Outer East FN: What lies ahead for Pakenham after move to West Gippsland league knocked back

Read what the future holds for Pakenham after West Gippsland clubs knocked back a pair of Outer East sides from joining the league in 2026.

Both Pakenham and Officer had bids to join the West Gippsland league next season knocked back.

Rebuffed by West Gippsland for 2026, Outer East club Pakenham remains open to exploring a move to the league ahead of the 2027 season.

Such a decision would be subject to internal meetings with the club’s members over the coming months.

The bids of both Pakenham and Officer to join the West Gippsland league were knocked back, with the clubs now expected to continue in the Outer East league in 2026.

While disappointed with the outcome, Pakenham football president Salv Mileto said he had received positive feedback on his club’s presentation, which was presented to West Gippsland clubs on Wednesday night.

“They said that we nailed it and it was the best presentation we’d put forward to West Gippsland over the previous years,” Mileto said.

“We’ve worked together as a collective with netball, we’re stronger together as a group.

“We’re just going to continue being the best we can in this league and hopefully we can bring a premiership or a couple of premierships.”

A 75 per cent majority vote is required to approve a club coming into West Gippsland, meaning both Pakenham and Officer needed to receive 17 of 22 votes to be accepted into the league.

The exact voting numbers aren’t disclosed, but Pakenham is believed to have received around 50 per cent of votes in favour of it joining West Gippsland.

The West Gippsland league has a major strategic aim of expanding to two tiers, which would mean welcoming an additional five clubs to the league.

Drouin could be the first of those after West Gippsland clubs voted in favour of admitting the Mid Gippsland side on Wednesday.

Mileto spoke highly of the support Pakenham had received from the Outer East league throughout the process.

There had been speculation Pakenham would attempt to join Southern, which has taken in the Lions’ former Casey Cardinia rivals Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Dingley, Hampton Park and Keysborough.

But Southern CEO Lee Hartman said his league was on record as saying it would extend no further than the City Of Casey.

“Going into the Cardinia Shire is a bit far,’’ he said.

“I know Outer East are keen to keep them if possible. At this stage we haven’t had any talks with them. Off the bat, it probably is too far.

“At the end of the day we hope AFL Victoria can get in and sort some of these issues where clubs sit right on the border of different leagues.’’

It’s also understood Pakenham has little interest in joining Southern, with the ability for its netballers to play alongside its footballers every weekend a key consideration.

The Lions were relegated from the top division of Outer East last year and are playing against clubs including Yea, Powelltown, Alexandra and Yarra Junction this season.

They are second on the ladder with 10 wins and two losses.

In a club statement following its unsuccessful bid to join West Gippsland, Officer said: “We remain excited about the future of our club”.

“We are committed to continuing our growth, strengthening our club culture, and providing a positive environment for our players, supporters, and the wider community.

“Thank you for your continued support – the best is yet to come!”

The Kangaroos sit ninth in the Outer East’s premier division with three wins, the most recent of which was a rousing upset of Woori Yallock.

Officer elected not to provide further comment when contacted.

Outer East CEO Brett Connell declined to comment.