Our Opening Family Night last Sunday Night presented our Club Captains for 2017. This year the criteria for Club Captain changed vastly and slightly. Vastly because we welcomed our Inaugural Girls Captain and slightly in that we were looking to our coaches to identify the community qualities we value at Blackburn. Lachy Keighran and Ayla Williams are worthy Captains for 2017.

A BIG Congratulations to you both from the whole footy club.

LACHY KEIGHRAN

“First of all I’d like to welcome everyone back to the club in 2017 and new families who have joined this incredible football club and are here for the first time.

I am very privileged and honoured to be named Junior Boys Club Captain and to lead the Under 17 blacks this year.

I started playing footy here at Blackburn in under 9s along with many of the other boys still playing alongside me this year. I am very grateful that I have been given this opportunity in my last season of junior football at Blackburn.

I’d like to thank everyone who has made this football club so great and well recognised in the community. We have a fantastic culture and our club is renowned for its junior football development. To all the volunteers, from our president – Pat, the committee, coaches, team managers, runners and trainers you all make this a brilliant club to be a part of. The players are very grateful for all the volunteers, you make everything run smoothly which allows us players to really enjoy our footy.

We are a wonderful family club that has a strong belief in respect , sportsmanship and equality. This is supported by having 18 boys teams this year and 5 girl teams which make us one of the largest junior clubs in Australia……..thanks everyone for being a part of this and ensuring the ongoing success of the Blackburn Footy Club for many years to come.

I would like to thank my coach Paul Harte and the committee for entrusting me with this role. Paul has been a superb coach and mentor over many years, myself and the other boys are very grateful for his commitment and dedication to coaching.

Lastly I wish everyone the best of seasons, enjoy the year and thanks again.

Go burners”