AFL Victoria’s School Holiday Clinic program makes a big return to Shepparton after a six-year hiatus

By Liam Nash

Jul 17, 2024

AFL Victoria’s School Holiday Clinic went off with a bang over the term two break. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Junior football is alive and kicking in Shepparton.

During the term two break, AFL Victoria revived its School Holiday Clinics in Shepparton to resounding success after a six-year hiatus.

Over a three-day, three-session block held in Echuca and Shepparton, more than 200 keen young footy fans signed up through the Auskick and Superkick-themed programs, honing their budding skills with smiles plastering their faces.

Rain, hail or shine, kids came in their droves.

Last Friday’s final session was brought indoors due to inclement weather, but AFL Victoria participation co-ordinator Kevin Monaghan assured that in the absence of sun, fun took its place.

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Harper Leigh, five, tucks and runs with a smile on her face. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Elliot Warde, eight, shows off her handball skills. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Ted Butler, seven, bursts away with the footy. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Mackenzie Leigh, seven, waits for the next drill to start. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Blake McCarty, six, boots the ball down the court. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Noah Marx, six, fires off a handball. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Ryker Donnelly, six, is all smiles as he takes off. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Archie Sidebottom, 10, shows off his home club colours. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Blake Sunderland, 11, gets the hands ready for a mark. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Senna Walsh, five, dishes the ball off. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“In terms of attendance, there was about 74 kids all up,” he said.

“The day was awesome, the curriculum ran for six hours.

“We had a range of different drills and we also had, tailored to the girls who signed up, bracelet making, dance parties and plenty of fun.”

The school holiday program, in tandem with Essendon’s AFLW visit to Shepparton this week, ties in excellently with AFL Victoria and AFL Goulburn Murray’s strategy to boost female football numbers in the region.

Throughout term three, a five-week all-girls program will culminate in a two-week junior competition, testing the waters for another female division to come under the Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls League umbrella.

“It’s an exciting strategy and an exciting time for our region,” Monaghan said.

Yes, it’s all systems go at the moment for female football.

But as for the school holiday program, that’s not going anywhere.

“Obviously we tend to run during school terms with our AFL programs and there was that school holiday period where kids were generally not going away,” Monaghan said.

“We had a bit of downtime for us anyways, so we thought why not run school holiday programs and target that age group where if the kids aren’t away, they can do AFL programs.

“The school holiday program is definitely going to stay, given how successful it was.”