Three Southern Football League clubs considering move to amateurs
AT LEAST three Southern Football League clubs are considering moving to the amateur league amid concerns over lopsided results and divisions between junior teams.
AT LEAST three Southern Football League clubs are considering moving to the amateur league amid concerns over lopsided results and divisions between junior teams.
Brighton, Morphetville Park and Hackham last week confirmed they were discussing shifting competitions at the end of the season.
Bombers president Kym Steer proposed the move to the club’s board late last month.
Club members will vote on the motion at a specially-called meeting on August 2.
“The discrepancy in competition is one of our major issues currently,” said Steer, whose club has won eight of its 12 SFL games by an average margin of 116 points this season.
“We’d like the opportunity to go to the amateur league and play against a higher level of competition.”
Brighton, last year’s beaten A-grade grand finalist, moved to the SFL from the amateurs in 1997.
Should members vote in favour of a return, the Bombers’ under-6 to under-16 teams would play in the SANFL junior competitions while its under-18 side would line up in the amateur league, both on Sundays.
“For the first time since 1990, we’d have all juniors playing on the same day,” Steer said.
“We’ve officially notified the SFL that we intend to put it (the move) down to a vote.”
Edwardstown was the last club to leave the SFL for the amateur league last year.
The Towns, who played in the southern competition for seven seasons, are fourth in division four.
Morphetville Park, which finished fifth in the SFL last season, is consulting players and members about shifting leagues.
The club, which last played amateurs in 1986, hoped to reach a decision by the end of the month.
Roos president Justin Clark said the amateur league’s promotion and relegation system would help his club to find an appropriate level of competition.
Morphies’ junior teams left the SFL last season.
“We moved the juniors to the Sunday SANFL competition because the majority of our kids play for their private school teams on Saturday,” Clark said.
“Travel doesn’t come into it for us because the furthest we travel (in the SFL) is 39km to Aldinga.”
Hackham, the most southern-based club considering moving, sits second-bottom of the SFL with a 1-11 record.
President Graham Thompson said discussions with members were in the early stages.
“I do know that the players aren’t very happy about the (losing) scoreline each week,” Thompson said.
“We’ll gather all the available information and take it from there.”
A fourth club, Marion, said it would re-evaluate its future in the SFL at the end of the season.
Chief welcomes new clubs
THE amateur football league says it will welcome clubs looking to join it from the Southern Football League.
Brighton, Morphettville Park and Hackham are each considering shifting from the southern competition in search of more appropriate opposition and junior structures.
Amateur league chief executive John Kernahan said the suburban-based competition would provide the parity the clubs were seeking.
“We’re always excited when clubs want to join our league,” Kernahan said.
“The main difference between the leagues is that we have seven divisions.
“This enables clubs to find a level in which they can compete.
“The disparity between the top and lowest team in any one (amateur) division should be relatively small.”
SFL president Craig Warman said Brighton’s future was the most pressing concern.
Warman said he would meet with Bombers officials this week ahead of club members voting on the matter next month.
“We would hate to see them go,” Warman said.
“They’ve been a big part of the league for a very long time.”
Warman said the SFL was also in discussions with Morphettville Park and Hackham aimed at extending their stay in the league.
“I wouldn’t have thought they’d be better off in the amateur league, but clubs have the right to make their own decisions as to where they play their footy.”
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