Kinglake has begun the process to leave the Outer East Football League

Outer East Football League club Kinglake has begun the process to join a new league as soon as 2023 after members voted in favour of the move.

Kinglake could be on the move as soon as next season.

The Outer East Football League Division 2 club has begun the process of joining the neighbouring Northern Football League in 2023 or 2024.

Lakers members recently voted in favour of the move, which would see them return to the competition it left in 2007.

The club would likely be entered into Division 3, boosting the Northern league’s bottom tier to a nine-team competition.

Kinglake has entered talks with Outer East and Northern with a decision to be made as early as September.

Kinglake hopes to return to the Northern Football League. Picture: Steve Tanner

Lakers president Billie Cvijetic said there were still a lot of hoops left to jump through before any move was confirmed.

“We have started the process to join the Northern Football Netball League but obviously we haven’t been accepted yet,” she said.

“Before we even discussed the idea we went to our members and asked what do you want to do.

“And yes, our members have said they’re happy to join the Northern league and that’s why we’ve started the process.

“We have informed Outer East and Northern … so whether it’s next year or the year after, our intentions are to join the Northern Football League.”

Both leagues will have to approve the transfer but 2023 is Kinglake’s preferred option.

“We obviously have to give notice to our league and there’s quite a few hoops to jump through but we are trying to get in as soon as possible,” Cvijetic said.

“We’ll be having discussions with the leagues and all going well we should have an idea after finals in September.

“We’ll definitely know before pre-season to give everyone enough time to know what’s going on.”

Kinglake departed the Northern Football League in 2007 after finishing last in the then 14-team Division 2.

It has played in the constantly renamed Yarra Valley Mountain, Yarra Valley and Outer East since – finishing runner-up three times in 2009, 2015 and 2016.

The Lakers currently sit on top of the ladder with two games remaining in the home-and-away season, looking to win their first premiership since the 1994 Yarra Valley Mountain District league flag.

Coach Andrew Fairchild is a four-time Northern Football League premiership player, snaring a hat-trick of titles with Whittlesea – including as captain in 2015 – and another with Greensborough.

Cvijetic said the proposed move was based on location and travel for the club.

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“Most of our members and players live in the northern suburbs so this step was just the way to go,” she said.

“The travel and location makes sense, we recruit mostly from the northern suburbs, most of our players and committee live in the northern suburbs, so it’s very practical.”

The move would see the Northern league move closer to its preferred 10-10-10 divisional structure, with a nine-team Division 3.

Outer East Division 2, the league’s third tier, is currently a six-team competition with rumours it will be merged with the seven-team Division 1.