A former Irymple Football Club president and player, Bambill coach and experienced umpire, Heaft replaces long-serving Sunraysia Football and Netball president Peter Congress who stood down from the position after 12 years in the job.

Less than 24 hours after the new look board elected Heaft to the top post, the Mildura businessman said there was already early indications the new Sunraysia football leadership group would work well together to achieve results.

“You only had to be at Tuesday night’s meeting to see that there won’t be many punches pulled,” he said.

“There were very robust discussions on a number of issues which is what you want – you want your board members to air their opinions in an open and frank manner,” he said.

“We’ve got a good mix of people on the board and that gave me a lot of confidence to take on the role.

“Board members have already put their hand up to take on specific portfolios, if you like, so it has been a promising start.”

Heaft said the board had hit the ground running for the 2012 competition and a draw for the new season could be released as early as next month.

“What we want to do first, however, is talk to the clubs about what they might want – they might be planning a reunion, for example, and would obviously prefer to have a home game on that weekend,” he said.

“We’re offering clubs two priorities, and hopefully they can get both, but they must also be aware that they might also get two or three away games in a row so they have to be able to take the good with the bad.

“It would be impossible to please everyone all of the time, so we can only do the best we can in all of the circumstances.

“What we do see as vitally important is getting back to having even more liaison with the clubs, to be communicating more and getting their input.”

Heaft, who spent six years as Irymple president and more than a decade “in the umpires’ corner”, said he looked forward to the president’s role more with enthusiasm than as a challenge.

“I don’t think it will be a challenge for me personally ... not with the crew that I’ve got around me, so I’m more looking to enjoy the experience and share the load with competent board members.”

The new look board comprises only one of last season’s members in Steven McGlashan, with newcomers Pat Curran, Mark O’Donnell, Peter Maloney, Peter Rhoden, Bob Faulkhead and Peter Woodford.

This article appeared in Thursday’s Sunraysia Daily 08/12/2011