GREEN shoots are starting to sprout at Violet Town as a familiar face steps up to lead the charge.
With a history of Grand final success more than a decade old, the club is eager to climb the ladder and make its mark once again.
To truly grasp the heartbreak and the significance of the new coach for the local community, you first need to understand the club's past.
In 2012, Violet Town was widely regarded as one of the most dominant teams in KDFL history.
They stormed their way to the top of the Kyabram District Football League (KDFL), finishing the season in grand style with a dominant victory over Undera in the grand final.
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Despite their 2012 glory, the years that followed saw Violet Town endure a series of ups and downs.
In 2014, they managed to finish in fifth place, securing a spot in the finals.
However, their finals campaign was short-lived as they were knocked out in the elimination final by Nagambie.
A similar fate befell them in 2015, where they limped to sixth only to lose to Stanhope in another elimination final loss.
The 2016 season followed a familiar pattern of disappointment, with Violet Town falling out of the finals race after a loss to Merrigum in yet another elimination final.
These back-to-back eliminations highlighted the team's inability to progress deep into the finals despite respectable finishes during the regular season.
By 2017, Violet Town seemed to be back to their best.
They finished at the top of the ladder and entered the finals series as strong favorites to claim another premiership.
However, football can be cruel, and despite their dominant form throughout the season, they suffered a heartbreaking loss to Nagambie in the Grand final.
After their 2017 disappointment, Violet Town experienced a significant drop in performance.
In 2018, they slumped to fourth from the bottom on the ladder, a position they have struggled to improve upon in the last six years.
The Violet Town Club is now gearing up for an exciting 2025 season as they have recently announced their senior netball and football coaches, with trials set to begin in the coming weeks.
With a strong focus on growth and community engagement, the club is looking forward to building on its success from the previous year and strengthening its connection with local players.
Violet Town season will wrap up officially on Saturday, November 23, prior to the Presentation and Comedy Night event.
All returning and new players are welcome to join the club as they start their preparations for the season ahead.
The club is looking to build on the momentum from last year’s successful junior sides while addressing challenges in the senior and reserves teams.
The club has also announced Brad Gleeson as the new senior coach for the Violet Town Football Club for the upcoming year.
Gleeson brings valuable leadership qualities to the role, having spent time across Euroa and Violet Town over his journey.
His strong leadership and deep connections to the local community made him the ideal candidate for the job.
President Matt Holmes shared his thoughts on Brad's appointment.
"Brad has leadership qualities that we believe will be invaluable as we work to develop our younger players.
He already has connections to our club and former players, which is a huge benefit.
Our focus now is to reconnect with former players and improve our overall numbers, particularly in the senior and reserves teams."
He emphasized the importance of developing the next generation of talent while addressing the immediate challenges in the senior team.
"The priority for me is to address the challenges with player numbers.
The young kids have been under a lot of pressure, often playing two games a week.
We need to give them some relief and build depth in the squad.
We’ve only won two games in the last two years, so we have a lot of work to do, but the support from the community has been fantastic.
They’ve stuck with the club, and now it’s time to reward that loyalty with success."
The reaction to Brad’s appointment has been overwhelmingly positive, with the club managing to retain its current players and attract new ones.
Holmes emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong connection to the local football culture, which Gleeson’s experience helps foster.
"Having someone who understands the local football community is crucial," said Holmes.
"Brad has not only strong ties with some of our current players but also brings new connections that will help the club grow."
While recruitment is still in full swing, Matt was excited to announce some early commitments, including Pat Horsburgh, JD Hayes, Robbie Wilson, Ash Hobbs, and Klay Giovannini.
These new additions are expected to strengthen the team and help Violet Town compete at a high level in the upcoming season.
"Recruitment has been a big focus for us, and I’m pleased with how it’s shaping up," said Gleeson.
"We’ve managed to secure some talented players, including a few with deep ties to Violet Town.
The goal is to build a team that not only competes but also connects with the community.
It’s not just about the talent on the field—it’s about creating a club culture that everyone is proud to be a part of."
Reflecting on the club’s journey since COVID, Holmes shared a hopeful outlook for the future of Violet Town Football Club:
"Our club went through a full reset after the pandemic.
While we made finals in 2022, we were heavily reliant on traveling players from Melbourne, many of whom we lost at the end of the season," he said. "As a committee, we made it a priority to focus on our junior development.
We started with an Under 12s team in 2021 and now have three junior sides, with plans for a fourth.
By continuing to grow our local talent, we aim to minimize our reliance on traveling players in the future."
With an eye on the future, the Violet Town Club is ready to take the next step in its development, and the community is encouraged to support the players and coaches as they embark on a new chapter.
"Brad’s appointment is a real turning point for us," Holmes added. "We’re committed to rebuilding this club and reconnecting with our community.
The passion is there, and with the right leadership and support, we can start to see the results we’ve been working toward for the last few years."
With Gleeson’s leadership, Violet Town is set for a promising season ahead.
Along with the netball department, which is looking to build for the year.
Netball Trials for all grades are set to commence on Thursday, November 21, with enthusiastic players ready to compete for spots in the upcoming season.
A Grade trials will be led by Jessie Kipping, while Maggie Hamill will take charge of the B Grade.
Prue Holmes will oversee both the C Grade and under 17s, with other talented coaches for the junior netballers, including Kayla Jones, Rachel Brown, Megan Bamford, Macey Ross, and Bianca Robins.
This mix of experienced coaches, players and fresh talent is expected to create a dynamic season for Violet Town Netball / Football club.
