From two teams to twenty: Armstrong Creek’s rapid rise
A club that didn’t exist a decade ago is now one of the fastest growing clubs in the region.
By Ben Andonoudis
Every weekend, hundreds of young footballers and netballers don the Armstrong Creek colours in a remarkable transformation for a club that didn’t exist a decade ago.
And their rapid rise is only just getting started.
Founded in 2019 by local parents, the club has grown from two teams to now having close to 20 teams across football and netball.
Now, it has set its sights on expanding even further.
For Co-President Chad Dunscombe that includes a goal of entering sides into senior grades within the next five years.
“In five years, we see ourselves as a fully competitive senior club, with strong pathways from our junior programs through to senior football and netball,” Dunscombe said.
Discussions with AFL Barwon have helped the club to identify a viable date to enter senior competitions.
“We'd love to lock in a year soon, with 2029 looking like a realistic and exciting target,” Dunscombe said.
Although the club has long-term ambitions to field senior teams, the rise the club has experienced is built on several factors.
While participant numbers tell part of the story, the environment the club has created is a source of pride for its leaders.
“What's been most pleasing isn't just the growth in numbers, but the culture we've built,” Dunscombe said.
Key pillars of inclusivity, development and a family-oriented approach are what Dunscombe feels sets the club apart from others in the area.
“Our biggest point of difference is our culture,” Dunscombe said.
That has been built off the back of hard work from many locals.
These locals have given the club a level of community support that they say has been incredible.
“From families to local businesses, people have really embraced the club.”
“That support, along with our valued sponsors, is a big reason why we've been able to grow so quickly,” Dunscombe said.
This support has been felt across the club.
And it’s enabled the club to develop multiple arms of its operations.
The netball program has surged, going from two teams in 2022 to 12 teams this year, creating opportunities for dozens more young athletes.
That has only been possible due to the help of local volunteers at the club.
A core group of families have been central to the success of the program from the start according to Junior netball coordinator Jaqui Padget.
“We've got 10 or 12 families that have been there since the start, and these parents are so entrenched in our club, they're at every training session and come to the committee meetings,” Padget said.
While the club has grown exponentially in recent years, it hasn’t always been like this.
When Padget joined the club in 2021, the netball program looked very different to what it is today.
“We started with a group of kids at NetSetGO, and that was probably 20 kids, and now we're at 12 teams,” Padget said.
That first season in 2021 saw the fledgling club in a very different position to now on a number of fronts.
And it wasn’t just the on-field numbers.
“It was hard to get volunteers, but I think with so many more kids involved, there's a lot more parents working from home, so probably some more time up their sleeve, and people more willing to give up time yet to support our young players,” Padget said.
It means that youngsters now fill the courts at trainings and on gamedays.
And they do under the watchful eye of their devoted coaches and volunteers, all working to ensure that the girls have the best experience possible.
For Padget this is something the club values highly.
“You want the girls to come to training and feel like they can come and be themselves,” Padget said.
Armstrong Creek Football Netball Club has a bright future ahead of it.
Seven years after its formation by a group of local parents, Armstrong Creek is already planning for its next chapter.
As participation continues to climb and a push for senior football and netball firmly on the horizon, the Sharks’ story is only just beginning.