THE executive boards which facilitate Mininera football and netball are locked in ready to go.
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Both the Mininera and District Football League and Mininera Netball Association have hosted their annual general meetings, with John Box and Amy Hurley back in their respective roles.
Mr Box said it was an easy decision for him to make, given the year that football had gone through due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I think it would have been the wrong thing to do to step down after this year since we had the virus come in and shake things up," he said.
"It's been a busy year without football - it's probably been more busy than with football really."
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Leagues around the state have hosted a number of talks to discuss age groups for football teams - Mininera was no different.
A letter was tabled at the annual general meeting from Great Western to change the age group from 16.5 years of age to 17.5 years of age.
"The clubs voted against it," Mr Box said.
"There was some feeling it would make some of the younger ones too young to play in that age level."
Despite the draw not out yet, clubs voted to change the draw back to a 16 round competition to make it "a bit more even".
"Our numbers are looking alright," Mr Box said.
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"The board asked clubs about seniors and reserves and at this stage most clubs were confident they could get the numbers," he said.
"Our junior numbers could be a bit of a concern but hopefully we can keep the momentum going from what would have been this season.
"We would have had 11 sides which would have been a bonus for the competition.
"We've just got to work a lot closer together as a league.
"The virus is going to be here until we have a vaccine so there will certainly be some changes that's for sure."
Mrs Hurley took on the role of president of the netball association for the second time, explaining she felt two years was a good amount of time for the role.
"You spend the first year learning everything you need to do for the position and the second year consolidating on that," she said.
Chris Boyd has taken on a secretary and treasurer role for the upcoming season.
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Voted in at the annual general meeting was a decision to increase the age group in the juniors.
"We voted on introducing an 18 and under competition for 2021 season," Mrs Hurley said.
"It's normally 17 and under. So the top age group players in juniors will be able to play an extra year.
"This will give those players who haven't been able to play their final year of junior netball this year the opportunity to build their confidence."
Mrs Hurley said it was a jump from junior netball to senior netball and the association and clubs wanted to give players the best possible transition between the teams.
"All the players have had a year off so this allows them to re-build and enhance that skill base which was already developing," she said.
"In the past, we've had two to three teams that haven't been able to field 17 and under teams so we're hoping that by increasing the ages for 12 months, those clubs might be able to pick up and retain a few more players we can have a full draw again."
Mininera is awaiting on the Wimmera Football Netball League to issue the draw so they can work around scheduling of the oval at Alexandra Oval in Ararat.
Both the Ararat Eagles and Ararat Rats use the facility.
"Once the Wimmera league has issued its draw we'll be able to sit down and work out ours," Mrs Hurley said.
"We're hoping by the end of the year Wimmera will have their draw out and then Mininera can start working on theirs."
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