North Shore set to return to GFNL in the coming seasons as new facility funding is announced

North Shore was sensationally axed from the GFNL just weeks out from the start of the GFNL season. But a multimillion-dollar funding pledge and plans have given the club a chance to return to the competition.

GFL Netball: North Shore v Leopold at North Shore. North Shore's Katie Alsop. Picture: Mike Dugdale

AFL Barwon region manager Edward Wilson believes North Shore’s netball program has made promising steps towards re-entering the GFNL competition, with the club hoping for some form of play to return in 2023.

The Seagulls’ netball side was controversially exiled to social netball grades after the club told AFL Barwon it could not field an A-Grade side in 2022, with the club instead entering its senior teams in midweek competitions.

Former AFL Barwon region manager Bruce Harwood held the position in March when the decision to axe North Shore was made, before suddenly resigning at the end of May.

Wilson, who took on the role in the middle of the season, said he was optimistic about North Shore’s potential return to the competition in the future, but certain markers had to be met first.

“We’ve been in contact with North Shore and we’ve discussed their netball strategy for 2023, and we’ve put our collective heads together to determine the best ways forward in terms of growing participation at the club,” he said.”

“Growing the program and rejoining the GFNL is very much on North Shore and our radars at the moment, they’re enthused to make sure that netball becomes a successful club once again.

“Their participation levels had been low, but they’ve got a good foundation in the junior program.

“It’s definitely a long-term play, and credit to North Shore, they came to the table with a number of ideas for putting together a long-term strategy.

“We don’t want to put any ultimatums or dates on the club, the best way for us to approach this challenge is to make sure they feel the right structures are in place internally, and they can build from the juniors up for long-term stability and participation.”

North Shore netball coordinator Edwina Wilkens said she was hopeful AFL Barwon would allow the Seagulls to enter a D-Grade and E-Grade side next season.

“Our ideal scenario would be that we’re allowed to enter two teams next year to retain the core group that played social competitions last season,” she said.

“AFL Barwon is really coming to the table with ideas, last year was hard but this year we’re pulling out all the stops to get the girls back on the court.

“The league is really supporting us, helping us with strategies that we’re building and they want us to succeed and have players running around for North Shore.”

Labor candidate Ella George recently pledged up to $2 million to building female facilities at North Shore if she won the Lara seat at the upcoming state election.

Wilson said the potential funding was welcomed by AFL Barwon, and it would help the Seagulls reach its ambitious targets.

“We want the program to be a strong competitor within the GFNL, that’s the long-term strategy,” he said.

“That was a terrific endorsement from government in terms of the future of the netball program at North Shore, it’s extremely exciting for the club and it’s an endorsement that AFL Barwon definitely supports.

“They’ve got a good base of players at the moment, but we need to make sure we look forward to the future and grow on the foundation so they can be a strong competitor.

“The plans and ideas are bold and ambitious, and we’re committed to making sure we can realise those ambitions because it’s what the club and players, and the other clubs in the GFNL deserve.”

Originally published as North Shore set to return to GFNL in the coming seasons as new facility funding is announced