Night final angst

All nine SEFNL clubs are unified in wanting a day grand final retained in 2017. 159362 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By David Nagel

The South East Football Netball League (SEFNL) board has been challenged by its unified member clubs to reverse the decision to host a night grand final at Casey Fields this year.
The SEFNL board – consisting of chairman Ryan Ford, Liz Triffitt, Silvio Marinelli, Cliff Donegan and Gerry Kelly – recommended a night grand final to the AFL South East Commission, who ratified the move in early May to host the game under lights on Saturday 16 September.
The decision has caused much angst within the ranks of the nine SEFNL clubs who insist the consultation process lacked the appropriate detail prior to the announcement.
Representatives from the clubs met with Ford – who represents the clubs on the commission – and AFLSE Region General Manager John Anderson last week to raise their concerns.
Key issues, amongst others, included the split of football and netball for the big day and the uncertainty surrounding who would benefit financially from the biggest event on the calendar.
The clubs were also concerned about their own limited liquor-licensing agreements, which would affect their ability to fully capitalise on a proven financial windfall after the match.
Speaking on behalf of the clubs, Cranbourne president Shane Baker said the clubs were most disappointed by the lack of communication during the process.
“We elect these guys to the board, they are supposed to be representing us, so it’s really disappointing that we weren’t consulted prior to the announcement of the night grand final,” Baker said.
“We feel blindsided by this and annoyed that decisions are being made without our thoughts and knowledge being taken into consideration. The clubs are unified more than ever and we’ll stick together closely to put forward what we think is in the best interests of local footy.”
Initial plans for the night grand final would see all 10 netball games – from Under 13s through to A Grade – played during the day at a facility located approximately 500-metres from the Casey Fields VFL football ground.
The Under 19s and reserves would run concurrently with the netball during the day before the senior football decider took centre stage under lights.
The original decision from AFLSE and SEFNL was based on showcasing the league at the best venue available and separating the timeslot from neighbouring grand final fixtures – allowing a bigger crowd to attend.
AFLSE govern three leagues – Nepean, Peninsula and SEFNL – with the Nepean grand final scheduled for the same day along with the neighbouring West Gippsland and Ellinbank leagues.
On face value the logic is sound, but the lack of detail surrounding the financial implications and the want to keep the community bond between football and netball has forced the clubs to take action.
Baker penned a letter to Ford last Friday, after last week’s meeting, challenging him to fight for the club’s collective position at the commission table.
The commission met on Monday night with Ford unavailable due a previously planned family holiday. Anderson conveyed Ford’s thoughts and the details of the letter at the commission meeting.
The clubs considered several options as an alternative to the night grand final, including moving the game back a week to Saturday 23 September.
But their final recommendation revolves around retaining the original date and playing a day grand final at Beaconsfield, Berwick or Pakenham, clubs with netball courts close by. The clubs are keen to work together to make this happen, even considering employing their own event manager to sort out the finer details in regards to catering.
Profit sharing from the day is a key consideration with all clubs committed to sharing the workload and the associated financial benefits.