Sport
Goulburn Valley Giants kick off 2024 AFL Masters campaign with call to over-35 players
AFL Masters football is a platform on which the symbolism goes far deeper than catering to “yesterday’s heroes”.
The Goulburn Valley Giants are gearing up for a 2024 campaign that organiser David Davis hopes is the most fulfilling yet.
The real rewards are found off the field in a competition that plays not for premiership points, but for promoting men’s socialisation and well-being.
“Its core values as a whole are that it was originally made up for men’s health,” Davis said.
“Those who had played footy or another sport all their lives, in retirement, then lose three or four days of their weeks to nothing.
“Sometimes, that plays a pretty big role in their mental stability. We offer that opportunity to have an outlet to have a kick and do what they enjoy.
“It’s also for people who have never played; us as blokes, you have a beer, chat to mates and solve the world’s issues.’’
Lining up in the regional Victorian division of over-35 competition, Masters clubs like the Giants carry significantly fewer commitments than others in the established leagues.
Davis views this as another broad-reaching benefit in balancing responsibilities and maintaining a sense of routine.
“Some of these guys might have played at a Shepp Bears or a Shepp United for 20 or 25 years,” Davis said.
“Because we only train once a week and play once a fortnight, they can not only spend time with family, but it opens up an outlet for them to volunteer with their local club.
“A lot of clubs portray themselves as ‘family clubs’, but our kids train with us, and that’s what you need when you get a bit older.
“We can have 12 or 13-year-olds running water for us, and that’s a dad getting to spend one-on-one time with his kid.
“Ultimately, the whole thing is football for fun. We don’t play for premiership points, we play for fun and health.”
It is indeed the health front where the impact of ventures like Masters strikes closest to home for Davis.
He has attested to multiple instances where people have credited the Giants environment with significantly improving — perhaps even saving — the lives of players at the club.
“We had our first kick of the footy in 2016 and, since then, we’ve had one or two people who are licensed psychologists,” Davis said.
“It's been advertised since day dot; mateship can only go so far, and you can talk to them if you have a problem.
“We know through wives that we’ve made a big difference and saved a couple of lives.
“People have come to us saying, ‘this guy was on the edge, but we’ve brought him back’.
“You still need your outlet and we offer that.’’
Head to Goulburn Valley Giants Masters on Facebook to find out more