WHILE there's no specific timeframe, the Manning could again have a senior Australian Football club in five years.
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The Manning Valley AFL Club will be launched on Sunday at the code's headquarters here, the Johnny Martin Oval.
At this stage there are plans to field two junior teams in the Mid North Coast competition - under 11s and 13s although if there are enough numbers the club will also enter an under 15s.
This will be the culmination of plans that began in 2012 when the husband and wife team of Craig and Julie McLaughlin started Auskick here. This is an introductory program aimed at 5 to 12-year olds.
"Our plan was to build from the bottom and build our way up,'' Craig explained.
Forming a club and fielding junior teams is the next stage. This, it is planned, will lead to the next stage - senior sides playing in the North Coast competition.
"We'd like to think that will happen in five years,'' Craig said.
"But our firstaim is to build sustainable growth. ''
He explained the new club will learn from the mistakes of the past. There have been two attempts to establish AFL here - one in the mid-1980s and the second in the early 1990s. After showing early promise both floundered.
"Both had a lot of old blokes who just wanted a game of footy,'' Craig said.
"They didn't do anything about juniors. That's why they weren't successful and that's why we've started by concentrating on getting kids involved.''
The Mid North Coast AFL will take in teams from the Manning, Camden Haven, Port Macquarie and Kempsey. All matches will be on Sundays. The MNC teams will also play some crossover games against sides from the North Coast League, based around Coffs Harbour in a gala-type format on the one day.
"This will give a bit of variety,'' Craig said.
Matches will bounce off from Sunday April 3 with the competition to run to September.
Craig played in the NSW competition with Campbelltown before being drafted to VFL club Williamtown. However, he didn't enjoy a long career.
"I played three games (with Williamtown)?and then did my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament),'' he said.
"I had 18 months rehab, started playing and did it again. That was it - I was 21 and retired.''
However, injury didn't quell his passion for the game. Craig moved here six years ago and was disappointed that AFL didn't have any presence here. Julie's something of a newcomer to the game.
"After the 2011 (AFL) gand final I said to Jules that we should start Auskick here to give the kids a chance to play AFL,'' he said.
"Jules replied 'what's Auskick?' ''
But Julie's a quick learner. In 2012 she was named the NSW Auskick Volunteer of the Year, winning a trip to the grand final between Swans and Hawthorn for her efforts.
Sunday's launch will run from 10am to 1pm and will include the unveiling of the club's colours and mascot. There'll be a Swans Super Clinic at the JMO on Monday from 3.30 to 5pm featuring two players from the Sydney Swans.
Registrations will be taken on both days.
To field two sides the club will need 40 players and Craig is confident this will be achieved.
"We've had a few nightmares along the way and there are still a couple of logistical problems we have to work out,'' he said.
"But we've got good support now - although we can always use more - and we're now looking forward to Sunday to launch the club.''