Dookie United A-grade netball coach Laura Henderson and senior football gun Connor Hayes at the club's come-and-try day.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Long bombs were booted and goals netted as Dookie United hosted a come-and-try day on Sunday.
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After making the decision at the end of the 2024 season to switch from Kyabram District League to Picola District Football Netball League, Dookie United decided to host the event in an effort to boost numbers in the lead-up to pre-season.
With the offer of a free barbecue and a light training session, Dookie United president Chris Ludeman watched a wave of junior and senior participants arrive.
Ludeman said Sunday’s event was a great opportunity for people to get to know the club’s culture and what Dookie United is all about.
“Dookie is a great family club, that is the main reason (people should join),” Ludeman said.
“We are a family-orientated club in both football and netball.
“We have five grades of football, plus Auskick, and eight grades of netball, plus NetSetGo.
“If you have got a kid five or six years old or older, we will likely have a team for them and their brothers and sisters.”
Lawson McDonald, 12, bursts through congestion.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Harriet Dickins, 12, looks to launch a right-arm rocket.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Maddi Dyer was zipping around the court.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Riley Boyd, 9, waits for a chest mark.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Harriet Dickins, 12, Miley Williams, 15, Zara Ludeman, 15, and Bonny Galt, 15, practice some court drills.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Dookie United's future stars warm up on the court.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Noah O'Donnell, 10, boots a long bomb.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Zara Ludeman, 15, goes for goal.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Emma McColl flies for the ball.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Nyah Clarke, 10, takes a strong grab.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Dookie United's senior footballers warm up.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Ludeman said that the come-and-try day had proved a success, with a number of families signing up at the Thunder for 2025.
“We had a good array of juniors and seniors there in netball and football,” he said.
“We had quite a few new families come along, which was the aim of the day to see if there were any new families out there that wanted to play for Dookie.
“We got three or four out of it so that is a tick the box, I think.”
Sunday’s event was also an opportunity for potential players to meet the club’s senior coaching teams in both A-grade and senior football.
Both Laura Henderson (A-grade) and Travis Waters (senior football) are already in the midst of constructing new game plans for 2025, as Ludeman said that pre-season is coming up fast.
“Pre-season will kick off next week, it’s full-on isn’t it?” he said.
“Don’t get much of a break.
“Senior football and netball and some of the junior footballers and netballers will join in with the seniors as well.”
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