Gippsland: Drouin members to vote on move to West Gippsland this month

Creating two divisions in a country footy league are encountering some difficulties due to new club transfer rules. See what’s happening behind the scenes.

The West Gippsland league’s plans to introduce a two-tiered competition as early as 2026 is almost certain to be put on hold for at least 12 months.

New rules governing the transfer of clubs between leagues introduced this season including an earlier deadline of June 30 has robbed clubs of sufficient time to execute a move.

Drouin is the most advanced in making a move from the Gippsland league with a special general meeting called for June 23 where members will vote on making an application to return to West Gippsland before the new cut-off.

Club members are being asked to 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”.

Other clubs including Wonthaggi, Pakenham and Officer have also been linked to a move to West Gippsland.

In most cases the interest is contingent on two divisions being created.

Drouin has called a special general meeting on June 23 to vote on a move back to the West Gippsland league. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Wonthaggi is believed to have put any potential move to West Gippsland from Gippsland on hold.

West Gippsland presently has 11 clubs and would need an influx of at least five clubs to justify creating two divisions.

Like many leagues statewide, West Gippsland has a big disparity between its top and bottom clubs.

The current lopsided nature of the competition is driving the push to introduce divisions.

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

The application was knocked back and will meet resistance again.

Gippsland league chairman Andrew Livingstone said: “100 per cent we want to keep Drouin.

“They’ve got a new committee and there is obviously some pressure coming internally for a move which is not new.

“I know they are doing it tough this year not playing at their ground.

“We’ve just got to wait and see.”

Former Bendigo league club Maryborough is making a bid to come out of recess in the Maryborough-Castlemaine District league. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The Weekly Times understands Pakenham and Officer are also well advanced to make an application to join the West Gippsland league in 2026.

They presently play in the Outer East league where two other clubs, Wandin and Upwey-Tecoma, are exploring a move to the city-based Eastern league.

Meanwhile, Maryborough is attempting to come out of recess in 2026 in the Maryborough-Castlemaine District league, a move blocked by MCDFL clubs last year.

Maryborough needs 75 per cent of votes from the seven MCDFNL board members and 13 clubs to be admitted.

Originally published as Gippsland: Drouin members to vote on move to West Gippsland this month