The Deloraine Football Club stands as more than just a sports institution. It is a testament to the resilience, passion, and community spirit that defines the town of Deloraine. For Anthony Clayton, the current president, and Don Tracey, a dedicated committee member, footy is far more than a game—it is a lifelong commitment.
“It’s been in my blood for a lot of years,” Tracey said, reflecting on his deep-rooted connection with the sport. “Having played it, having umpired it, and being associated with this football club for six or seven years, it’s a bit of a passion.” Clayton shares a similar story, having been involved with football since childhood. “I’ve been playing footy or been mixed up in footy since I was a kid. Played a lot of footy around the place. Been around here forever.”
The club has faced its fair share of challenges over the years, from the logistical nightmares of the COVID-19 pandemic to the devastation wrought by floods. Tracey’s leadership was particularly instrumental during these crises, earning him a sports award from the Meander Valley Council for his contributions. “It was in recognition of the time that I’ve been here at the football club,” he said. “Mainly setting up our competition during COVID, organising the restructure of the club after the flood of 2022, and helping establish a senior women’s team.”
The pandemic posed unique challenges for the club, but Tracey’s determination was unwavering. “Getting the competition up and running back in that time was driven mainly by the coach at that time, Lochie Dornauf and myself,” he explained. Navigating the obstacles set by the NTFA required persistence. “We kept on asking questions. Why can’t we do this? Why can’t we do that? It got quite challenging at times. But they saw what benefits it could bring to the community in those difficult times.”
Flooding in 2022 further tested the club’s resilience. “It put a lot of financial pressure on the club,” Tracey admitted. “We didn’t have a facility to use and couldn’t hire it out to generate money in the off-season. It became quite a challenge.” The floodwaters reached over a metre inside the clubhouse, leaving lasting damage. Yet, the club pressed on, embodying the determination that defines Deloraine’s spirit.
“Country people are doers. And we strive to get that competition up and running.”
The establishment of the senior women’s team is another proud achievement for the club, overcoming both logistical and cultural barriers. “There were people within the club that wanted to get it going,” Tracey said. “We won a premiership in the third year, which I think is fantastic considering all the girls hadn’t played football before.” He credited much of this success to coach Brad Power, whose leadership helped the team gel and achieve remarkable success in a short time.
Currently, the Deloraine Football Club supports nearly 12 to 13 teams, ranging from juniors to seniors, including multiple women’s teams. “It’s not bad for a township of Deloraine’s size,” Tracey noted.
The club’s strong junior program is seen as a crucial pathway for young athletes, keeping them engaged in the sport and the community. Importantly, young players no longer need to leave Deloraine to pursue higher levels of competition. “They don’t have to do that now,” Tracey explained. “They can stay here at Deloraine. If they’re good enough, they’ll get recognised to go into the Devils program.” This pathway not only strengthens the club’s talent pool but also fosters a stronger connection between players and their local community, ensuring that Deloraine remains a vital hub for nurturing football talent.
However, the club is not without its challenges. Joining metropolitan teams like Launceston and North Launceston in the Premier Division has added new layers of competition, creating both challenges and opportunities. “It’s going to make it a little bit more difficult,” Clayton admitted. “But at the end of the day, we’ve been here before.”
Future plans for the club involve significant infrastructure upgrades, with new clubrooms and facilities in the works to be built on the other side of the oval. “The new facility will hold about 250 people,” Clayton said, envisioning a space that could serve as a community hub for conventions, weddings, and more. The current facility will be repurposed into change rooms and a gym, further integrating the club into the daily lives of Deloraine’s residents.
For both Clayton and Tracey, the club’s future lies in nurturing the next generation of players and leaders. “We need to set this up so these young fellas know it’s their club,” Clayton said. “We’ve got to make the hard decisions, but at the end of the day, it’s about giving these kids a pathway and keeping them in the community.”
