Parkes to re-join AFL Central West
By Justin Jenvey
The Parkes Panthers will celebrate their 30th year anniversary in style when they re-join AFL Central West this season after two years in the football wilderness.
Parkes’ re-entry was approved at a league Board Meeting on Sunday. The Panthers will now field a First Grade team, taking the spot of Mudgee, and expanding the senior competition to six teams following Young’s elevation.
Parkes and Young join Bathurst, Cowra, Orange and Dubbo in the first grade competition.
Coaching the Panthers will be former player and coach of the club Damian Byrne. Byrne returns to the club this season after spending time overseas and will take on a player/coach role which he previously undertook in 2007, their last season in the Northern Riverina Football League. Joining Byrne as an assistant coach will be Adam Saragozza.
Byrne said the club has been receiving good numbers at training which is encouraging for the upcoming season.
“We’ve had about 20 to 30 guys at training so that’s been really positive,” Byrne said.
“Most of the guys have played before so they know what to expect. We have around five to ten new guys as well which is also good for the club.
“I think we should be very competitive, barring injury. With the numbers we’ve had at training and the way things have been going on the track things are looking good.”
Parkes has had a number of stints in the Central West League since joining the competition in its inaugural season in 1981.
They participated in the league for a decade before shifting to the Northern Riverina League in 1991 where they stayed until the end of 1997.
The following season they returned to the Central West before leaving after the 2004 season to again re-join the Northern Riverina League for three years.
The club hopes to field junior sides in the coming season in an attempt to bring Australian Rules back to the town and area.
“There are quite a few families and their kids interested who have played AFL and have switched codes to soccer due to us not fielding teams the last few years,” club treasurer Ron Hetherington said.
“So over the next couple of years we hope to bring those kids back to playing AFL.”
General Manager for AFL Central West, Tony Lewis, said he and the board are extremely happy with the return of Parkes.
“With both Parkes and Young re-entering the first grade competition it takes the grade from four teams to six which is a positive step for AFL in the Central West district,” Lewis said.
“Obviously with the late inclusion it causes some problems with the draws for both AFL and Rugby Union already being in place.
“Although we are looking at alternatives like playing first grade games in Parkes under lights, possibly even Friday night games. North Parkes Oval has lighting which could allow for this.
“With Greater Western Sydney set to start playing in the AFL in 2012, it’s important that we strengthen our football competition because our area is one of those being targeted as a potential hunting ground for future AFL players for GWS.
“With two new First Grade teams this year it is a step in the right direction for football in the Central West, so hopefully the game continues to grow in the coming years.”
