Thursday Night Season Launch for Junior Footy FirstThursday, April 28, 2022 - 12:57 PM - by Mark Readings

For the first time a stand-alone fixture has been scheduled to launch the Metro Central Junior Football Conference Season.  

The exciting initiative means the Year 8 Ellenbrook and Bassendean teams will stage a Thursday Night Fixture tonight in what’s believed to be a first across the Metropolitan Region.  

Shaun Hughes, Royals Junior Club Representative with the Metro Central Region Development Council, is backing the innovative approach to junior football. 

“Given the success the AFL has had with Thursday night football, we decided to give it go and see if we could begin our season with a little more excitement than usual,” Hughes said. 

The MCJFC has around 400 teams of boys and girls in its competition from Year 3 to Year 12, and the fixturing is completed once Junior clubs nominate the teams in the relevant age groups. 

Ellenbrook?and Bassendean were fixtured to play each other in Round 1 and embraced the chance to play a stand-alone match to start the season. 

“The fact we managed to move a Junior football game from a Sunday to a Thursday in a school week shows the enthusiasm to be involved.  

We planted a seed, and the movement of the fixture was extremely well supported by the two clubs involved and their respective Presidents,” Hughes said. 

The night includes an ANZAC Ceremony before the opening bounce. 

“With the Ellenbrook RSL involved in the Ceremony, it emphasises community interaction and ensures footy remains central to community engagement,” said Hughes. 

While most competitions are underway, WA Junior football is finally ready to roar to life. 

“Keep it exciting, keep it evolving, keep it relevant, keep it front of mind! 

The MCJFC have a few great initiatives planned for this season,” Hughes enthused. 

Tonight’s match (Thursday 28th April) between Ellenbrook and Bassendean begins at 6pm at Ellenbrook District Open Space.