaining four junior clubs – Dandenong Saints, Noble Park, North Dandenong and Parkmore Pirates – were among those most heavily invested in the meeting.

As Triffitt explained on Friday, the DTF was established in the wake of the independently conducted DDJFL Future Direction Review, released in February, which recommended fundamental changes to the league’s administration and growth strategy.

One of the key recommendations was to increase participation levels in Dandenong.

The DTC unveiled its action plan to stakeholders on Wednesday and invited responses.

“We (AFL Victoria) realised that we do a lot, and there’s many other people who do a lot, but it’s not a co-ordinated approach,” Triffitt said. “So this (meeting) is an opportunity for them to say ‘this is what we do and is how we can actually do it together’.”

The DDJFL held its annual general meeting last week, when league officials praised member clubs for their support and leadership in a transitional year for the competition.

Club representatives endorsed a new league constitution and governance structure, to be led by newly-appointed general manager Shaun Connell and chairman Roger Hampson.

Connell, who joins the league after stints with the Dandenong Ranges junior league and the Victorian Country Football League, believes the passion shown by club officials bodes well for the future of the competition.

“The clubs have really taken leadership in driving the changes, and I think that’s important from a community aspect,” he explained.

“They’ve taken ownership and made sure that the league is heading in the right direction, and that’s exciting, because that doesn’t happen often.”

He believes the league has now addressed its administrative problems and is ready to thrive.

“The foundations are now set for the league to grow,” he said.

The league also presented its awards for best conducted club and best conducted teams at the AGM, with Officer Kangaroos taking out the top club gong.

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