Hi DJFC Members,

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since I first wrote to you as President of this great club. Looking back on Season 2025, I feel incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. It was a challenging year for community football, but it also showed just how resilient, supportive, and adaptable the Doncaster Junior Football Club really is.
Like many clubs across the League, we faced lower player numbers.

We were thrilled to field our own Under 9s team in the Donnie hoops, two strong merged teams with Camberwell that went incredibly close to grand final success, players representing us proudly at Beverley Hills. Our Doncaster Under 11 girls enjoyed the ultimate success with a premiership win playing for Beverley Hills. While not every team wore Doncaster colours outright, they played exceptionally well and proudly represented our culture, values, and resilience in a changing football landscape.

A huge thank you goes to our parents and guardians. This season asked a lot of you — extra travel, new clubs, and new routines — and you met it all with patience, positivity, and unwavering support. You are a big part of what makes DJFC such a special community.

Thank you also to our Doncaster representatives within the merged Camberwell Under 13s and 14s teams, and to coaches, team managers and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make those arrangements successful. We are sincerely grateful to Camberwell and Beverley Hills JFC, and to their presidents Shane Myers and John Skaltsas, for their cooperation and support.
Our Under 9s deserve a special mention as our sole Doncaster representative team this season. They showed exactly what club pride, stability and togetherness look like. Thank you to coaches
Grant and Farooq, team manager Vito and trainer Fia for keeping the group connected and prepared all year.

I also want to acknowledge the incredible work done behind the scenes by our committee. Thank you to Vice President John Coutsouvelis, Secretary Sarina Coutsouvelis, Treasurer Chris Grimbos, Sponsorship lead Stephanie Hanson, Media leads Vito and Fia Monitto, Director of Coaching Steve Yianni, Football Operations Manager Corey Bakes, along with general members Mal Dabab and Leandra Martin. Your time, effort, and commitment — often unseen — kept the club moving forward during a demanding season.

We also sincerely thank those committee members who stepped down at the recent AGM. Stephanie Hanson, Vito and Fia Monitto, Steve Yianni and Corey Bakes all leave behind a strong legacy and have made a lasting impact on the club. Their contributions have helped position DJFC well for the future.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the minutes from our AGM, please email: secretary.djfc@gmail.com

Looking ahead to Season 2026, there is plenty to be excited about. Since July, the club has been working closely with AFL Victoria, the YJFL, Manningham Council and the football community in general to strengthen our presence. Interest and momentum are building, with one junior coach already signed and more announcements to come in January.

Our Auskick, Under 7s and Superkick programs have created a strong base of future players, and we’ll be running “Come and Try” sessions and other activities in late January and early February to continue building numbers. As registration numbers fluctuate, flexible and well-planned participation arrangements will be implemented to ensure a positive experience for players and families.

Registrations for Season 2026 are now open, with a $50 early registration discount available at: https://doncasterjfc.com/register

Finally, on behalf of the DJFC Committee, I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. We can’t wait to see everyone back around the club in 2026 for what promises to be an exciting season for the Doncaster Junior Football Club — where friendships begin!