Parkside on cusp of VAFA switch after league accepts its application to move from Northern Football League

THE Victorian Amateur Football Association has accepted Parkside’s request to return to the competition from the Northern Football League.

s52hb207 NFL (Div 3) Football Parkside v Heidelberg West at Pitcher Park Alphington Gilbert Davies of Parkside runs with the ball

THE Victorian Amateur Football Association has accepted Parkside’s request to return to the competition from the Northern Football League.

As previously reported by the Leader, Parkside’s committee had been advocating for a switch for several months.

The Devils struggled on-field in Division 3 throughout 2014, winning only one game and finishing at the foot of the ladder.

It is expected they will start in the lowest-ranked senior competition in the VAFA, Division 4.

A final decision on where the club plays upon its return to the competition it left in 2002 will be made at the annual VAFA seminar on October 26.

The NFL has 10 business days to appeal the Devils’ proposed switch to AFL Victoria.

If Parkside’s switch is ratified, it would leave the NFL with a seven-team third division again in 2015.

The NFL has confirmed Banyule will play in Division 3 when it completes its move from the VAFA next year, while Thomastown has been promoted to Division 2 to replace relegated Epping.

The Parkside’s Past Players and Officials Association had been fighting to block the club’s return to the VAFA, but was outvoted at a recent members’ meeting.

Secretary Jason McCall told Local Footy he would stop attending Parkside games if the move went ahead.

“I can’t speak for anyone else, but if it is in the VAFA I won’t be attending any games,” McCall said.

McCall said he thought Parkside’s committee had sealed the club’s return to the VAFA months ago.

“All the groundwork the club had done previously, they were told that was going to be a foregone conclusion anyway,” he said.

“From our point of view nothing really has changed since the vote.

“Even though they’ve just made that decision, I think the decision was made a long time ago.”

The NFL has been contacted for comment.