Drouin football and netball clubs’ play big part in community

The Drouin Football and Netball Clubs continue to grow and have further expanded their roles to become a part of the broader community.

There has been a conscious program to strengthen the involvement of the clubs and become a true community contributor.

Drouin's annual Ficifolia Festival has made it home at the Drouin Community Bank oval where the football and netball clubs are based and the social club has, for a number of years, been home for the week-long festival art show.

The social club facilities are also used for various functions, presentations and fund-raising events that benefit all sections of the community.

And during the COVID pandemic made the social rooms available on an ongoing basis for local testing.

The Drouin Football Club was established more than 130 years ago to provide a game of football for local youth and men.

A netball club came a number of years later. Now both are intertwined to present a total family environment, for the players and their families.

The two clubs have come a long way and are in a solid position to further develop for players, families, friends, supporters and the general public in a rapidly growing town and district.

The Drouin football and Drouin junior football clubs are closely affiliated and providing an avenue through which boys and girls as young as seven can play until they decide to retire from the game.

The junior club conducts Auskick for the really young and well as seven teams for female and male participants.

The senior club fields four teams - Under 16, Under 18, Reserves and Seniors - in the Gippsland League, the major competition in the region.

Opportunities to play netball with the club have also expanded.

The Hawks netballers field six sides - from 13 & Under to seniors - in the Gippsland League competition.

The club now also has young teams playing in the Drouin and District Netball Association where they learn skills to prepare them to progress to the 13& Unders at the senior club.

Football president Chris Soumilas said that in addition to developing younger players and providing them with the best facilities and equipment possible the club cares for the "whole" player and the work of sports chaplain Eddie Forwood in supporting players that "seek an independent, compassionate ear" needs to be acknowledged.

The netball club has also added focus to player well being.

Resident dietician Grace Henderson is educating the players about fuelling their bodies for game days and life. and a number of other well being initiatives will be introduced throughout the season.

Drouin’s Tom Johnson comes from behind to spoil a marking attempt during the senior clash against neighbourhood rival Warragul. Johnson is one of several players that have graduated from junior ranks at the Hawks to the seniors team this year that are laying the foundations for the team into the future.

In excess of 100 people representing business partners and sponsors enjoyed a luncheon hosted by Drouin football and netball clubs during its matches at home last Saturday week.