Bruns has been on the Mininera board for the past two years and has been president of Glenthompson-Dunkeld for the three previous seasons.

The position was made vacant when S.M.W Rovers legend John Box stepped down from the position after five years at the helm.

Bruns said the last two COVID-19 interrupted seasons were an "interesting" introduction to the Mininera board.

"Last year being the first and we had no footy played obviously and then this year we weren't able to get to the finals, it definitely has been a unique first two seasons," he said.

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Bruns said he planned to pick John Box's brain in his final year serving on the board.

"He (John Box) made it clear that he was looking to step down, that's where I stepped in," he said.

"Especially after the commitment he has made, you don't get many people like Boxy (John Box) anymore who went right through the ranks.

"The service that Boxy (John Box) has given the Mininera has been second to none, we will miss him.

"He has still got one more year where he will stay on the board, which will be terrific for me as he can give me some guidance."

Bruns said he was looking forward to the challenge of leading the league out of the pandemic.

"Football has been in my family for a long time, I was born with a football in my hands," he said.

"Although I am one of the youngest on the board I am happy to lead the board, we have a good board with plenty of experience.

"What we will do moving forward is work in a bit more of a team and form a bit more of a closer relationship with the clubs."

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Bruns said he has identified two areas the board needs to find solutions for in the near future.

"The two components that we need to succeed in for the competition to exist is junior footballers coming through and finding a solution to the umpire shortage," he said.

"If we let them diminish it will put the league in a really precarious position in terms of its future.

"I have spoken to a couple of clubs recently and a couple of them which have lost their juniors are keen and confident that they are going to get them back.

"That is the grassroots of all football, If we can't sustain that then we will find it hard to survive.

"Another area which is of increased concern is the umpiring, we need to encourage young people to come in and take over the reins of officiating our senior games.

"We haven't got a game without umpires."

Bruns said the board was excited to see sports resume within the region.

"We are extremely hopeful that we can get back to a full season," he said.

"We thought we were out of the woods and then a new variant pops us, I think that is going to have to be something we need to embrace going forward.

"The board will put together a COVID-19 plan, hopefully we don't have to use it."

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Following the resumption of the league next year Bruns plans on celebrating the league's hardworking volunteers.

"The future of our league is juniors and community," he said.

"Community is volunteer and supporters, the amount of work volunteers do is second to none and unfortunately COVID-19 has placed even more emphasis on the volunteers to do more work.

"Crowds keep clubs alive and they keep clubs afloat financially.

"We are hoping that there will be a full return of crowds and we think there is a fair amount of excitement to finally watch some football and netball."

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