Gippsland: Drouin calls special general meeting to vote on returning to West Gippsland league

Drouin is taking a call on returning to the West Gippsland league to its members. See all the key details.

Drouin will vote on a move to a proposed two-tier West Gippsland league later this month.

Members have been notified of a special general meeting on June 23 where they can decide to make a second bid to leave the Gippsland league in seven years.

In 2018, Drouin voted 58-4 in favour of a return to West Gippsland “on the back end of a challenging period for the club, in terms of performance, retention and finances”.

The application was knocked back, but the major change this time is West Gippsland’s plans to create two divisions from the existing 11 clubs and other clubs playing in surrounding leagues such as Drouin.

“Because we have the latest information in 2025 to consider, it creates an opportunity for our members to proactively review further details, vote accordingly based on the updated details, and if in favour, apply to return to the West Gippsland Football-Netball competition,” a club statement said.

“We ask that our members use the 21 days’ notice period to fully reflect on our time in the Gippsland Football-Netball League and the most sustainable future for our club, in both a football and netball perspective.”

Drouin has been part of the Gippsland league since 2005. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

A successful motion at the special general meeting requires a simple majority vote of financial members in attendance.

Current non-members of the club have until the day before the meeting to sign up and be eligible to vote.

Drouin’s fortunes in the Gippsland league haven’t changed since the last bid to join the West Gippsland league.

It hasn’t won a match this season and is dealing with the additional challenge of not having access to its home ground due to a major makeover of the playing surface.

Under new club transfer rules timelines and processes, an application to join another league has to be made by the end of June.

“DEFINITE INTEREST”

Drouin has confirmed “definite interest” in being part of a divisional structure that the West Gippsland league is proposing as early as next season.

Drouin presently plays in the neighbouring Gippsland league, with another of its clubs Wonthaggi also open to the idea of moving to the West Gippsland league on the proviso there were two divisions established.

Club president Luke Gilbert said it had also received the go-ahead from the Gippsland league to speak to West Gippsland as required under updated rules around clubs swapping to another competition.

Clubs have to make applications to leave their existing leagues by the end of next month under the changes adopted by AFL Victoria.

Gilbert said his club was in the process of arranging a face-to-face meeting with West Gippsland as part of its “due diligence” on a possible move.

“We’re definitely interested because we need to look at the sustainability of where we sit logistically as a football-netball club and what makes sense to us,” he said.

“Some people are pro-Gippsland and some people are pro-West Gippy.

“Once we have that information tabled in front of us to consider then we will look at next steps of whether we remain in Gippsland or explore our options with West Gippsland.

“But both Gippsland and West Gippsland are great options.

“We will just get the facts in front of us and see what it all looks like.

“Tiered footy in Gippsland or West Gippsland is appealing.

“It is a structure that we need to head towards I believe.”

Gary Ablett Junior played for Drouin in 2023. Picture: Daniel Heathcote (supplied)

Gippsland proposed its own second tier competition last year in a move that coincided with the North Gippsland league rejecting Mid Gippsland trio Morwell East, Yinnar and Newborough.

West Gippsland is presently a single 11-team competition and league president Tony Mitchell confirmed it “had already received interest from clubs considering joining our competition”.

West Gippsland would need an influx of at least of at least five clubs to be able to create two divisions of eight clubs or a 10-6 split.

Drouin previously competed in the West Gippsland league before making the move to Gippsland in 2005.

Drouin hasn’t won a match this season and is dealing with the additional challenge of not having access to its home ground, which is undergoing a major renovation.

It is playing matches at Trafalgar, Morwell, Moe and Traralgon ahead of a return home for the final round match against Warragul.

Originally published as Gippsland: Drouin calls special general meeting to vote on returning to West Gippsland league