The next generation of Falcons are getting their opportunity in the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association’s M-League this season.
The Altona Falcons, who are part of Victorian Netball League club the City West Falcons, are fielding an under-14 boys side for the first time this year in the Junior M-League.
The club has had a men’s side for a number of years in the M-League and are now setting a pathway for junior boys coming through.
City West Falcons head coach Marg Lind has taken on coaching the junior boys.
Senior Falcons player and coach Josh Smith said it was quite exciting to see the boys get their opportunity.
He said there was a lot of interest when they announced they would have a boys team.
“It’s a really good pathway for us and what we’ve been hoping for,” Smith said. “It has been great.
“The pathway was still in its infancy when I was coming through and there was still lots of room to develop.
“You’ve now got Gerard Murphy, who is a VNL coach, running the high performance program and Marg Lind taking on a coaching role.
“Local kids are getting so much high level experience going into them.”
The Falcons have won both their opening games including beating Melbourne East 2, 50-12 on Wednesday night.
Smith said he loves giving back to help the younger players and help them develop and hopes they become senior Falcons down the track.
Alexia McConnell, another Falcons VNL coach, helps look after the senior men’s side along with Smith.
She coached Smith at state level and then came into Falcons making a massive difference across the whole club.
The men’s side has started the season with a 1-1 record after a bye in round one.
Smith said they had a very similar line up to last season, especially in the attack end.
Australian players Brodie Roberts, Liam Kielly and Victorian player Adam Franz have all returned this season.
Smith said they hadn’t started as well as they would have liked but were confident they could build as the season goes on.
“We’re looking to be a successful team at the pointy end of the season,” he said. “We’ve got the squad to do it, we’re just still building some connections.
“We’ll work to keep building those connections. We have a young defence end and a few new players there.
“It will take some time. We’re building a good team and we have a great club around us.”
The under-14s face Melbourne East 1 this week, while the senior men face Netblacks, in what will be a big challenge for them.
