NEWLY–elected president of the Greta Football Netball Club, Blake Goodwin, said the club was in a tremendous position ahead of the 2023 Ovens and King season.

Goodwin, who was confirmed as the replacement for Gary Hogan, came to Greta from Benalla All Blacks at the end of the 2019 season where he served on the board and as president.

Now as true a Blue as anyone, Goodwin said he was looking forward to giving back to the club in a meaningful way.

"I just put my hand up, I suppose – there wasn't too much to it," he said.

"I like to contribute to the footy club where I am.

"I was president previously of the (Benalla) All Blacks a few years ago, so it's just another way I can feel like I can contribute to the club.

"I think we're on a really good path at the moment.

"We've got quite a few young kids coming through who have played a few games last year, a few recruits and whatnot who have come on board this year – I honestly think that we'll be very close to challenging for finals and hopefully even further this year."

Goodwin said his priority was to continue the great work done by his predecessor and break ground on a new playground at the Greta Recreation Reserve, a project which the club has been fundraising for quite some time.

"I would like to thank Gary Hogan for the fantastic job he has done over what has been some of the hardest years in community sport ever – he and his committees have put this club in a great position moving forward and I hope that we can build on all the great work he has done," Goodwin said.

"We're in the process of putting up a new children's playground around the club because we've got heaps of families with kids and there's sort of nowhere out at Greta, aside from the school, that really has anywhere for the kids or the community to go and just have a bit of a run around and play.

"We've pretty much raised the money we need and then with the donations we're pretty close to breaking ground – fingers crossed that'll be up and running by round one."

As with all community sporting groups, Goodwin said Greta faced challenges in player retention and keeping the club together, but he was confident the club would only grow.

"As time goes on, with the last couple of years, COVID's been pretty challenging for all sporting clubs, not just football and netball," he said.

"Trying to keep people engaged in community sport is going to be challenging for any sporting club.

"Our connection to the community is strong, and keeping people wanting to come to the club, for Greta in particular, is going to be easier.

"We're more of a family than a sporting club – it's touching to know there are so many people out there that care for one another, it's touching."