2025  Devon Meadows Junior Football Club President’s Report Melanie Alder

2025 seen us with another huge growth and for the third year, fielding 510 junior players/25 teams.  This included 3 x U8 team and the inaugural Under 8 girls side, 3 x U9, 3x U10 boys, U10 girls, 3 x U11, 2 x U12, U12 Girls,  2 x U13, 2 x U14, U15, U16 girls (merged with Fountain-Gate), U16 and U17.  DMJFC also ran an Auskick Clinic at Booring Reserve with over 100 participants.

We had an incredible 8 teams qualify for finals this season, with four teams taking the Premiership Cups back to the club.  Congratulations to the U11 Boys Black, U11 Red, U11 Boys White, U12 Boys Red, U13 Boys Black, U14 Boys Black, U16 Boys, and U16 Girls.  Unfortunately, the 11 Black and 11 Red teams got defeated in the first final. The 12 boys and 14 boys got defeated in the grand final.   Congratulations to the U11 Boys White, 13 Boys Black, 16 Boys, and 16 Girls (merged team with Fountain Gate) on their premiership win!

Well done again to all 8 teams!

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Club Awards:

Best Club Person: Melissa Thompson

Club Champion: Jayden Gourley

Best Conducted Team (8-10): Under 8 Girls

Best Conducted Team (11-17): Under 11 Boys Black

League B and F:

U11 Div 2 Leading Goalkicker – Louis Brooke

U12 Div 2  – Best And Fairest - Jett Christodoulou

U13 Div 3 Leading Goalkicker – Braxton Gersbeck

U13 Div 3 Best And Fairest  – Braxton Gersbeck

U14 Div 2 Runners Up Best And Fairest – Noah Hellyer

U16 Girls Div 4 Best And Fairest – Gracie Williams

FDJFL Best Conducted Team – Under 17 boys, Under 12 Red Boys, Under 14 Black Boys

Other Major Achievements:

              V/Line U15 Dandenong Stingrays – Andrew Fitzgerald

            Team Victoria Country Team at AFL National Champ Best On Ground– Jayden Gourley

              FDJFL Interleague Representatives – Thomas Morley, Ky Cosgriff, Kobe Le Gall, Elias Eid, Brady Dixon, Tessa Langenhoff, Lilyana Brown, Annalise Rutowicz, Ayden Neil, Bailey Whyte, Andrew Fitzgerald, Koby Young, Chadd Tootell, Annie Holloway, Austin Talbot, Braxton Gersbeck.

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Over the past five years, our club has experienced extraordinary and sustained growth, expanding by 18 teams in that period. This is something very few junior clubs experience in such a short amount of time.

With rapid growth comes both opportunity and challenge. This season was about consolidating that change effectively and ensuring that the foundations of our club remained strong.

A major focus this the last few years was establishing the right operational structure to support growth this size.  We dedicated significant time to strengthening sub-committees, improving planning and operational processes, and ensuring every player/coach/team had what they needed (jumpers, apparel, footballs, etc). 

These changes may not always be visible on the field, but they are essential for long-term success and professionalism.

While these tasks required countless hours of volunteer effort, they ensured that families and players had a positive experience despite the club’s rapid expansion.

It’s important to acknowledge that this growth transition has been a shared learning process—not only for the committee, but for every volunteer, coach, and family involved in the club. The shift from a small, close-knit club to a large, complex, multi-team organisation is significant.  What matters is that we are adapting together, with patience, understanding, and a genuine commitment to making the club better each year.

 

One of the standout achievements of this season was the strength of our overall organisation. From training schedules to match-day operations, from equipment management to communication with families, we continued to refine and improve how the club functions.

This does not happen by accident—it happens because of the dedication and professionalism of our volunteers. I extend my heartfelt thanks to every coach, team manager, committee member, and parent who stepped in to help. You are the heartbeat of our club.

 

Now that we have stabilised the operational side of a rapidly growing club, our next chapter becomes very clear.

In 2026, our number one priority will be strengthening our club culture.

With the foundations in place, it’s time to define what it means to be part of Devon Meadows Junior Football Club Community:

• How we support each other

• What behaviours we value

• How we represent ourselves on and off the field

• How we build a welcoming, inclusive environment for players and families

 

Growth may have driven the last five years, but culture will drive the next five.

This has been a transformative period for our club. We have gone from small to large, from simple to structured, from emerging to established.

The work has not always been easy, but it has absolutely been worth it. We are now positioned for a future defined not by growth alone, but by the quality of the experience we offer every child who pulls on a Panthers jumper.

 

Thank you to all volunteers, families, coaches, and players for your patience, enthusiasm, and hard work. It remains an honour to serve as President.

Thank you to any committee members who will be leaving us this year.  I thank you all for the effort and time you’ve all put in. 

A special mention goes to Joel Alder, Kelly Hughes, and Jessica Robertson. 

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Kelly jumped back in as treasurer during the 2025 preseason.  She did an amazing amount of work the last three years to make the finances ran smoothly and accurately, while ensuring efficient financial operation to suit the size of the club.  Thank you Kelly. 

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Joel Alder, who has been on the committee now for 5 years, including the last 4 years as Football Operations.  Joel has laid the foundation for development of coaches and players, and doing a huge amount of work on maximizing individual and team growth.  Thank you for all the work you have done!

 

To Jessica Robertson, who has also been on committee for multiple years as apparel coordinator.  Jess has streamlined the ordering and purchasing of apparel process.  Thanks Jess for all the time you’ve put in.

 

Bring on 2026!

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Melanie Alder

President

 

Devon Meadows Junior Football Club