Merger a chance for South East Football as SANFL considers region’s future
A huge restructure is being floated to save South East footy and netball as one of the region’s leagues remains under threat. SANFL explains what the future could hold.
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Two of South Australia’s regional football and netball leagues could merge ahead of the 2023 season under a plan to save country footy.
The Limestone Coast Regional Football Council and the SANFL are in negotiation with club as they consider how to create a stronger future for sport in the area.
A Mid South Eastern Football League and the Western Border Football League merger, also including Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara club Penola, has being floated.
Plans around restructure have been pondered since a review of football carried out by the council last year involving consultation with leagues and clubs, which concluded opportunities for change should be investigated.
While the Mid South Eastern league includes nine clubs – Hatherleigh, Nangwarry, Mt Burr, Tantanoola, Port MacDonnell, Robe, Kalangadoo, Glencoe and Kongorong – the Western Border League remains a different story.
The competition only has six clubs – Millicent, South Gambier, West Gambier, East Gambier, North Gambier and Casterton Sandford – down from 12 at its foundation in 1964.
Penola and Kalangadoo were approached by the council in conjunction with the SANFL last year with a recommendation to join the WBFL, but ultimately decided against partaking in the change.
“We’re committed to the Mid South Eastern Football League … that’s where we see our future,” Kalangadoo president Reece Carlson said at the time.
“We’re affiliated with Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara and that’s where we want to stay for years to come unless there’s a directive higher up from the SANFL that is forced upon us,” Penola president Marcus Devereux added.
SANFL head of community football, Lisa Faraci said football and other sports in SA’s regions have continued to face numerous challenges.
“Football, along with all other sports, faces a number of challenges in regional areas due to population decline, shortage of volunteers and attraction and retention of players from junior to youth, and then into senior levels,” Faraci said.
“SANFL advised clubs earlier this year that ongoing work would occur with leagues and clubs in the (South East) region to identify opportunities for change to support football and netball into the future.”
A merger would create a 16-club competition next year and ideally increase participation within that league for all clubs as a result.
Faraci said no plan was set in stone as of yet.
“Over the past few months, SANFL has informally met with various football and netball stakeholders and has progressed to establishing a working party with representatives from football, netball and SANFL Community Football,” Faraci said.
“Importantly, the working party is still in the consultation phase and no models have been agreed to.”
The SANFL, along with members of that working party, will meet with clubs in early June for presentations and discussion around future plans.
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