Local and country footy clubs prepare for new leagues

Several local footy clubs will experience new competitions in 2023 after they explored a tree change. Here are all the teams on the move.

Nullawil - premiers Golden Rivers League 2018

The winds of change have swept across Victoria’s local footy scene for the 2023 season.

Several clubs are set to embark on new adventures after being accepted into new competitions.

Here’s a look at where they’ll be going.

COBURG WOMEN

Former league: South Eastern Women’s Football League

New competition: VAFA

After two years, Coburg is on the move to a competition it considers to be “more local”. The Lions will play home games at Piranha Park and will be surrounded by more local clubs.

DEER PARK

Former league: Western Region Football League

New competition: Essendon District Football League

The Lions are on the move after a decade of dominance in the WRFL which saw them win seven straight premierships. They’ve already been earmarked as premiership favourites after they were entered in Division 1, the second tier of the competition. Former AFL player Heath Scotland has been appointed to lead the club’s newest chapter and they’ve already unveiled a swagger of impressive recruits.

HALLAM

Former league: Southern League

New competition: Outer East Football League

It’s a new future for Hallam was they make the transition from Division 4 of the Southern League to Division 1 of their new home. Outer East clubs voted 19-3 in favour of Hallam’s admission into the competition. Former Nar Nar Goon assistant Scott Kerr has been appointed as the senior mentor and he’s also managed to bring a couple of players along with him.

Kinglake is returning to the Northern league Picture: Stuart Milligan

KINGLAKE

Former league: Outer East Football League

New competition: Northern Football League

The Lakers are set to return to the Northern league this year after departing back in 2008. They’ve been placed in Division 3 after competition in the third tier of the Outer East competition last season. “Given our proximity to Melbourne’s northern suburbs and the location of our players we feel that playing in the northern corridor will continue to strengthen our club,” the club said in a statement after it had been accepted by its new competition.

KYNETON JUNIORS AND WOMEN

Former league: Bendigo Football Netball League/Central Victoria Football League

New competition: Riddell District Football League

For more than 70 years in succession the Kyneton Tigers have been part of the Bendigo Football Netball League but two parts of their football department will make the move to the RDFL for 2023. The juniors and women are moving but the senior men are staying put in the BFNL. The women move after five seasons in the CVFL, playing there since 2018. In each season, minus 2020, which wasn’t held, the team finished fifth. For the juniors the move comes after years in the BFNL.

MELTON WOMEN

Former league: Ballarat Football Netball League

New competition: Riddell District Football League

The women’s team make the move to the Riddell District Football League after two seasons in the Ballarat Football Netball League. Before that, the Bloods were part of the AFL Goldfield competition. Melton makes the move after struggling in the BFNL. In the two seasons of the competition, the team just won three games, including one this year. The move will hopefully see the team be more competitive.

MOUNT ALEXANDER WOMEN

Former league: Central Victoria Football League

New competition: Riddell District Football League

Mount Alexander should make their competitive debut in the Riddell District Football League after making the move from the Central Victoria Football League in the off-season. The club, formed in 2021, have been affiliated to the CVFL but not yet played a game, instead playing practice matches against other teams. Now, they are a full fledged outfit, joining the RDFL’s women’s competition, which is starting this year.

After three straight premierships Nullawil is on the move.

NULLAWIL

Former league: Golden Rivers Football Netball League

New competition: North Central Football Netball League

The reigning Golden Rivers league premiers have made the move to the North Central league after being in the competition since 1998. The club moves after originally having their proposal to move rejected 12 month ago by AFL Victoria. This time the club was successful, making the move as the Golden Rivers competition was reduced from eight teams to six. The move allows Nullawil to play teams closer to them with most of the teams around a 50km radius. In the Golden Rivers competition the Maroons had a three hour round trip at times to play teams including Hay. The team will also face sterner competition after dominating the Golden Rivers. Nullawil won the last three premierships in the competition in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

ST ALBANS

Former league: Western Region Football League

New competition: Essendon District Football League

The Saints are one of two now former Western Region league clubs on the move for the new season. After competing in Division 1 of the WRFL, St Albans will start in the second tier of its new home, which has seen the formation of a 12-team competition. St Albans will be hoping to end a premiership drought which stretches back to 2001 when it embarks on its new adventure. “It is the start of a new chapter in our club’s history, and we can’t wait to see what is on the horizon as we compete in a competition that is geographically compatible for the needs, particularly of our junior families,” the club said in a statement.

TOORADIN JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB

Tooradin Junior Football Club

Former league: South East Juniors

New competition: West Gippsland Junior Football League

After moving its senior team to the West Gippsland league in 2019, the juniors will follow suit in 2023. The main reason behind both moves is to play in a competition with teams from the local area in a competitive environment.

VU WESTERN SPURS

Former league: Northern Football League

New competition: Western Region Football League

The Western Spurs women’s team will be one of two new teams in the WRFL in 2023 with Aintree embarking on its maiden year. The club said the move will help it develop further in the coming years.