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00:00 Coming to the climax of the season, it's finals time and I reckon you'd be wrapped with the way the season has gone in the CHFL.
00:07 Yep, loving what's happening at the moment there. We started the year with great anticipation and it's great to see all of the clubs that come through.
00:16 And as I said, there's representation from I think 16 out of the 17 sides at finals time. So it's a good time, good attendances, people are just happy to get back playing footy.
00:29 And also just enjoying each other's company.
00:32 Last year was a rebound off COVID. It was the first full season we've had after interruptions for 18 months basically, almost two years.
00:41 But this year, I think we've built on that yet again in the CHFL.
00:45 Yeah, no, it's been really good. Coming off probably the couple of years there where we didn't play much football or any finals, it was just cruel for a lot of people for the work they put in.
00:55 But it's great to see that now we're back into a bit of more clearer air, that people are able to get out and enjoy themselves.
01:01 And the numbers of people coming to the footy is probably bigger than ever that I've seen for a long time.
01:06 And people are just enjoying each other's company and also the footy that we are playing in the Central Highlands at the moment.
01:11 You've talked about over the last couple of years the importance that football has in the health of the community, mental health and the like.
01:19 And that again has been reinforced this year as well, hasn't it?
01:22 Oh, it has been there too. Look, inside the boundary line it's all about playing football, the physical aspect of it, winning games and going on to winning grand finals.
01:31 But outside the boundary line, it's just great to see people enjoying each other's company and the mental health aspect, you can't even quantify that with getting there.
01:39 And it is, it's like a second family to a lot of people they spend six months of the year with.
01:44 They certainly do. And talking about the health, the health of the competition.
01:49 You see, there's always clubs that are battling at any one particular time.
01:53 You have the strong clubs and you have those down the ladder, it's just what football is all about.
01:59 But overall, you'd be very happy with the way all the clubs have adapted to the change over the past few years and the health of those clubs.
02:09 Yeah, look, I think overall, most clubs are having a real hard crack at the moment.
02:13 There's a bit of a change in the guard from some of the ones who are up higher and now get lower down the ladder.
02:18 But overall, I think everybody is having a real hot go at getting their players and trying to make it as a winning prospect every week.
02:26 No major blowouts, really. There's the odd game there, which some teams haven't kicked real straight, which doesn't help.
02:34 But overall, I'm fairly happy with the way competition is going.
02:38 And the league certainly still has the ability to attract quality footballers from far and wide.
02:44 Oh, look, it's good there too. As I said, the majority of our ovals are really good playing surfaces.
02:50 We've got a few playing surfaces probably out in some of the eastern sides there, which they're working with the councils out there to try and rectify.
02:57 Because you've got to have good surfaces for your players, your umpires.
03:02 And if you've got good ovals, you get good football and good spectacles and that grows on crowds as well there too.
03:07 So looking forward to just having more marquee games with the odd player coming in.
03:13 But I think overall we're doing fairly well.
03:15 And what about the junior side of things? Always important for the future of the clubs.
03:22 And that looks pretty strong at the moment as well.
03:25 No, they are. The junior side of the clubs are working really hard to try and get extra players along.
03:31 Same as everywhere, people looking for numbers of players to play and it's a hard space at times there.
03:38 But also too, there is opportunities out there.
03:41 There's still a lot of kids that play football at school but don't play competitive football.
03:46 So they get their fix there.
03:47 How we attract those ones to get out and play competitive football, that's something we're looking to try and tackle.
03:53 But all the clubs are doing a really good job getting their juniors up and going.
03:57 We're just a few days away from finals. Always an exciting time. What are your expectations?
04:03 Expectations with some good weather and also really most grades of competition, it's fairly open.
04:14 And even lower down as you go to 6, 7 and 8.
04:17 A lot of those ones on the day can get up and have a win and there's no reason why they can't make it to the last game of the year.
04:23 I reckon that's a nice political way of saying it's wide open.
04:27 You're probably not going to put your head on the chopping block and nominate a premiership favourite or winner at the moment.
04:35 There's been some that have done really well during the home and away season.
04:39 But as you know during football, it's all on the day and how people go on the park.
04:44 So yeah, I'm really looking forward to the final series and four weeks time.
04:49 It's anybody's to take.