Record numbers for junior squads

Hedland Junior Football Association teams are off to a flying start this year, with record participation numbers in all age groups.

The under-15s and under-17s teams have both had a good start to the season, with each team only having two losses up to the end of round 5.

Both teams took on the Karratha Falcons at Kevin Scott Oval over the weekend, with the under-17s going down by just 20 points in the curtain-raiser before the reserves game on Saturday afternoon — their second loss of the season against the reigning premiers.

The under-15s were ruthless in demolishing their rivals, destroying the Falcons 20.9 (129) to 3.7 (25) on Sunday.

V Swans Kicking Goals manager Steve Thomson has been lending a hand with the youth teams and said he was pleased with how they were progressing.

“We’ve got a big array of talent this year, a complete spread of girls, some top liners and a lot of younger boys, it’s a real cross-section,” he said. The Hedland Reds only joined the West Pilbara Junior Football League in 2013.

Since then, three premierships have been won between the two teams, and both of of them have at least made the preliminary finals since 2015.

This year the under-17s have 47 players and the under-15s 45.

Training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm at Kevin Scott Oval.

HJFA also offers a junior competition for children in Years 3-7 and Auskick for pre-primary to Year 2 players.

Juniors co-ordinator Brent Chapman said the association prided itself on being about so much more than just football.

“We provide quality environments, social inclusion, physical fitness, opportunities to develop social support networks and, as a result, reduce social isolation while providing mentoring for vulnerable young people,” he said.

The juniors boast 85 members, training on Wednesdays at 4.30pm and playing games against each other at 8.30am on Sunday mornings.

Auskick also have 85 little ones training at 4pm on Tuesday’s.