Footy’s future on a knife edge

AFL South East’s proposal to run divisional football in 2018 has been rejected by clubs from the Nepean and Peninsula Football Leagues. 169599 Picture: ROB CAREW

By David Nagel

Two thirds of clubs governed by AFL South East have rejected the commissions draft recommendations to emerge from its much-anticipated Senior Football Competition Review.
Clubs from two of the three leagues governed by AFLSE –Nepean and Peninsula – met on Monday night and unanimously voted to reject the following proposals put forward to join the South East Football Netball League for divisional football in 2018.
The 31 clubs, across all three leagues, have until Monday 3 July to respond to the options outlined in the paper. The review panel will then consider the feedback before making its final recommendations.
Option 1 – Full Divisional Structure
Initially three divisions with Premier Division comprising a minimum of 10 teams with the lower divisions – one and two – comprising the balance of the teams. Promotion and relegation between all three divisions.
Option 2 – Partial Divisional Structure
Initially three divisions, with a Premier Division supported by two lower divisions of equal standing, geographically structured into Northern and Southern from the balance of the teams. Two teams to be relegated from Premier and replaced with a promoted team from both Northern and Southern.
The review panel based its recommendations on feedback received during individual club interviews; a summary of findings from those interviews was included in the draft document.
They included the following;
– A majority of Peninsula League clubs favoured a full divisional structure.
– A majority of Nepean League clubs were strong on maintaining a geographical structure.
– A majority of SEFNL clubs favoured a full divisional structure.
Given this information it’s rather confusing that 20 of the 22 clubs that met from the Nepean and Peninsula leagues voted unanimously to reject the options put forward.
Unanimous – to reject a concept that some had clearly shown an interest in during the individual club interviews with the review panel.
It just doesn’t make sense – either the review document or some of the clubs are not quite telling the truth in a group forum.
Or maybe the overriding sentiment from the clubs, that they are being forced into something they don’t need, has drawn them together as a collective despite their own individual preferences.
They’ve become unified.
They’re unified on the fact that the draft recommendation doesn’t delve deep enough and doesn’t sell the concept of a divisional structure to its key stakeholders. Where are the feasibility studies on the growth of towns? Have all the avenues been explored?
There are questions that remain unanswered.
There’s just no compelling evidence to suggest it will work.
And, historically anyway, the clubs have a point, because they’ve been down this road before.
From 1995 to 2004 the three leagues were entwined, before a 2004 review saw the current geographical structures introduced in 2005.
So where does it leave us all right now?
AFL South East has a mandate to do what’s best for football in the region.
They are there for the betterment of the clubs, yes, but if self-interest is clouding the club’s judgement then AFLSE will soldier on regardless … it has to!
If AFL South East proceeds with the three-league divisional structure – in the form of either option one or two – then the Nepean and Peninsula league clubs have a decision to make.
Do they appeal the decision, under AFL Victorian Country Rule 4.7 (AFL Victoria Country Reviews – Implementation and Appeals), or do they accept the umpires decision.
Their unanimous vote on Monday really means nothing until the final recommendation has been released.
Rumour has it that the two leagues are considering even leaving AFLSE and creating their own board of management and running their own competitions – from Edi-Asp in the north all the way down to Sorrento.
They would become non-affiliated with the AFL if that were the case, losing valuable AFL support, funding, and possibly interleague football. It’s a path – a costly one at that, that needs to be avoided if possible.
So what are the options going forward?
Right now AFLSE consider these the two best options, but there are questions that need to be asked when it comes to the viability of joining SEFNL with the Nepean and Peninsula leagues.
The absolute no-brainer of this draft recommendation is that Nepean and Peninsula –geographically and historically linked – remain strongly connected.
In real estate terms, the housing estate from Frankston heading south to Sorrento doesn’t need to be demolished and rebuilt. Some minor renovations and a fresh lick of paint, even adding a room or two, would resolve most issues within the two leagues.
But SEFNL – well it is a complex and very unique beast surrounded by cross-commission and league boundaries.
Let’s pick some clubs out as an example.
Cranbourne is 10 minutes away from Devon Meadows and a 15-minute drive from Langwarrin, both clubs also under the governance of AFL South East but competing in the Nepean and Peninsula leagues respectively.
Narre Warren is just a 20-minute drive away from AFL Yarra Ranges club Emerald, while Doveton shares the same hunting grounds with the likes of Rowville in the Eastern Football League and Doveton Eagles, Hallam and Endeavour Hills in Southern.
And clubs further east like Officer, Pakenham and Tooradin share borders with clubs like Nar Nar Goon and Kooweerup in the AFL Gippsland run West Gippsland Football Netball Competition.
Yes –as documented in the draft recommendation- SEFNL could be linked with the Nepean and Peninsula leagues…but there are so many other options out there as well.
The big question is – have all these options been explored in detail by AFL South East and its bordering commissions and metropolitan football leagues?
Yes they’ve spoken, but have they really delved deep?
Have they disregarded self-interest –as the clubs have been told to do – and sat down to work out what’s best for football and netball right across this massive growth corridor called the south east.
Until this is done, and a full review of junior football is also commissioned and completed, the draft recommendation released last week just leaves you feeling a little unfulfilled.
Sort of like building a new house on shaky ground – it might last for a while but sooner or later it will crumble.
AFLSE has had from early 2016 to get this right.
Despite the unanimous vote, it’s understood that some of the 22 clubs were still open to some form of connection with the more powerful SEFNL clubs in Beaconsfield, Berwick, Cranbourne and Narre Warren – who could become part of a showcase Premier Division.
The 22 clubs just don’t want a bar of SEFNL coming across in totality.
And let’s remember why we had this review in the first place!
To promote the sustainability of clubs, participation growth, a strong netball presence, and to consider the competitive balance right across the region.
Every option put forward, from the AFL South East proposal right through to those being voiced by passionate supporters of the game on social media platforms has merit – but every one also has a counter argument.
Let’s just explore all the options –put self-interest aside- and not settle for second best.
Footy and netball are far too important for that!