Wattle Park AFC’s Senior and Reserve Men’s sides will be playing in Division 2 in 2024 after an announcement made by the VAFA this morning.
The club’s executive committee, Men’s coaching staff, and Senior leadership has been in consultation with the VAFA Football Sub-Committee, and after a meeting last Friday, it was decided the Animals would be promoted to Division 2.
President Cameron Gardner is excited about what 2024 holds for the Senior Men.
“It was the preference of both the Coaching Staff, Executive Committee and Key On Field Leaders of the Men’s Side to challenge ourselves and push up the Divisions.”
Both Senior and Reserve sides made the Division 3 finals this season, with the Seniors losing to Canterbury in an Elimination Final, whilst the Reserves lost to Elsternwick in the Preliminary Final.
Despite these results, Gardner is optimistic about the Animals chances in Division 2 in 2024.
“Although the finals results may paint a different picture, our early 2023 season form, (2 wins against Premiers Elsternwick), young and developing list, and promising recruitment, we are going to be competitive within Division 2 and look forward to the standard of footy being played in the competition”
The Animals will be joined by Elsternwick and Hawthorn AFC in being promoted from Division 3, joining Brunswick FC, South Melbourne Districts, Whitefriars, MHSOB, Bulleen-Templestowe, St Marys Salesian, and Aquinas OC.
Whitefriars, Bulleen-Templestowe, and MHSOB are the only three clubs who remain in Division 2 from when the Animals last featured their in 2018, with the latter the scene of one of the most memorable wins in modern history for the Animals with a come from behind win at Woodfull-Miller Oval.
Details of fixtures and dates will be released by the VAFA in due course.