Going into last season, there was a real buzz at the Melton Rugby Union Club.
Across the previous two years, the Warriors had claimed state and minor premierships and it appeared a prolonged period of success was on the way.
The timing couldn’t have been better with Melton celebrating its 40th anniversary and record playing numbers turning out.
But promotion for Melton, which had always been a social club, from division 3 to division 1 quickly derailed its momentum.
Weekend wins disappeared and 60-point losses became the norm.
The constant smashings took a dramatic toll with the Warriors unable to field a team and forced to forfeit the 2015 season after less than two months.
Melton president Liam Devlin said it was an extremely tough time for everyone at the club.
“It was devastating,” he said. “I know it was quite upsetting for lots of the members, especially the older ones who have been around the club for a long time.
“When something like that happens you can really question as to whether the club is going to be viable.
“Seeing it fall apart left a lot of people very miserable.”
Having built a reputation based on hard work, the Warriors’ faithful weren’t about to let their club disappear.
Led by Devlin, the club appointed a brand new committee with the goal of returning Melton to its winning ways.
Their efforts have worked, with the Warriors back up and running with an eye to season 2016 and set to move to a new home at McPherson Park.
Devlin and his committee have implemented a plan to ensure the Warriors never struggle for numbers again.
“We’ve put a lot of time into the club over the past six or seven months to try to get it back up and running,” Devlin said. “Right now, we’re in the best financial position we’ve been in for some time.
“Everything is on track.
“We really want to build the club up through the juniors and we’re planning on having under-eights through to seniors.
“If you go back five years, Melton Rugby Club had over 120 junior players. We want to encourage the young fellas to come and play in those sides.”
The club has had a great response to its relaunch, with 20 senior players signed up for the coming season in which the Warriors will return to division 3.
At the junior level, the club has 30 players committed to the under-16 and under-18 sides.
Melton will begin pre-season training at the Melton Phoenix Soccer Club on February 9.
The Warriors are hoping the move to McPherson Park will be completed by the middle of February.
