Manor Lakes Football Club Builds a Community Beyond the Field

Image (L-R): Daniel, Yolanda and Shane White outside the Manor Lakes Football Club rooms.

 

“I started painting (the outside of the clubrooms) orange …the Council rang me and said ‘You can’t do that!’”

Shane White, founding member of Manor Lakes Football Club and Club President, said turning to look at the black and orange clubrooms.

“But the next week the whole thing was done – the Council came back and finished the whole lot!”

Shane has worn almost every hat at the club — from coach to designer to executive. His initiative and passion, while leaving the door open to a little bit of luck, has helped shape not just the club’s visual identity, but its culture of taking ownership and getting things done.

When a 50-square metre club room extension was slated by Wyndham City Council, Shane made a strong case to increase the proposed floorspace.

“It was great that Wyndham City Council could see our vision, and the value of a larger social area in our rooms, and extra storage for the club,” Shane said.

These days the prominent orange and black club rooms overlook the main oval shared with the P – 12 College on Manor Lakes Boulevard.

Before the club rooms

In 2013 a handful of locals focused their enthusiasm on building a new Australian Rules club in heart of one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing suburban areas.

When a senior side formed, the club was accepted into the 94-year-old Western Football Netball League, up against several well-established competitors, the oldest being the Parkside Magpies formed in 1897.

During Covid they took a recess from seniors football and continue to focus on the junior teams.

With the pandemic years behind them, The Club is excited to field senior men’s team again in the 2026 season.

Juniors mean parents

Yolanda, a parent, team manager, and committee member, first joined the club five years ago when her son began playing.

She had no background in footy, but quickly found herself immersed in the club’s volunteer-driven ecosystem.

“It’s a big commitment,” she said, wearing a black Manor Lakes Storm hoodie on a windy spring day.

“There’s training sessions every week, then game day we need at least seven volunteers just to run a game.”

“We’re all supportive here, we all teach each other how to do things,” Yolanda explained.

That supportive environment transforms newcomers into active contributors.

“It’s like a second family here,” she added. “Your kids are happy, what more do you want as a parent?”

One of those kids is Daniel, Yolanda’s son and a junior league player in his fifth season.

Outside the clubrooms on the concrete Daniel’s been patient while a handful of grown ups stand around and chat. He’s got a football to occupy himself with but no one to kick it to.

Playing centre forward has given him the opportunity in previous seasons to kick the first goal, but he’s come up against bigger players through the years.

“That’s my goal, just to improve, on my kicking on everything. I just want to improve.”

Yolanda, looking at Daniel, points out that “he’s never, ever said ‘I don’t want to go to training today.’”

His favourite playing conditions? “I like it when it’s raining.”

The West’s League

David Jennings joined the Western Football Netball League as CEO in 2023, bringing with him a wealth of community-focused sports management experience in different codes at all levels.

David says the first 10 to 20 years for any new sporting club trying to establish themselves is a challenge.

“Without engaged members, even well-funded Clubs can struggle to establish themselves and maintain momentum in their early years.

“Clubs often struggle initially with financial sustainability, recruiting and retaining players and volunteers, building a loyal supporter base, and achieving consistent on-field success,” he said.

“Those that succeed early typically have strong governance, solid community support, and well-developed junior pathways.

“(Manor Lakes Storm) are always eager to support and assist the League in any way they can with a strong emphasis on Junior football participation.”

Historically, players from the West are renowned for their hard work, resilience, courage, and dedication on the field.

David reels off names known far beyond Melbourne’s west – “Tom Liberatore, Massimo D’Ambrosio, Tristan Xerri, Logan Morris, and Saad El-Hawli” who, he says, all “exemplify the strong work ethic and determination that define footballers from this region.”

“We love coming down here,” Yolanda says, “and chatting and getting things done and talking about what we need to do and what we want for the club in the future.”

Daniel’s taken himself out onto the grass for kick in the sunshine and Yolanda puts one hand up to block the sun in her eyes.

“They just want to stay out there even when they switch all the lights off – they just want to play.”

Get involved with the Manor Lakes Storm here.