Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club has been in a great partnership with the Knox Club over many years. We are absolutely delighted to announce that this partnership will continue in 2020 with Knox Club as our Platinum Sponsor. A valued and loyal supporter, they have welcomed us for post game day award ceremonies and hosted dozens of fantastic events from balls to presentation nights.
All BHFNC players are members of the Knox Club and enjoy the great benefits that come with it. If you’d like learn to learn more about a membership or any of their offerings, please visit the Knox Club website.
The Senior Committee and Board of Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club would like to extend our best wishes to Fletch who has decided to accept a Director of Coaching role at another club for season 2021.
Fletch has made an outstanding contribution to the BHFNC over a very long period of time. I had the pleasure of coaching Fletch and as a player and he went on to play over 100 senior games for our club. As a player, he always gave 100%, and in his next role as a coach, he certainly continued on a pathway of growth and learning and gave our underage players tremendous support and coaching whilst in their formative years. Fletch was a coach in the true sense of the word. He was a role model, a mentor, and a friend to his players. He had their respect and he always pushed his players to become senior players of our club.
Fletch’s resume at Boronia is most impressive:
Under 18 assistant in 2001
Coached under 12 in 2003
Coached other junior teams from 2004 to 2007
Coached under 18 /19’s from 2010 to 2013
Coached reserves in 2014/15
Senior development coach in 2015
Coach of under 15’s in 2015
Coach of under 17’s from 2016 / 19
Coach of under 19’s from 2018 / 20
Made Grand Finals in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 and PREMIERS 2018!
ERCA Development Coach of the Year 2015
BHFNC Best Clubman 2013
Mick Spencer Award for Junior Volunteer of the Year 2018
This is one hell of a resume!!
Thank you for your great service Fletch, we wish you well, look forward to monitoring your progress at the mighty Dalyston!
Greg, who is fondly known around the club as “Lou” due to his uncanny resemblance of Lou Carpenter on Neighbours, has agreed to coach the Vet’s for 2021. A former barrel chested, power house on baller for Mitcham’s 1st Division side, Greg has formed a tight knit group of ageing veterans eager to taste September action again. Despite lucrative counter offers from other clubs we are delighted to secure the services of Greg for another year
MARK O’NEIL: SENIOR VET’S ASSISTANT COACH
Known as “Owie” to the playing group, Mark is a former 1st Division player for Boronia who was known for his prowess around goals. Owie’s ability to work the “whiteboard” makes for game changing interchange moves. Being the tactical brains of this dynamic duo, we look forward to seeing how the Vets fare in 2021.
Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club is pleased to announce the Senior Football Department roles for season 2021. We strongly believe our football department is the equal, if not better, than any in the league. The experience and knowledge of not just football, but of building solid relationships and having an awareness of player wellbeing is most evident in our 2021 BHFNC senior roles. We are still to fill our Netball Manager role but are hopeful that position will be filled before the end of this year. Other key roles in the football department will be announced in the very near future.
Our Club is proud to announce each person in our football department. They play a key role in ensuring the continued growth and success of our Club. They share and role model our Club values and their continued loyalty to our Club is much appreciated.
MATT CLARK: SENIOR MEN’S COACH
Matt is one of the most respected coaches in the EFNL. Matt has earned that respect by not just focussing on team success but on the welfare of each individual under his care. Matt’s compassion, his empathy, his drive and energy to push our list to be the best they can be makes our club most fortunate to have him steering our male football ship. We don’t take it for granted that Matt chooses to coach our club. Any club in the league would employ him tomorrow, but he enjoys being involved in our club and we are grateful to have him be a significant influence over our senior men’s playing list.
STEVE TEAKEL: SENIOR ASSISTANT COACH Steve’s experience, his level headedness and his football knowledge built over so many years of involvement at a local level makes him the perfect foil for Matt. The two men are close friends, they have coached together for many years now and complement each other. Teaks is an absolute asset to our club and we hope he has many more years of coaching involvement at the ‘Hawka.’
DREW O’HARE: SENIOR ASSISTANT COACH Drew has been a respected and admired senior assistant coach for many, many years. One of the most passionate and committed Boronia people I’ve ever met, having Drew involved in our seniors men’s program is like the sun coming up in the morning: it’s just supposed to happen!! Drew brings a wealth of football and club knowledge to the table and we are so grateful for his continued service to our club. LIfe Member and Club legend!
RAY LACEY and SCOTT NICHOLAS: SENIOR WOMEN’S COACHES Ray and Scott have worked together to grow our senior women’s program over the last three seasons. Ray, a club great and Scott, a current senior player and Club Chairman, share a strong passion for growing and enhancing the women’s football program at our Club. Both men have built strong relationships with our female playing list and are always searching for opportunities to improve our women’s program. Ray and Scott have built a strong coaching relationship over the past three years and can’t wait to build on their foundations in 2021.
CRAIG BROCKLEY: SENIOR DEVELOPMENT COACH
I was able to bring Brock to our club over a coffee in Ormond about 4 years ago. That proved to be one of our Club’s best coffees. Brock is now a HAWKA through and through! A Club sponsor, a dual premiership coach and a person that prides himself on building rock solid relationships with his players. He has the toughest gig at the club and he knows it! Craig treats his players with great love and respect and that absolutely goes both ways. I was fortunate to coach with him at Upwey and their loss has been our gain!
GREG GRANLAND: SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT COACH
As far as the coaching staff goes, Greg is the newbie on the block. A passionate and dedicated coach, Greg is not afraid to think outside the box and bring fresh and innovative ideas to the coaching staff. The proud father of Jordy, Greg works harmoniously with Brock and spends much time communicating with the players and trying to find 1%ers to improve our list.
SENIOR MEN’S FOOTBALL MANAGER: ASH JOHNSTON
Having Ash steering the recruiting and the management of our senior list and coaching staff has been an absolute blessing. Ash is a Boronia person, he is a relationship person and he aspires to make our Club create a backbone that will hold us in good stead for many years to come. Ash, a former senior player, a major sponsor of our Club, and now producing future father / son players, is the conduit between player / coaches and committee. He has been working his backside off resigning our player list for 2021 and I can’t wait to see our senior list in action next season. I have no doubt we can continue to compete and play deep into finals.
SENIOR WOMEN’S FOOTBALL MANAGER: NATHAN ALLEN – new role for 2021
Nath, is a current senior men’s footballer, a former senior captain and one of the most respected people at our Club. Nathan, as Senior Vice President of our club will also now oversee the growth and development of our senior women’s program. Women’s football has been a major growth area of our Club and to have someone of the quality of Nathan overseeing this area of the Club will see women’s football continue to grow and ‘shine’ at our Club. Nathan’s wife, Bec, is also a current senior player so Nathan has an intimate knowledge of all challenges faced by our female playing list. Nathan will support our coaching staff and ensure our female players get every opportunity to improve their skills and enjoy playing the great game wearing a Boronia jumper.
Boronia Hawks appreciates the generous support from Knox City Council and Cr Peter Lockwoodduring the Covid-19 pandemic. We have just received a $1,000 contribution to assist with our facility operating costs as part of Council’s COVID-19 Community and Business Support Package.
The Council has already waived all tenancy fees for the use of the facilities at Tormore and Millers, but we still have ongoing costs for our electricity and gas connections. This funding will assist the Club to manage our costs and remain in a sound financial position going in to 2021.
A working group of sixteen Club members got together last night via Zoom to launch the development of the Club’s Gender Equity Action Plan. The people involved represented all aspects of the Club’s operations and each recognised the benefits that flow on from the effective and equitable participation and integration of girls and women across the Club.
Many thanks to Karen Little and Scott Nicholas for their work in drafting the action plan.
Thank you also to the members of our working group, including Amanda Cellante, Ash Johnson, Bec Allen, Ben Robertson, Candyce Wright, Carly Dymond, David Nicholas, Greg Hannon, Julia Bortoli, Kat McMahon, Kristan Wood, Nathan Allen, Rhianna Little, Samantha Dunkinson, Wayne Preston and Ye Jeffries.
Everyone around Victoria is currently in lockdown under Stage 4 restrictions. We all have a responsibility to do the right thing regarding the restrictions; we also have a responsibility to each other to stay safe, stay connected and stay positive.
We know a lot of our players, coaches, volunteers and families have already been impacted mentally and financially because of COVID-19, and many more will face hardship because of the new restrictions.
Let’s remember why this is in place, to ensure we all stay safe and healthy.
There has been a lot of discussion regarding mental health and wellbeing, and it’s a fantastic reminder for everyone with the Boronia community to prioritise their mental health.
Please look after yourselves, check in on each other, and be sure to connect with all of the great mental health services if you’re struggling to cope. You can check some out on the Wellbeing Hub on the Boronia Hawks website.
While many of us will face difficulties over the coming six weeks, there are some who may be is a less fortunate position and may struggle for basic necessities or a roof over their heads. If anyone from within the club is concerned about another club member please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know.
We are in this together, and we will get through this together.
GO HAWKA.
Scott Nicholas, Chairman, BORONIA HAWKS FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB INC.
The Club’s Grants Program has had another successful application. We have just been granted funding of $2,960 for a program to support Leadership for Young Women in Football.
The Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions offered this grant opportunity under the 2019/20 Community Activation Grants Program. We are very grateful for the government’s continued encouragement of community sport, particularly by backing clubs with the booming popularity of football for women and girls. Special thanks go to Claire Dyson from the Office for Women in Sport & Recreation and to Jackson Taylor MP.
As we grow our Women’s Football Program we have identified a number of young players who will benefit enormously from this opportunity to develop their leadership skills through this structured learning aimed specifically at their age group.
Although the leadership development program has been delayed for this season due to the COVID-19 lockdown, funding has been provided so that we can proceed with the training in 2021.
Once again the Club can thank Kerryn Westcott, our Grants Co-ordinator, and Karen Little, Director of Community and Inclusion, for their work in submitting a successful application for the grant. The Club’s Grants Program continues to provide an outstanding benefit in the enhancement of our facilities and membership support programs. Recent grants include:
Daniel Cencic from Knox Leader talks to Boronia’s Senior President, Greg Hannon.
Boronia President Greg Hannon has backed his club to rebound “quickly” from the coronavirus as it continues to navigate its way through the season shut down.
The Hawks have been one of the top performing teams in their division across the past two seasons, winning a premiership in the league’s third tier in 2018 before a minor premiership last year.
Hannon declared premiership coach Matt Clark would “absolutely” be steering the Hawks next season, as the club remains strong on and off the field through the crisis.
“We’re financially very strong,” Hannon said. “we’ve got a great coaching group – I think we’ve got one of the best in the league and we’ve got an incredibly good list of young players.
“Putting this three factors together, we’re very stable – we’ve got good off-field leadership – we’re one club now – junior, senior, netball, women’s. We’re very solid both on and off the field, so when we get the chance to rebound, we’ll rebound quickly.”
Attention has now turned to retaining players with player payments set to be slashed statewide from 2021. The slated figure for the Division 2 salary cap is $60,000. (NB: not confirmed).
“We’ve got a really loyal group of young players and I’m sure they will take a bit of a cut, but we don’t foresee anyone moving because they know we’ve had a couple of years of winning a lot more games than losing,” Hannon said.
“Our time to shine is in the next two or three years – everyone’s getting 50, 60, 70, 80 games under their belt now and all those kids are close to 100 game players now, we should be pushing had for premierships in the next three or four years.”
Hannon, who played for the Hawks in the 1986 flag and coached the club from 2003 to 2005, said Boronia’s “unique” culture held it in good stead for keeping its list intact.
“The club’s got an incredible culture – it has for many, many, years,” he said. “Often people from other clubs say ‘What is it about Boronia?’, because we have a huge past-player commitment and they’re heavily involved in the club.
“I’ve coached a few clubs – I’ve coached Upwey, Knox and I’ve coached Boronia, and nothing’s like the commitment of our past players, it’s quite unique.
“It’s a working class club, everyone’s included and it works well.”
Boronia Veterans
The EFNL became one of the first major suburban competitions to call it quits on season 2020 in early June.
Hannon praised the league for its handling of the season shutdown and hopes pre-season can begin as normal later in the year.
“Fingers crossed it (pre-season) starts late November, December when we normally start,” he said.
“I think the league made the right call when they went early – it gave us a bit of clarity of what we can plan for and I think the league have done a pretty good job, it’s a tough gig.”
As we do our best to endure this rather ‘crap year’ for our club and society as a whole, it can also be a time to acknowledge and show gratitude to those at our club whose behaviours give us strength or even inspiration. So, in no particular order, I’d like to recognize a few club people that inspire me, and hopefully you.
Bomma Bomma AKA ( Robert Kimmit ) has been through an absolute rollercoaster of emotions as he supports his great mate, Collo, through his health battles. Bomma is there to support Amanda, he is there to update the ‘Hawka Community’ and he is literally sitting beside Collo as he does his best to fight for his life during this horrendous time. This is true mateship, this is true love for a friend and Bomma’s behaviours have made me feel really proud to be a part of our club. People like Bomma and Panda demonstrate the values of our club every day. A club that is built on friendship, inclusion and loyalty.
Amanda Collins What can I say. She has been resolute, determined and positive as her husband has fought and fought and fought. Her love for Dean and her family has known no bounds. She stays positive and regularly communicates with us all as we share his journey. A true hero!
Collo This bloke has been through hell now for over 14 weeks. He stays positive and hopeful that he can beat this. His emotions have been tested too many times. But he fights and he fights and he fights. An inspiration to us all!
Snicko and Dave The father son duo continue to make our club ‘cohesive’ during these terrible times. The facebook posts, the ‘Hawka Talks’ and the regular club updates keep us informed and together. The time these two men give to our club is extraordinary. We are most fortunate to have you both at our club!!!
Robbo, Ruthers, Shoey and Brett Smith Our boys in blue. These must be the most challenging times for our members in blue. You probably don’t get the thanks you deserve but we are proud of you guys!! Stay safe!!
Wayne and Sammy Even from Wayne’s hospital bed he is still planning and working on how we can make our club stronger off the field. Sammy is like a duracell battery, she just keeps going and giving. We are most fortunate to have these dynamic, loyal and dedicated volunteers at our club.
Ash and our Coaches Throughout this crisis, our coaches, with Ash, have worked to maintain our player unity. As a club, we are just so fortunate to have the quality of coaches we have at our club. Their dedication, their care for player wellbeing and their loyalty to our club has not gone unnoticed.
Stick This blokes capacity to keep the ‘vets’ together has been terrific to see. He has played cards with more or less the same blokes for close to 40 years. He invites his vets team to his home ( when allowed ) every Thursday, he organises the ‘footy trip’ esky and he inevitably gets the cards going at some stage. He brings unity, he brings enjoyment and he brings ‘groundhog day’ to our club. This is so important and this is what sets us apart from other clubs.
Hollywood I’ve been mates with this bloke for a long time. Being in the travel business is possibly the worst business to be involved in during a COVID lockdown. Does Hollywood sulk, or sook? No, he stays upbeat, he stays positive and he remains the same person we all love. We all look forward to using Greg and GK Travel when we are allowed to travel again.
Finally, just like society, our club will rebound from this crisis quickly. We are fortunate to be in a strong position in all departments and as soon as we are given the green light to start up operations we will muster the troops and get going again. Stay well, wear your mask and ‘Go Hawka!’
Boronia Hawks are naturally very disappointed that the 2020 junior season has now been cancelled. We fully understand the reasons for this decision but we all share the disappointment that our juniors will feel after training for several weeks to get ready to play. The Club will now assess the impact of the decision and provide further advice to junior families as soon as possible.
The joint statement from EFNL and other metropolitan leagues is as follows:
JOINT STATEMENT – 2020 COMPETITIONS CANCELLED
The Eastern Football Netball League, in conjunction with the Northern Football Netball League, Essendon District Football League, Western Region Football League and South East Juniors wishes to issue a statement regarding the 2020 season.
Following the State Government’s announcement of a return to Stage 3 restrictions in Metropolitan Melbourne for six weeks commencing July 9, the EFNL, NFNL, EDFL, WRFL and SEJ have collectively decided to cancel all football and netball competitions for the 2020 season.
The common view was that cancelling all competitions for the 2020 season was the only viable decision in the best interest of all clubs, participants, and the wider community.
All leagues and their member clubs have a clear obligation to prioritise the health and safety of all participants and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a duty to minimise the burden on all club volunteers during this unprecedented time.
The leagues are committed to working closely with their member clubs, AFL Victoria, and Netball Victoria to manage the associated issues related to the cancellation of all 2020 competitions and working towards a return to play next season.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank all clubs, players, parents, volunteers, officials, umpires and league partners for their patience, support and understanding throughout these challenging times.
Please stay safe and we urge all associated with our respective communities to heed the advice and regulations in place by order of the State Government.
We all have a role to play in ensuring our community remains safe and healthy and that we can all return to football and netball next season.
All clubs are reminded that club-sanctioned training and events are prohibited until at least August 19, as per Stage 3 restrictions.
Further updates will be provided in due course via your respective league.
