By LIAM TWOMEY
FOR 50 years, the Williamstown Junior Football Club has been helping to launch Australian Football’s next generation of star players. The club is responsible for Lachlan Hunter, Elliott Kavanagh, Daniel Giansiracusa and Trent McKenzie (also Altona), who are all in the AFL system.
As well as producing outstanding talent on a national scale, Williamstown has developed a number of local stars throughout its history.
Last week, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Williamstown Juniors Family Day.
As part of the occasion, a commemorative 50-year plaque was unveiled by Mayor Angela Altair.
Club president Dale Wright said it was an outstanding achievement to reach such an impressive milestone.
He highlighted Williamstown’s unique position as an exclusive junior club as one of the main reasons for its success.
“Entering 15 or 16 teams in the WRFL does make us the biggest junior football club in the western suburbs,” he said.
“We are really fortunate to have so many good people in place.
“Every single one of our coaches, we send off to get the level one coaching accreditation. We also do that with our assistant coaches, so we make sure that everyone coming through the club, whether they coach or help train is trained through the AFL program.
“That is something that holds the coaches in really good stead.”
There are no plans to slow down at Williamstown with the club hoping to upgrade a number of its facilities, including the installation of light towers for its second oval and social rooms at its Bay View Street base.
On field, Wright said the plan was to continue to develop junior talent.
“We are not happy just staying where we are. We want to keep building the club and get as many kids playing football as possible,” he said.
“You can be successful and winning flags, but for me and everyone at Williamstown Juniors, it’s about participation and seeing the kids out there.”
