Southern Football League set to accept Ironbank Cherry Gardens application, rejects exodus rumours

A local footy competition is set to gain a new club for the 2024 season and has knocked back suggestions of an exodus with multiple outfits rumoured to be exploring their options.

Ironbank's Cherry Gardens is set to join the Southern Football League. Picture: Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club

A local SA footy competition is set to accept a new club for the 2024 season but has denied further changes as rumours regarding teams looking to leave circle.

Ironbank Cherry Gardens is set to leave the Hills Football League and join the Southern Football League ahead of next season, making the SFL a 10-team competition for the first time since 2016.

The once 12-team league has been stuck at nine clubs and needed a weekly bye since the 2017 season after Brighton and Morphettville Park followed Edwardstown to the Adelaide Footy League.

Ironbank had merged with Bridgewater-Callington in the Hills Football League under a memorandum of understanding last season which was then called off in August after Bridgewater decided it wanted to keep its identity.

The club has signed former Port Adelaide AFL player Elijah Ware as coach for its anticipated fresh start next year.

“We’ve had a special general meeting with a large turnout and almost all of the members and supporters involved voted for the move to the SFL,” Ironbank Cherry Gardens president Brandon Chaplin said.

Ironbank-Bridgewater's merged side during last Hills FL season. Picture: Ironbank Cherry Gardens Football Club

“The application is in and the SFL now needs to approve it.

“We’re optimistic that the league will receive us and we’ve had nothing but warm discussions with the competition and its clubs.”

While ICB has experienced a number of successful years in the Hills Football League’s top division and country division, Chaplin said the move suited every level of the club.

“Despite the fact we’ve had a history in the HFL since 1986 and believe it is a great community league, we think the situation in the SFL is an excellent option in terms of a whole club approach,” he said.

“It is a great league with good leadership and a great culture, the scheduling suits us in terms of age ranges and we can see a strong future for all parts of our club from juniors to women’s to senior men’s.

“Ironbank Cherry Gardens, we essentially don’t have a town, a pub, a school, a post office … we’re the footy club, netball club, cricket club and tennis club, so we also think we’d benefit from leaning more towards the metro area and the SFL.”

Southern Football League president Craig Warman (right) said the league was excited by the opportunity of adding another club. Picture: Tom Huntley

SFL president Craig Warman said the league would embrace the opportunity to add a 10th club.

“We’ve been a nine-team comp for a while with a lot of byes and to have a 10th side come in has been something we’ve been looking at for a while,” Warman said.

“We believe the other clubs are all for it – we’ve battled hard for a long time as a nine-team competition and are ready for a change.”

The opportunity came amid rumours multiple SFL clubs were exploring their future ahead of next season.

The Advertiser understands at least two of the league’s clubs have considered their options in joining another competition.

Warman denied this as a possibility.

“It’s not uncommon to hear that kind of thing at this time of year but you can rest assured no one will be leaving,” he said.

“All of our clubs are happy with what’s on the horizon and don’t have any reason to look elsewhere.”

A meeting regarding Ironbank Cherry Gardens’ application will be held tonight with a decision expected in the near future.