Maribyrnong Park may not have won the Essendon District Football League premiership last season but will remember 2013 fondly after being named a Good Sports club of the year.
The Lions were the metro west winner as one of six Victorian clubs to receive an award.
Good Sports is a community program of the Australian Drug Foundation, providing support on club culture management issues such as responsible service of alcohol, smoke-free areas and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
With 6188 affiliates around Australia, the Good Sports administration recognised Maribyrnong Park’s care for the health and wellbeing of its players, members and spectators.
Maribyrnong Park’s club administration puts the recognition down to growth and development of the club’s junior ranks.
“To us, being a Good Sports club is an extension of how we want to be perceived by the local community and competitors; a welcoming place for families, friends, supporters and guests,” club president Stuart Donelly said.
“In the years prior to joining the program, the club described themselves as a ‘rough and ready’ environment, producing great footballers but not a lot of team success. The club also struggled to attract junior players which had them extremely concerned about their future as a club.
“This is where Good Sports came in. The club wanted to attract families and let parents know Maribyrnong Park Football Club was a great place for kids to play footy.”
Recently appointed club secretary and past committee member Tony Fisher said it took the effort of at least 50 people, from coaches, to fans, to administrators, around the club to uphold the standards aspired too.
“When we were building up the juniors . . . talking to schools and Auskick centres, it was things like being part of Good Sports that helped the club’s image,” Fisher said.
“The on-field success of the senior team certainly got the Marby name out in the community. Now it’s being backed up by the phenomenal performance of our junior teams.
“Good Sports states on its website that it does not have the aim of ‘drying up’ clubs from serving alcohol altogether.
“The club and a lot of clubs are still reliant on bar sales, but it’s the way you go about it. Fans can enjoy their time at the footy without people going over the top.”
Maribyrnong Park will field junior teams in double figures next year, possibly as many as 12.
“This recognition helps consolidate our position as a part of the Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale and Maribyrnong community . . . to be a place where people want to come to be part of a sporting club,” Fisher said.
The national Good Sports club of the year was Hectorville Sports and Community Club, from South Australia, with Queensland’s Townsville Hockey Association and northern Victorian outfit Tyntynder Football and Netball club the national runners-up
