EFNL 2025: Local footy battler Nunawading on brink of collapse

A suburban footy club just two years shy of its centenary is on the brink of collapse as the league scrambles to rework the fixture eight weeks out from the season. Latest here.

EFNL: Nunawading is unlikely to field a team this year, the Eastern league has confirmed. Picture: Davis Harrigan

NEAR-century-old club Nunawading looks set to fold, with the Eastern league forced into a last-ditch fixture spin.

In an email sent to Division 4 clubs on Monday, the league confirmed the battling Lions were unlikely to field senior and reserve teams this year.

The club finished last in the league’s lowest tier in 2024 with just two wins, and suffered an exodus of players this off-season. Senior coach of two years Frank Salanitri had also departed, taking up a footy operations role with Division 4 rival, Croydon North-MLOC.

Nunawading, in its current incarnation, was formed in 1927 as Tunstall Football Club.

It has won just four matches combined across the past three seasons and has battled for more than a decade.

Rumours swirled recently it would merge with neighbouring club Forest Hill for this season – which has put the call out on social media for players.

On Monday, the league set the record straight.

“You are all obviously aware of the current situation surrounding Forest Hill and Nunawading,” the email to clubs read.

“We met with both clubs last week and can now advise that at this stage, Nunawading Football Club will not field a senior or reserves side for season 2025.

“Forest Hill will continue to play in the division for this season.”

The league has sought immediate feedback from clubs, offering two options for a fixture rework, eight weeks from the opening round on April 5.

The division shaped as an uneven seven-team competition again.

“What this now presents is some fixturing issues,” the league email said.

The first option offered to “Adopt the current fixture published in November 2024 and remove Nunawading, thus creating a bye”.

But the league warned this option would result in an “uneven draw”, with some clubs playing 16 games and others 15. The ladder would revert to a match ratio scenario.

The second option proposed to “Keep the current fixture up until Round 14 (as all equal)”, with the remaining four rounds reworked.

It would create a 19-week season – the same as 2024 – with byes fixtured.

Each side would play 16 matches across 19 weeks, but would require clubs to play over the King’s Birthday long weekend in June.

“I am seeking your club’s feedback ASAP,” the league said.

Nunawading’s demise is a hammer blow to the Eastern league’s vision of a 10-team competition in Division 4 – a hope it declared following the recent inclusion of Bulleen Templestowe.

“Their (Bulleen Templestowe’s) addition will further strengthen our 4th Division which will now have eight teams as we work towards an optimal 10 teams in each of our divisions,” the league said in November.

Nunawading has been contacted for comment.