Why local footy is true heartbeat of our city

Welcome back, local footy.

Razor-sharp-witted banter from the outer. Car horns honking every goal. A scalding-hot pie washed down with an affordable icy-cold beer. The piercing smell of Deep Heat. Deciphering the coach’s sage advice at the quarter-time huddle. Footballs akin to projectiles on the field at the breaks, paired with a chorus of ‘Jesaulenko, you beauty!’.

But what does Melbourne’s heartbeat, local footy, really mean to its greatest resource and lifeblood – the people that make it tick? And what keeps them coming back?

Longserving goal umpire David Parker is one of an army of local footy’s rusted-on officials readying for another season.

He notches his 25th year officiating in the Eastern Football Netball League after first waving the flags at senior level in 2001.

Also the president of the Eastern league’s umpires’ association, footy’s knack for forging the strongest of bonds continues to fuel Parker’s love of the game.

“It’s the mateships that you make over the years – the umpiring group is a family within itself and that’s what keeps driving you back,” Parker said.

The stalwart will again have one of the best vantage points in the house this year as he stands the goals.

And he urges people to get involved, whether it be volunteering or umpiring.

“You see some of the best goals (as an umpire), especially last year in the grand final with (East Ringwood champion) James Belo’s goal early in the last quarter which put them up – it was one of the biggest roars I’ve heard in local footy,” Parker said.

“Local footy is great to be a part of – more people should be a part of it and give back to it.”

Giving back to the grassroots game is part of local coach Bryan ‘Jack’ Cole’s DNA.

At 68, the former Collingwood half-back flanker’s passion for Australian rules burns as brightly as ever.

He’s moved the magnets for the past two decades; from Montmorency to Greensborough, and from Healesville where he dashed a 28-year premiership drought in 2016 to another grand final appearance with Woori Yallock in ’22.

Age, as the adage goes, is just a number – especially in a game propped up by the people.

This year he’ll steer VAFA club Kew for a second season.

“I love it. I love what I do. I’m a bit of a footy tragic,’’ Cole said.

“I’d still play if I could! I can’t play. So I coach.

“I don’t know anyone older (coaching) but I really wouldn’t know. There could be someone up the bush who’s got me beat.”

One of the many feel-good stories of the 2024 season was the triumph of Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League club, Mt Eliza.

Lifting premiership cups across the senior, reserve, under-19 and netball teams, the Redlegs’ Division 1 senior grand final win broke a drought stretching 19 years.

Marking her 30th year involved at the club this season, Mt Eliza president Cassandra Clayton said 2024’s breakthrough was a “monkey off our back (and) something we were really proud of”.

Her husband, James Clayton, is the club’s games record-holder.

“We’ve been involved in this footy club our entire lives,” Clayton, now in her third year as president, said.

The Redlegs were also awarded the MPFNL’s ‘Best Conducted Club’ and ‘Champion Club’ last season.

But Clayton believes the measure of a successful club stretches beyond silverware and lies within the strength of its people – and local footy’s unique ability to impact the lives of individuals, whether they’ve played one game, hundreds, some, or none.

As she puts it: “It’s definitely our people that set us apart.”

More Coverage

Bachar’s back: Triple flag star’s footy return

Brayden May

Local footy salary cap future revealed

Daniel Cencic

“The impact that you have on people’s lives at this level, it’s really profound … our No. 1 objective is to be a club where our people are proud to belong, and we’ve worked really hard on creating a positive culture over the last five years.

“It’s more than just sport – this is people’s safe space, it’s a place where people come and they’re supported off the field as much as they are on the field.“

Melbourne’s heartbeat, local footy – the people’s game. Welcome back.

Originally published as Why local footy is true heartbeat of our city