FOR the first time in five years, Dederang-Mount Beauty’s thirds football side have taken to the field in the Tallangatta and District Football League in what is a significant occasion for the club.

The team, which will primarily consist of players aged between 14 and 16, provides an important pathway and platform to open-age football which has been missing due to a lack of numbers in the past few years.

After their drought-breaking under fourteen premiership in 2023, the under 17 side reformed with a combination of current, returning and new footballers to don the red sash this season.

The importance of this team has not been lost on co-coach Duane Gardiner, who along with Heath Fallon, is leading the team which gives these young men an outlet which hasn’t been available to junior footballers in the region since 2020.

“We were definitely at the crossroads - had we not rallied together and re-established the team, our kids would have gone in all directions for football and it’s very hard to draw them back once they’re established at another club,” Gardiner said.

“It is super important for the younger players to have the big boys around and they really look up to the under 17 group.

“The club is very excited to be putting a thirds team on the field and they have been super supportive of the junior program.”

As a token of their appreciation and support, Dederang-Mount Beauty Football Netball Club has subsidised junior registration fees across all grades.

In a further boost for the league, two other clubs have added junior teams in 2024 – Wahgunyah have reinstated their thirds and fourths, whilst Wodonga Saints have also brought back their 14 and under side.

Despite the excitement that a newly formed team can bring, Gardiner was realistic with some of the challenges that the group and club may encounter throughout the season.

“Although we will be fielding a team, our numbers could be stronger and we are always looking for potential recruits - if anyone wants to get involved or you know if someone who may be interested, please give us a shout,” Gardiner said.

“We realise that we are young and inexperienced, having only three top age players we will be giving away size, strength and experience - our premiership players from last season’s under 14 side will be the backbone of our team.

“We'd definitely expect to win some games, but with limited information regarding the strength of other sides, it will be a learning experience.

“Our aim is to run a tight knit group, who looks out for each other and enjoys their footy.

“The boys are super keen to get into the season.”

Mount Beauty local and dashing defender Mark Flay will lead the side as captain this season, while Beau Duggan and Toby Derrick were appointed vice-captains.

While the result didn’t go their way on the scoreboard in a hard-fought 35-point defeat to Tallangatta last Saturday, getting this team back on the park is the biggest win of all and could be the beginning of a long journey to seeing Dederang-Mount Beauty returning to the peak of the TDFL mountain.