South East football and netball restructure set in stone by SANFL, leagues and clubs
The SANFL has locked in a restructure of three SA country footy and netball competitions for the 2025 season. See the details.
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A restructure of footy and netball in one of SA’s top sporting regions will take place ahead of the 2025 season, with the SANFL recently setting a plan in stone.
The three South East competitions – The Western Border Football League, Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League and Mid South Eastern Football League – will all undergo changes ahead of the 2025 season.
The Western Border Football League, which hosts North Gambier, South Gambier, East Gambier, West Gambier, Millicent and Casterton-Sandford, will be renamed to the Limestone Coast Football Netball League and remain a six-team competition in 2024.
The league will then accept two clubs, one from the KNTFL and one from the MSEFL, in 2025 to expand to an eight-team competition.
The restructure plan comes after nearly two years of consultation between the local leagues, clubs and the SANFL in an attempt to ensure longevity for sport in the region.
“The working group is committed to achieving a sustainable outcome for football and netball in the South East region and these recommendations provide the necessary change while minimising club disruption,” SANFL Head of Community Football Shawn Ford said.
“While there will be no real immediate change to league compositions in the region in 2024, we believe some structural changes, including a new-look football and netball league with refined age groups at junior level, will assist with the development and sustainability of three strong and viable leagues in the region by 2025.”
Limestone Coast FNL chairman Scott Duncan said there was an interim executive overseeing the establishment of the league which included former WBFL president Michael Summers.
He confirmed the league’s new football structure would see the continuation of five U12 mixed non-premiership grades, starting from U8s, to encourage participation and assist in development.
U14.5, U17.5, reserves and seniors will closely align with the KNTFL and MSEFL and clubs have also been encouraged to consider additional teams in U14.5 and U17.5 competitions.
Netball competition divisions are set to comprise of 11 and under, 13 and under (A and B Grade), 15 and under (A and B Grade), Senior A Grade, and Reserves A, B and C grades.
“Already a huge amount of work has been done to ensure we are well-prepared for an exciting season in 2024 and deliver competitions which ultimately grow participation and ensure a pathway from junior to senior level,” Duncan said.
“Right now we’re focused on getting the new league up and running and we’re looking forward to what the future brings.”
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