IT HAS been a massive couple of months for the EDFL since the calendar turned over to 2016.
We began the year by moving all league operations from Airport West to the true home of EDFL footy, Windy Hill.
Then, not long after the first bounce of Season 2016, we welcomed in a brand new staff member into a brand new role.
Stuart Balloch is the EDFL’s first ever Football Operations Manager, and somehow he managed to find a spare five minutes to have a chat to us about his new role here at Windy Hill.
Stu, you’ve been with us since April, how have you found your new surrounds here at Windy Hill?
The first month has flown and the clubs have been terrific in welcoming me into the role. My first week was in the week leading into Round 3, so I set myself for a bit of a baptism of fire with the season up and running, so really just trying to absorb as much information as possible and provide support where I can.
You’ve accepted a role with us as the EDFL’s first Football Operations Manager. What does that entail?
The role is as it suggests, to ensure the smooth operation of the League, club compliance, adherence to EDFL bylaws, AFL laws of the game and so on. The Board, as part of the League’s strategic plan, have identified some gaps within the internal resources, especially with the implementation of the points system this year and the roll out of a Community Clubs Sustainability Program, so essentially I am employed to ensure that the day-to-day operational matters are being dealt with and to reduce the football workload that have previously been spread around the office. For me it is really an exciting opportunity and I have no doubt it will be both challenging and rewarding.
You arrived at a very busy time of year here at Windy Hill. In a way you were thrown into the deep end given our season had just commenced. What have been working on since you arrived?
You’re not wrong, my main focus initially is to understand the processes that exist across the League, within all facets of match-day operation and administration. In terms of main workloads, we have had junior regrading, the Senior Interleague, we have had a number of League investigations, League meetings, junior advisory meetings and now our sights turn to the junior interleague programs.
Your previous role was at the Werribee Tigers as their Footy Manager. You’re also a born-and-raised western suburbs boy with red, white and blue in your blood and you keep telling us in the office that you were a gun junior footballer. What is your history with the game?
Yeah I was fortunate enough to have spent the last eight years as a Football Manager at VFL level which was a terrific experience and gave exposure to football at the highest level through our affiliation with the North Melbourne Football Club. The role gave me a real appreciation for the work that goes in at clubland and the value of the volunteer. In keeping my response to the 120 characters my own football achievements may need have to wait for another day, but jokes aside I have played in the EDFL as a young U10 at Marby Park many, many years ago and have been associated with TAC Cup, VAFA and WRFL programs and as a Bulldogs supporter I’m quite happy with how the club’s is placed at the moment.
You’ve been spotted out and about on game-day taking in our on-field product. Obviously Werribee has many connections to the EDFL through recent player movement. What’s your impression been of the EDFL’s on-field standard?
The standard of football is great, there are some differences to the style of game and depending how you sit you may attest to the community brand of football being a more attracting style of footy. In my former role there was a number of players that came through the EDFL, Cannons and Jets pathways and to feed that talent back to community football and see some of those players in leadership or coaching roles at their clubs is terrific. I’m hopeful that this will continue to be fostered by clubs.
We’re in a period of significant growth not only out in clubland but also right here at HQ. Where do you see local footy heading?
One of the key factors in the current growth is our Youth Girls program and generally around Female participation. It is no secret that we are looking to have our own league next year and that will be something I am very keen to watch grow. The League is very fortunate to be collaborating with AFL Victoria’s Football Development Managers for the North West and the guidance and programs on offer from them will be the critical in the success at grass roots level. The establishment of clubs in the growth corridors is firmly on the League’s agenda, so there will no doubt be some exciting times ahead. So all in all we are in really good shape.
Welcome aboard, you’ve certainly made a strong impression so far. We hope to have you here for a while yet and hopefully you’re enjoying it so far…
Thoroughly enjoying my time so far and hopefully I can have a positive impact. Thanks.
