Dookie United set to kick-start Picola District league pre-season with a come-and-try day

The club decided to leave Kyabram District League following the end of the 2024 season and join/return to Picola District Football Netball League for 2025 and beyond.

Dookie president Chris Ludeman said the club was sending out an open invitation for Sunday’s event to anyone, no matter their age or skill level, to come and check out its football and netball programs.

“If you are looking around for next season, come have a look at our club; it’s a bit of an open day,” Ludeman said.

“We are not worried about your ability, skill level or fitness, just come and have a look at our club and see if you would like to play at Dookie in 2025.

“New players are always welcome, football, netball, junior, senior.

“If they want to come and look at our club on Sunday it will be much appreciated and if you want to bring some mates with you feel free.”

On Sunday, Dookie is enticing potential future football and netball players through offering a free barbecue after a light training session.

The junior session begins at 10am and the seniors at 11am.

Laura Henderson will be the A-grade coach for 2025, while Travis Waters returns to the club to coach the senior football side after a successful stint as Mooroopna’s defence coach.

Ludeman said the club’s main motivation behind moving back to the Picola District league — the Thunder were last there in 2017 — was to become connected as a club from top to bottom.

“Our club wants to play as one every Saturday,” he said.

“We couldn’t do that in the KDL because not all clubs have junior teams and we were forced to play make-up games away from our club.

“Whereas the Picola league offers our club and all our teams — netball and football — to play as one together every Saturday.

“That’s the main reason we are heading to the Picola league, to play as one.”

Although it may feel as if the final siren on the 2024 season only just blew, pre-season for football and netball clubs across the region will soon be starting.

Ludeman said for the Thunder it would be no different.

“We are looking well as a club on and off the field,” he said.

“We have had our AGM and we have a full spread of passionate committee members.

“Pre-season kicks off next week for senior football — they will be training two nights a week leading up to Christmas.

“There will be a four-week break over Christmas and then back into it in the new year.”