Mr President sets the agenda
Eyes on the ball: new AFL president John Schelling is keen to repair some of the damage done to club
By Matt Dunn
JOHN Schelling was voted in as president of the Alberton Football League last week, when football club bosses met at the league’s AGM.
Congratulated by The Star on the appointment, Mr Schelling quipped: “Most people say condolences.”
It was clearly a joke, but there was a grain of truth in the comment. He knows what he is up against. Never one to take a back seat, Mr Schelling is a former president and secretary of the Stony Creek Football Club, current president of Town Cricket Club, a basketball umpire, a board member to several organisations, a member of the Leongatha Secondary College school council, a church council member and a member of the recreation advisory committee to the South Gippsland Shire Council.
“Most of those things will have to go. There’s a few things that will be moved aside, to give me time to do what I have to do,” he said.
What does he do in his spare time?
“Spend five minutes with my wife,” he replied with a laugh.
He said he’s excited about the future of the league.
“I’m pretty passionate about football and passionate about the Alberton league. I’ve been there for 30 odd years,” he said.
“All I’m looking to do is bring the clubs together. I just want them to respect each other. Hopefully we can do away with as much of the bitching and backbiting as possible.”
He wants to make sure the clubs are “going in the same direction”.
“The big thing the executive will attempt to do is what the clubs want, for the betterment of football in the region. We want to give kids the best opportunity we can,” he said.
The last three seasons were marred by controversy, as Wonthaggi Football Club battled to stay in the AFL and many of the other clubs battled to have it kicked out.
Legal appeals, forfeitures and recriminations on all sides left a toxic atmosphere.
Rightly or wrongly the Wonthaggi Football Club has been sent to the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League (soon to become the Gippsland League).
While it has caused angst for some, much of the acrimony can now be set aside. Although it would be fair to say that deeper issues will need to be addressed in the future.
Jimmy Harry, who stood against Mr Schelling for the presidency, wanted a new split division competition. But Mr Schelling wants some smooth sailing for a time, so he can work out where the clubs are at.
Because Mr Harry put his hand up to become president too, he is precluded from immediately taking up a position on the executive board. The league constitution forbids a person from nominating for more than one job.
The league consequently finds itself one executive short.
But Mr Schelling said Mr Harry could come back as an executive at a later date if he wants.
“I’ll contact Jim in the next week and see what he’s about, if that’s the way he wants to go. If there’s a position available, you may as well be using someone else’s mind. With me it’s always going to be a team thing,” he said.
“I’d be pretty happy to have Jim on board, if he’d like to come on board. I don’t quite know what he’s thinking yet.”
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